Simon 5

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Update 03/03/08:

Simon’s socialization has continued. It has been paced slowly and with care, so as to draw him into a wider world and built his confidence. He has met some dog-friendly strangers of late with success. He will need more opportunities like this with his adopting family.

Simon is ready for a very special forever family. He needs people who are willing to accept his shyness, people who are willing to accept that shyness is the way Simon is, and people who will accept that Simon may always be a shy boy. 

To better understand Simon’s needs going forward, one can look at how he has progressed with his foster family. They understood from the beginning that Simon could not be forced to do anything or to deal with anyone. One big hurdle for Simon has been a trust of men. With time Simon has come to love his foster dad, basically because his dad conditioned Simon to his presence. Just by being himself, he earned Simon’s trust. Initially Simon’s foster dad was happy to just say “Hi, Simon” and keep walking on by him, never approaching Simon, never demanding attention from him. His foster dad didn’t set out to develop a relationship with Simon, (His foster mom was working on that.) but perhaps because of this, it allowed Simon the time and space he needed to take a huge step forward.

Whoever adopts Simon may have to understand that, while loving him from Day 1 is what should happen, they will likely have to wait a bit for him to love them back – which he will. His foster parents feel he will transition to a new home and be a great pet for the right family. They can see his confidence and basic “Springerness” coming through now. He will also benefit from a canine buddy in his new home who can give Simon a little guidance during challenging times and signal him that something is safe, like taking a treat from a stranger. 

Once Simon realizes that a person is good and non-threatening, he is comfortable around them and affectionate to them. This has happened, after months, in his foster home. He has become one of those Velcro springers there. He is now always underfoot in the kitchen while his foster mom cooks or under the table while his family is seated. Simon follows up to the bedroom at night without being asked. He will seek out the teenage son at home when no one else is there, even though Simon is still frightened of him. Simon will accept his petting and at times is even looking to get a little head scratching! Simon realizes now that he needs his people and that is fantastic progress. 

If Simon’s story touches your heart, and yours is a patient heart, please ask about this tender boy. He has a full measure of Springer love to share and is just now beginning to know that it’s safe to share with people.

Update 01/15/08:

Simon continues to improve slowly. He is working on obedience training as a way to build confidence and has mastered sit, come, and down. It is slow going since so many times a command, no matter how gently requested, is met with a look of fear/dread/panic and sends Simon off to find a safe place.

He has become very comfortable with both his foster mom and dad, a big improvement for a boy who was initially very fearful of men. His family is working on getting him to generalize that to all people. He has come to accept his human brothers better now since they are in charge of his favorite activity of the day – mealtime. The way to Simon’s heart is clearly through his stomach!

Recently Simon and his family went to a dog park which is a nice place to see dog-friendly people but Simon was not ready to greet anyone. Just being around strangers, though, is a good thing and something he needs to accept before he will be ready to go. He has been to the vet’s office twice now, just for a socialization visit while the resident Springer got the once over. The first time Simon was terrified and spent the whole time shaking or facing away from the activity and looking at his foster mom in the corner. The second time the vet complimented Simon on his relaxed demeanor which he noted was clearly an improvement; Simon took a rawhide treat from his hand and let the vet assistant pet him – such a treat to see!

Simon will come upstairs now when invited and sleep on a dog bed next to his foster parents’ bed. He still loves to play with the resident Springer but there has been a definite shift toward human companionship as his preference. His foster mom used to think he would make a good pet/companion for someone’s dog but had no interest in his role as “man’s best friend”. Not anymore. He is making strides in becoming a true Springer, sweet, loving, and always up for a belly rub and a kiss.

Update 12/10/07:

Amid copious amounts of quiet encouragement and patience, Simon is a work in progress since his return to foster care. In addition to the attentiveness of his foster family, other MAESSR volunteers are helping to further his progress through their counsel and visits. Building his trust in humans is going slowly forward.

Simon has become much more comfortable with his foster mom since his arrival. She is working to build his confidence and to shift his focus from dogs to people. One way of doing this is to work on commands and give him lots of rewards for focusing on her. She can see a step forward for Simon with this approach. There’s a spill over from this effort too. Simon now greets her husband with his tail going a mile a minute and allows her older son to pet him.

Another MAESSR volunteer has visited Simon in his foster home. Simon was comfortable with her when she was sitting close to him on the floor, but facing away, and petting his back. He would take the treats she offered. Others strangers to the home are clearly scarier and can cause Simon to pace and be anxious. Encounters with strangers outside the home, where Simon is most at ease, bring on less worry. When mild weather returns and trips to the ball field resume, Simon and his mom will be there to boost his confidence in meeting more friendly strangers.

In many ways Simon is emotionally like a young puppy, insecure and looking for guidance from his mom. The resident female dog is now playing this role for Simon. When the time comes, Simon will likely do best in a forever home with another dog for comfort and assurance. 

The work will continue to further engage Simon with his family and eventually all people. For now, he is bouncing around to greet his foster mom when she comes home or gets his food bowl. He will sit close for some rubbing and kisses or will bring his favorite toy for a round of keep-away. He loves to romp outdoors off leash and comes happily when called – except when some critter under the leaves is more interesting. When this happens, his foster mom suspects selective deafness, probably learned from his stand-in canine mom or the family’s children or the dad!!!! All baby steps forward for Simon but very, very nice to see and celebrate!!

Update 10/30/07:

Simon has come back to MAESSR from a caring family who worked very hard to make him comfortable in their home. While with them, Simon was going for walks and visiting the dog park but spent much of the rest of his time under the kitchen table where he felt safe. The family knew that because of his background Simon would need help with his socialization but what was not so apparent is how much having another dog in the home can help Simon. In his first foster home he lived with many dogs. In his current foster home he is living with one. Simon really cues off of her and looks to her for guidance and security. Unfortunately, the adopting home did not have another dog to help Simon along.

Since he is back his foster family is also working on other skills that Simon needs help with. He needs to learn that men and strangers are OK and safe to meet instead of being so scary. This will probably take some time but he is really warming up to his foster mom already – hmmmmm, so often women have an edge with under-socialized dogs and it seems that Simon is mainstream in this area.

Keep fingers crossed for Simon’s progress and if you have a steady resident dog who would welcome a companion, keep Simon in mind. Updates coming.

Original:

This handsome Springer is the son of Cory, another MAESSR Springer. Simon, Cory and Jade were seized by animal control in New Jersey after their former owner fled her home due to a domestic issue. She contacted animal control to say they were there and abandoned. The female Springers both lived in outdoor kennels as they were breeding dogs, but Simon was neutered young and lived on a run-line in the yard. 

At some point, Simon must have been a house dog or at least had access to the inside since he has had no accidents in his foster home. He is, however, scared of new things and places. Upon arrival in his foster home, the ceiling fan was an obstacle to his being comfortable in the kitchen. Despite his timid nature, he is very adaptable and is learning quickly. Though he didn’t like his crate at first, he quickly retreats there now when he is scared or if one of the resident dogs starts complaining to him. 

Since he is crated all day while his foster mom works, she allows him to sleep on a dog bed next to her bed and he does so peacefully through the night. This is a way to help socialize him to the ways of humans since he doesn’t get that during the day and so badly needs it. Simon is excellent on leash and stays very close to his foster mom. When it’s time to ride in the car, Simon tries to go the other way, as if to say, “Oh, no. That thing scares me. I think I’ll go over here instead.” But, his foster mom easily scoops him up and places him in the car; then, he sits and rides very calmly watching out the window. 

This 50 pound Springer is not a big eater. His foster mom is coaxing him to eat dog food, and Simon is slowly realizing that dog food is all he will get so he might as well eat it. He is fine to share food and water with the resident dogs and doesn’t think that other dogs will mind either. So, he will need a home where canine food sharing is acceptable behavior. It seems he must have been free fed in his prior life with food left out all the time since he doesn’t understand the concept of specific mealtimes yet. He is learning, though. 

Simon does not bark at all, but does occasionally whine when he wants out of his crate when his foster mom gets home from work. He is excellent outside and is happy to lie at his foster mom’s feet while she reads. When it’s hot, though, he tries to dig a hole to lie in. He stops immediately when told. Simon is still trying to figure out the doggie door, but he has figured out the steps which it doesn’t seem he ever encountered before. He goes up and down like an old pro now. 

Simon has not tried to chew anything inappropriately, but also doesn’t know what toys are for either. He was excellent for his grooming and bath on his first day in foster care. Although he was initially very matted, now his rich, dark liver coat is very luxurious and soft as silk. 

Simon needs a home that will teach him basic obedience to build his confidence. Since quick gestures scare him, Simon would do best in a home without young children. He needs a less active home where he can be shown that new things can bring joy and do not need to be regarded with fear. When Simon went with his foster mom to visit some of her adult friends, he graciously accepted their petting and sat with without complaint even when his foster mom walked away from him.

Stay tuned to hear more about Simon as MAESSR helps him open his eyes to the world of possibilities for a happy, confident dog.