Entered: 10/19/2010
Status: Adopted
Age: 2
Color: Black/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Delmar, MD
Health: UTD, HW-, good in all areas
Temperament: Good with adults, good when meeting kids as young as 2, good with other dogs, great with cats
Update 11/04/10:
Oreo has had quite a few adventures since he first entered foster care. He went to the groomer for a haircut (his first ever!) and got a great report, even though several mats needed to be trimmed out from between his toes.
His foster mom took him to a community walk where dogs were allowed. The distance of two miles proved to be a little much for Oreo. He was pretty sure the walk would have been ideal if it had ended after just one mile! Some regular encouragement was needed for him to make it back to the car. It’s hard to do all that walking with those short legs!
He was also recently neutered and came through the procedure with flying colors. Now, Oreo is ready for his next adventure– finding a forever home!
Just having this sweet boy around brings a smile to his foster mom’s face. His small size and loving personality make him an excellent relaxation companion. His foster mom calls him her little teddy bear. Whether he is wrestling around with his foster sisters or playfully following a cat up the stairs, his full tail never stops wagging. When he gets really excited (Read = treat time!), his tail wags so quickly it looks like it is going around in circles– a trait his foster family has taken to calling his “helicopter tail!” Wouldn’t you love this sweetheart to “land” in your home?
Original:
After his previous family abandoned him, Oreo was taken in by a Good Samaritan who already had six dogs of her own. When seven dogs proved to be one too many, she turned to MAESSR knowing that they would find him a great home.
Oreo rode like a champ on the four hour ride to his foster home and has settled in well since then. He made fast friends with the female resident Springers, and even won over the cats with his excellent manners. Oreo doesn’t seem to have much experience with toys, although he does favor stuffed animals if he is in the mood to play. He is more interested in playing chase and wrestling with the younger resident Springer. He doesn’t guard any food or toys from the other dogs in his foster home.
After spending most of his first 48 hours in foster care sleeping, Oreo has turned into quite the Velcro Springer. He will come up and put his paws on his foster mom’s lap when she is sitting on the couch if he feels that he is not getting enough attention. He likes to get a quick scratch on the head, but LOVES it when his foster mom picks him up to hold him on her lap. Everyone knows all Springers are lap dogs at heart, but Oreo is fortunate enough to actually fit nicely on a lap! He’s also tolerant of his foster mom’s occasional urges to pick him up and carry him around like a baby! What a good boy!
When he first came in to foster care, Oreo willingly ate his kibble at meal times, but turned up his nose at every different type of dog treat his foster mom offered him. She even resorted to offering him a piece of cheese, but he wasn’t having it! After watching the residents happily gobble down their own treats for a few days, he caught on and now will take biscuits and treats from his foster parents. It’s a good thing that he has begun showing some interest in food rewards, because Oreo arrived without knowing a single command. He is just starting to respond to “sit” and does come when called.
Overall, Oreo has great house manners. He’s too short to counter-surf effectively, although he is curious about what might be going on out there and he doesn’t trash pick. With the exception of a few marking incidents during his first few days in foster care, Oreo is fully housetrained. He doesn’t signal when he needs to go out.
Oreo has an energy level much different than a typical two year old Springer. He is always up for a romp in the yard with his foster sisters or a walk around the block, but settles easily when inside and is just as happy to curl up and watch TV with his foster family. On leash, he will pull for the first few minutes of the walk but settles down after that. He is not technically crate-trained, but will tolerate it if necessary. Since he has such great house manners, Oreo has been allowed free run of the house when his foster parents are gone. At night, he sleeps under his foster parents’ bed, although he’d much prefer to sleep in it!
While his markings, Velcro nature, and athleticism would have you believe that Oreo is 100% Springer, his small size (28 pounds!) and short stature led a neighbor to inquire whether there might be some Cavalier King Charles Spaniel somewhere in his family tree. Regardless of his lineage, Oreo is an all around laid back sweetheart who would make a great addition to any Springer-loving family.