Entered: 07/04/2008
Status: Adopted
Age: 6
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Halstead, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, moving soundly after treatment with an inexpensive antihistamine
Temperament: Good with adults, lived with a two-year-old and a nine-year-old in her relinquishing family, good with other dogs, respectful of the resident cat
Update 07/16/08:
Shelby has made great strides in her health issues and training since she arrived at her foster home. Her vet determined her limping had been due to an insect sting and after her treatment with an inexpensive antihistamine; she is 100% better, running and playing once more! In her previous home, Shelby had been crated for long periods of time and had not received adequate exercise causing one of her front legs to atrophy. With all of the additional exercise she has been getting in her foster home, her leg muscles have built up again and both legs are strong and of equal size. The allergy testing that had been done showed that Shelby is allergy-free. Shelby came from her original home with tranquilizers for grooming; however, her foster mom feels this medication is not necessary since Shelby has been great with all aspects of grooming – bathing, toenail trimming, ear cleaning, clipping. She stands nicely on the grooming table.
For a six-year-old who had not been housetrained, Shelby is doing great! She learned to use the dog door right away. She has been taught “Potty” to go on command, as her foster mom has her go before retiring for the night. Shelby’s counter-surfing days are no more. She was quick to learn that this was unacceptable and she does not even attempt to get up on the counter. She knows “No” and is happy to be told “Good Girl!”
Shelby likes to carry toys around with her and will chew them when bored so giving her tough ones she cannot ingest is important. Having a year old resident Springer to play with keeps Shelby entertained too. She is still hopeful that the resident cat will play with her, but he does not want to be bothered. So, Shelby keeps her distance from him. If a stranger comes to the door, she will bark to let you know someone new is present, but she quickly quiets down. She does not jump on people; she paces around them with a toy in her mouth and wiggles happily. When told to sit, Shelby obeys. Her foster mom has been working with her on come also. Shelby would benefit from additional training when she is adopted. This will keep her safe and make her even a better family member. One morning there was a rabbit in the yard and when her foster mom saw she had seen it and was about to take off after it, she told her firmly, “Shelby, NO!” and she stopped and came back. Good girl, Shelby! This sweet girl is ready for her forever home!
Original:
Shelby was relinquished to MAESSR by her owners because the children of the family were not exercising her properly or giving her the attention she deserved.
Since she has come into foster care, Shelby has had been limping occasionally and has been chewing her left front paw making it red and irritated. The vet could not see a cause for this and is treating her paw with Benadryl and Cortizone spray. A re-check is scheduled with the vet to see if her symptoms have dissipated. Her muscles on her left front leg have atrophied a bit according to the vet. The vet is monitoring these conditions to see if further testing is needed.
In her original home, Shelby was outside in a dog run during the day when the family was gone, and at night she was crated in a laundry room. As a result, she was not housetrained. Her foster mom is working on housetraining her now, and she is coming along fine. Shelby is very willing to please. She does countersurf, but her foster family is also working on that with her, and she has been much better. She is also learning not to beg at the table when the family eats. Shelby spent the first two nights in her crate, but after that she has been good sleeping in a dog bed next to her foster parents’ bed on the floor.
Shelby gets along well and plays well with the resident year old Springer; however, because of her random lameness and joint and foot problems, she does not run well. Shelby thought the resident cat was interesting, but when she approached him, he hissed and spat at her. She backed off rather than chase him, which is good. When it comes to toys, Shelby wants them all! She loves toys!
Despite comments from the relinquishing family that Shelby was given tranquilizers when she was taken to the groomer, her foster mom bathed her, groomed her a bit, especially her feet, and cleaned her ears. She gave her foster mom no problems and she was not stressed from it.
A typical Springer, Shelby is an attentive girl who wants to be close to her people at all times. She’d be great with a less active forever family who needs some faithful Springer loving!