Entered: 06/01/2012
Status: Adopted
Age: 4
Color: Black/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Delmar, MD
Health: UTD, HW-, allergic cough managed with an antihistamine, treatment for hookworms complete
Temperament: Good with adults, good when meeting children as young as 9, good with other dogs, good with cats
Original:
Handsome Rocky was relinquished to a Delaware shelter by a ninety-year old-owner who found him to be too much to handle. The shelter staff reported that he was well-behaved and friendly but didn’t enjoy the noise of the kennel area. They moved him to a crate in the reception room of the shelter so he could keep an eye on everyone coming and going, which he much preferred. Fortunately, Rocky didn’t have to stay in the shelter for too long before a MAESSR volunteer was able to “spring” him and get him into foster care.
Rocky shares his foster home with four other Springers from a one year old male to a five year old female, as well as three cats. It’s quite a menagerie, but he gets along well with everyone! In fact, Rocky has excellent canine manners. At the dog park, he greeted over a dozen dogs of different shapes, sizes, and temperaments very appropriately. Once he made the rounds with the dogs, he stopped by each bench in the park to say hello to their owners. Rocky’s past with kids is unknown, but he seems to interact with them well. Although he will sometimes jump on people when excited, he sits politely for petting when he encounters children.
At the shelter, Rocky was quite spoiled. He was finicky about eating dry food, so they fed him canned food twice a day instead. It took about a week for Rocky’s foster parents to convince him that dogs actually eat dry dog food. It seems that he was probably fed people food at some point as well; when the microwave “beeps” to alert Rocky’s foster mom that it is done cooking, Rocky circles and barks expectantly. Rocky’s house manners may need a little fine tuning but his foster mom is quick to point out that he has the most important thing, housetraining, mastered! He came into foster care with the steadfast belief that dogs should be allowed on furniture. Although he will get “off” when directed to do so, he likes to sneak onto the couch when he sees an opportunity. For this leggy boy, counter-surfing is also quite easy. While his foster mom generally keeps the counters clear to remove temptation, she looked away for a few seconds one afternoon only to find that a slice of cheese was missing from the island when she turned back around! Rocky doesn’t know many commands, but he does “sit” and “shake” for a treat. He also consistently comes when he is called.
On his first day in foster care, Rocky had a few incidents of submissive urination. These events all occurred when his foster mom reached toward him to snap a leash on his collar. Rocky would hit the floor and a few drops of urine would escape. His foster mom just ignored it and by the next day he was sitting happily when it was time to get ready to go outside. Now, Rocky’s foster mom can even stand over him to put a harness on without him showing any anxiety about the situation. At the vet, Rocky hopped up on the scale and sat with his tail wagging the whole time. At forty-eight pounds, the vet felt like he was just the right weight. He was good for having his temperature taken and being examined, but when the vet tech went to grab his leash and bring him in the back for his heartworm test, Rocky’s submissive urination surfaced again. His forever family will have to be understanding that he may display this behavior while he makes the adjustment to his new home.
Rocky is crate-trained, and sleeps in his crate at night. He was also crated for the first week that he was in foster care while his foster parents were at work. After about a week, Rocky got a trial run at being allowed free run in the house when no one was home. He passed with flying colors, and is now granted this freedom every day. Good boy, Rocky!
According to his previous vet records, Rocky had been struggling with a cough for a few months before he ended up at the shelter. He had been treated with two different medications and had an x-ray taken, but still the cough persisted. After a thorough examination and reviewing Rocky’s records, his new vet felt that Rocky’s cough was unlikely to be related to an infection or a more serious problem. His heart and lungs sounded “great” and his only symptom besides the cough was sneezing. She diagnosed him with seasonal allergies and prescribed an antihistamine. After two days of treatment, Rocky’s cough was non-existent which is great news for this young dog. In the future, Rocky will just need allergy medication for the times when he shows signs of irritation from things like pollen or grass.
The young adult Springer that he is, Rocky has a nice moderate energy level. He enjoys going to the dog park, running in the yard, and chasing after balls, but he is also content to curl up on a dog bed or keep his foster mom company by lying at her feet while she is working at her desk. He likes going for walks and trots along nicely with the help of a no-pull harness. Rocky enjoys going for rides in the car whether he is crated or allowed to sit on the back seat and check out the scenery. He doesn’t guard food or toys, but does enjoy chewing on a bone if he can sneak one away from his hoarding foster sister.
Since he is a tall guy and has a tendency to jump when excited, he would do best in a home with older kids, or one that is kid-free. Rocky hasn’t displayed signs of separation anxiety, but he is a definitely a Velcro boy. If the people in his forever family are gone for long stretches of time, he would probably be happiest with a canine buddy to keep him company. Mostly, Rocky is just looking for someone who understands his Springer nature and is ready for their new best friend!