Entered: 10/09/2007
Status: Adopted
Age: 4
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Wilmington, DE
Health: UTD, HW-
Temperament: Good with people as young as teenagers, good with other dogs, unknown with cats, on medication to assist with a behavioral issue
Update 11/13/07: With a month in his foster home, Parker’s unique personality is becoming clear to his foster family. They can see good progress for him in several ways and also have a better understanding of what he will need to keep working on.
Since his arrival Parker’s comfort with crating has improved greatly. When his family gets the jackets out, he runs and crates himself. He settles right in, with or without a treat, and usually remains calm while his people are away. He has learned to “sit” for attention when they return home and rarely jumps up upon them any more to greet–all encouraging progress.
What concerns his family most is Parker’s behavior when anyone leaves the house. He gets very upset, regardless of who leaves or who is left behind with him. Strangers leaving the house bring about the same reaction as family members leaving. Poor Parker will try to go through a screen door or even a window when someone leaves, possibly feeling that he is being abandoned. His family is working to desensitize him to people leaving and see a step forward. He has figured out that, if his foster mom is taking the recyclables out, she’ll be back. He doesn’t become as upset as when she leaves at other times. Sadly, he hasn’t yet made a similar connection and, when his foster dad takes the garbage cans to the curb, it’s as upsetting to Parker as if dad was leaving for work.
In addition to a very patient and defined training effort in his home, medication is being used to help Parker. Through consultation with his vet, the choice of med and dose is being adjusted, in hopes of maximizing the benefit. Helping Parker diminish his fear of people leaving will need to continue in his adopting home. He will need a family who is willing to work with him consistently and who will celebrate his little steps of progress. He has so very much going for him and can shine with love, patience and an understanding of his fear by those around him.
Original: Parker is looking for a new home through no fault of his own. Although he had been with his family since puppyhood, the demands of two young children and full-time work found Parker being left home alone more and more. So, his family relinquished him to MAESSR.
Parker is house-broken and crate-trained. He quickly realized that he had to go into the crate when he’s left during the day, and although he doesn’t like it, he goes straight in once he is moved to the crate with a gentle tug on his collar. He clearly wants to please and does get very anxious when people leave the house. At night Parker would prefer to sleep on the bed, but that is not allowed in his foster home. When he gave the bed a try, he quickly got off when told to. He didn’t try again until the next night when his foster family said no again. Sometimes life’s changes are confusing, but Parker is willing to acquiesce to his people.
This submissive Springer is somewhat insecure and gets upset when he can’t be with his family. According to his original family, Parker would go through a screen to get to family members outside. He hasn’t had an opportunity to do so with his foster family. Instead, he’s just enjoying the attention that’s being lavished on him.
When unfamiliar cars come into the driveway, Parker sounds like quite a guard dog, barking ferociously. But when the visitors come into the house, the guard dog guise vanishes and the sweet Springer happily greets them with a wag. Then, Parker is happy to enjoy their attention. When his foster family members return home at the end of the day, Parker will jump up in the excitement of having them home again. Parker hasn’t made up his mind about the joys of riding in the car yet. His previous family said he did not do well in the car, but his foster mom hasn’t had a chance to test him yet. Although he does not get car sick, he reportedly drools and paces.
In his previous home, Parker lived with children six and ten years old, and he’s currently living with a ten-year-old. Parker has settled in well with both the two-legged and four-legged members of his foster family. A moderate energy level Springer, he is interacting more and more with the resident dogs and is being a very good house guest.
Might yours be the forever family that Parker is looking for?