Otis

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Update 07/10/11:

Otis recently moved to a new foster home because he was barking at 6:00 AM when his foster mom left for work. This woke neighbors in adjacent condos. In his new foster home, Otis has canine friends to keep him company when his foster mom leaves and he does not bark. He has settled in nicely to his new living accommodations, is left uncrated and has been a perfect gentleman.

This 40 pound cutie pie has beautiful markings. Technically, he’s a senior, but Otis is a bundle of energy and must believe that you’re only as old as you feel! 

Otis has never lived with other dogs, but is doing very well with the resident dog and another foster boy; he appears happy and everyone gets along. He enjoys lounging around the house or at his foster mom’s feet with his new buddies.

In the yard, Otis can be trusted off leash. He is let out the front door to do his business and does not wander away, coming when called. On walks, Otis is doing better on leash. There are three or four other dogs strolling together, with Otis at his foster mom’s side, and he does not pull as much. Visits to a farm have shown that Otis loves to run! Because he has a lot of energy and loves running, Otis’s foster mom believes he could be trained to run alongside an owner who enjoys jogging. Swimming doesn’t seem to be in Otis’s repertoire, but he really likes going into the water to cool off. 

This very polite boy will shake hands for his food. He now receives hard food only, which has had the nice benefit of cleaning up his teeth. 

The long coat that Otis had been sporting has been clipped by his foster mom. He lay peacefully at her feet for this, feet included. He appears much happier with less hair, and enjoys lying on the cool floor for maximum comfort. Otis’s ears were trimmed, too, allowing for more air circulation to dry them out; this has assisted with healing his ear infection.

On the occasion when Otis becomes stressed, he will attempt to soothe himself by humping a pillow or bed. His foster mom finds that if she just rubs his tummy, Otis becomes more and more relaxed and lets his anxieties slip away.

The 5 year old granddaughter of Otis’s foster mom has met Otis, and they got along well together. A family with children old enough to respect the boundaries of a senior dog could be a fine match.

Otis is a wonderful, energetic senior who would be well-placed with active people who are home much of the time or have a resident dog to keep Otis company when they are away. In return they will receive a very sweet, devoted Velcro boy.

Original:

When his Pennsylvania owners started having children, they no longer had sufficient time for Otis so he was given to the grandparents. Then, due to a recent move to housing that did not allow dogs, Otis moved back in to his original home. Although Otis was good with their two year old and with the infant in the family, the two year old was TOO interested in Otis and did not respect his space, so MAESSR was contacted to find him a new home where he could enjoy more peace. 

Otis is an easy-going, yet still active ten-year-old. Exercise plays an important part in keeping him happy, so he makes the perfect exercise partner for his foster mom. He maintains a brisk walking pace, toilets quickly, and does not need to mark frequently. Once in a while he will take umbrage at another dog or joggers and will bark too vigorously, but that is getting less frequent if he gets lots of exercise. 

Settling nicely into the new routine of his foster family, Otis is a good houseguest. He is very trustworthy in the house and does not counter-surf or chew on inappropriate items. He knows that the furniture and his foster parent’s bed are off limits, too. His eating and drinking habits are tidy – no water spilled around the bowl. When his foster parents first leave for work, Otis barks for a short time and then is quiet. 

In need of some additional reward training for the come command, Otis tends to ignore this command when outdoors. He does not always comply with go to your bed, but sit and stay bring better results. Quite the beggar, Otis cries and whines for more food and pants for people food. If this does not work, he resorts to barking. His foster mom is not giving in to him on this behavior, so Otis will soon realize that this is undesirable behavior. She has found that the more exercise he gets, the calmer he is in the house – even at mealtimes.

A very good boy for the vet, Otis got an excellent report on his health. His only problem was an ear infection for which he is receiving antibiotics and regular cleaning. While reluctant, Otis allows his foster mom to perform ear cleaning and medicating without complaint. Good boy, Otis!

Whoever adopts Otis will be extremely fortunate! He is one sweet senior!