Si

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Original:  “His foster parents love Si. He’s a peaceful soul who just wants to be with his people.”

Si was surrendered to MAESSR, along with three other Springers, due to his Virginia owners’ divorce. Previously Si was living in an outdoor kennel, but he is happily an indoor boy now.

His foster parents love Si. He’s a peaceful soul who just wants to be with his people.  He came into a full house (it’s COVID time after all) and he quickly picked his preferred human – the mom in the family.  When she’s home, he orbits her like a satellite.  While she reads or watches TV, Si sits next to her for petting.  He takes cuddling to a whole new level!   

When his foster mom leaves the house, Si lies down facing the garage door and moans. Others in the household can distract him (he’ll take attention any way he can get it) but if left by himself, he’ll return to the garage door or the back gate and await the return of his idol. Obviously, he’s not a dog who wants to spend any time alone.

Si seems to get along fine with other dogs. He bonded quickly with the resident Springer, half his size and age with twice his energy, who leads Si on adventures in the large back yard. Si has had no experience with cats while in his foster home.  Si displays no food or toy guarding with his Springer pal.  Good boy!  He loves cloth toys and chews on bones. He loves to have toys thrown to him and brings them back for his person to throw them again.

Though he’s 7 years old, Si doesn’t seem to have had much in the way of life experience. When his foster family took him on his first walk around the neighborhood, he seemed uncertain, like he didn’t know what he was supposed to do. He doesn’t tug at the leash; he just ambles along at his walker’s pace and tries to take it all in.  Si doesn’t know much yet when it comes to commands.  He responds to “come” and he is learning “sit” and “down” currently.  He’s basically a good passenger in the car although he’d rather be on the front seat; his foster family is working on getting him to stay in the back.

Behaviorally, he’s fully housetrained but is not crate trained. He does not signal to go out but he is taken out frequently throughout the day, returning promptly when called.  For being new to living inside, Si has excellent house manners.  He has full run of the house as a result.  Although he’s big enough to reach the counter, he only tried to get up there once and he was very contrite when he was told, “No!”  Si will get on the furniture but has had to learn that that does not include his foster parents’ bed.  Now he sleeps contentedly on a dog bed in his foster parents’ bedroom.  At human mealtime, Si will beg at the table but his family just ignores him.

When he first arrived, Si snapped a couple of times at the two adult daughters in his household when they either startled him or approached him too suddenly. They’re kind to him and respect his space now, and he has come to accept and solicit petting from them as well. He’s fine when other people like guests or tradespeople come to the house. He’ll bark at the doorbell but will welcome anyone into the house whom his foster family accepts, and then leaves them alone to go about their business. 

When Si first came into MAESSR’s care, he went to another volunteer’s home for vetting and grooming.  Si was covered in ticks and mats, so his coat had to be shaved.  He was good for this spa treatment and didn’t mind being bathed and shaved.  At his vet appointment, it was discovered that Si had hookworms and roundworms for which he has now been treated.  He was also heartworm positive.   The vet decided to use the “slow kill” treatment for heartworms with Si.  This “slow-kill” method involves giving the infected dog monthly Heartgard tabs over the course of a year.  (Doxyclycline therapy is sometimes done as part of the treatment as well.)  At the end of the year, the dog is re-tested for heartworms.  MAESSR will supply the medication to the dog’s adoptive family and will pay for the follow-up vet visit and heartworm test. Although most dogs are heartworm-free after one year, MAESSR will pay for another year of treatment if the dog is still heartworm positive.

Si would be a great fit for anyone who stays at home and wants a warm companion close at hand. He now enjoys living the more active life, running and walking and getting into better shape.  So, he would like this increased activity to continue in his forever home.  Consider adding Si to your family if you want a healthy, laid back Springer with a serious need for affection.