Entered: 01/12/2018
Status: Adopted
Age: 2
Color: Brown Boykin Spaniel
Weight: 39 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Winchester, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, treatment for giardia complete
Temperament: Good with adults, nervous around small children, good with dogs, good with dog-savvy cats
Update 02/14/2018: “With consistent guidance, this honorary Springer will become a ‘mellow fellow.’”
Mellow continues to adjust to life in his foster home plus all at his vets office are in love with him! He has made good progress with the help of desensitizing techniques.
While Mellow does coexist and play with the resident female Springer, he did strenuously object when she tried to claim her food filled Kong. He responded immediately to correction—good boy!!
Mellow still could use a helping hand knowing that people being near him when eating is a good thing– fun things happen like cookies raining from the sky–instead of needing to worry about someone taking his food and that having his paws touched means a lot of yummy treats come his way at the same time.
Mellow is ready for his forever home, and, as previously noted, will be required to attend a series of obedience classes to help him bond with his new family and learn to be the best spaniel he can be. His new family should be willing to continue to help this pup adjust to his new home and take advantage of the fact that he learns quickly and wants to please With consistent guidance, this honorary Springer will become a “mellow fellow.”
Original: “He has lots of energy and would love to have a brother or sister or human that also has lots of energy and likes to run and play.”
Mellow was surrendered by his owner to a local shelter in Virginia when she was no longer able to care for him. Although he’s a Boykin Spaniel, this lucky boy is now an honorary MAESSR Springer, and has settled in nicely at his foster home. Mellow gets along well with the resident Springer and kitty, one that stands its ground and doesn’t run…a running kitty is one that Mellow will chase.
This young pup is housetrained and goes to the door when he wants to go outside. His foster family takes him out every couple of hours and he’s always ready to go. His foster mom is not sure how he would do for prolonged periods of time “holding it.” Also crate trained, Mellow goes in and out of his crate on his own. His foster family leaves the door open, but he doesn’t mind if they close him inside for short periods of time. They have not tried crating him for prolonged periods of time or overnight. Sometimes cookies mysteriously appear inside the crate, so he is sure to check it out regularly! At bedtime Mellow has his choice of his crate and several dog beds, and he usually chooses one of the dog beds for sleeping. His foster Springer sister gets to sleep upstairs with her humans and Mellow stays downstairs in the main living area by himself at night. There was a bit of crying for about 10 minutes for the first two nights; then he got the idea that it was sleepy-time and he now settles down to sleep with no complaints.
Mellow does get excited when meeting new friends and tends to jump up to greet them; but, when told to get “off,” he listens. He sometimes gets so excited he “leaks” a little pee. This good boy does not counter-surf. He does not get into the trash or chew inappropriately, and he does not beg when his humans are eating. Additionally, he does not get on the furniture – he has excellent house manners! When treats come out he sits patiently for his and allows his foster sister to get her treat first – such a gentleman! Mellow knows “sit,” “off,” and sometimes “stay.”
On leash he walks fairly nicely. While he doesn’t “heel,” he doesn’t pull excessively and is controlled easily. His foster parents are working on “heel” and Mellow is a fast learner. In the car Mellow is an excellent traveler, riding well both by himself and with his foster sister. He also is good at waiting when his foster mom or dad runs errands and he has to stay in the car.
Mellow likes to play and enjoys toys. He likes to chase balls and his favorite toy is his tug rope. He is a young guy and tries so hard to get his foster sister to play. She is 13 years old and not interested in that sort of play. She has a safe spot on the chair with her mom and Mellow respects that. He will leave her alone when she barks at him and goes to her safe spot. He has lots of energy and would love to have a brother or sister or human that also has lots of energy and likes to run and play. When Mellow met a four year old child, it made him nervous and he grumbled. His foster parents will try another introduction in the future.
Initially, Mellow guarded his food, but he has made huge improvements and his foster parents are now able to feed him by hand, put their hands in his bowl while he’s eating, and pet him during meal time. Both he and his foster sister are fed in the dining room, but at opposite sides of the room so there is no rush to finish and check out the other bowl. Mellow gets very excited at meal time and sometimes he “leaks,” so his foster parents try to remember to take him outside before mealtime.
Mellow had his first grooming experience and did fairly well. He enjoyed his bath and haircut, but was not fond of his nail trimming or when the groomer tried to shave around his rear end, and he let her know with a growl. At the vet he was a good boy. He was weighed, examined, and poked and prodded. His ears were cleaned and he received several vaccinations. Throughout it all he was a very good boy!
Still very much a youngster, Mellow’s adoptive family will be required to enroll him in obedience classes. MAESSR only places puppies in homes that are committed to training and bonding with the pup in obedience classes. Puppies require a lot of care, attention, and patience, and they do chew on things! The decision to get a puppy and raise it to be a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted dog is a serious commitment. To reinforce this commitment, MAESSR requires all adopters of young dogs to enroll their puppy in obedience classes within 60 days of adoption. Mellow will be a star pupil since he’s a fast learner and really does want to please.
Mellow would do well with other dogs or as an only dog, as long as his family has the time to run and play. He loves affection! He likes to be close to his humans, loves a good belly rub, and really seems to listen and understand when he’s spoken to. Mellow is such a happy boy; his stubby little tail is always wagging and his eyes are always bright and shining. He’s a beautiful boy with a great personality and deserves a loving home. After he recovers from his pending neutering, Mellow will be ready for his forever home. Are you ready for this wonderful fellow?