Entered: 02/18/2007
Status: adopted
Age: 1
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Alexandria, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, good in all areas
Temperament: Good with people as young as five years, good with other dogs, cats unknown
Original: Rocky was dropped with the vet for his shots and was never picked up. The vet tried to reach the owner, but all the information the owner gave was false. After spending a couple of weeks crated at the vet’s office, a technician took him to try and find him a new home. Needless to say, the whole family fell in love with this pup and they seriously contemplated keeping him. However, Rocky is a young springer who needs lots of exercise and obedience training. After four months the family decided that Rocky would be better off placed with someone who has the time to commit to him. During this time, Rocky was reported to be good and gentle with children and he got along great with the older resident male ESS, although his playful antics were sometimes a bit much for the resident dog who was getting arthritis.
Rocky is entering his teenage years and was quite a handful when he first entered his foster home! He was used to getting his own way and was taken aback at not being allowed on the sofa, on the bed, or up at the dinner table in people’s food. Quickly he has accepted new rules. He knows “sit,” “paw,” and “come” and will sit and wait for the command before eating his food. He does get in the trash and he does counter surf but this is gradually improving. He gets on well with his foster brother, the resident ESS, and is completely submissive to him. Rocky is housebroken, but he did have some submissive urination issues when he first arrived. Now that he has settled into his new environment, this has stopped.
Traveling in the car is easy for Rocky. It was reportedly his previous family that he has always been walked off leash in the past and stays close to his people. He pulls strongly when on a leash but is gradually learning some leash etiquette! He does not chew shoes or the furniture, although he is partial to tissues. Rocky has been given the run of the house for up to eight hours with no problems, and always greets his foster family with a fantastic springer wiggle when they arrive home! He does jump up occasionally, so his foster parents recommend that he is not placed with children younger than five as he may accidentally knock them down. At night, he settles down quickly and sleeps next to the bed. He loves to chase birds and loves to play, especially with other dogs.
Rocky needs a little bit of work to help him grow into the perfect pet, but whoever makes the effort will be rewarded with a loving companion for many years ahead. Are you that person?