Tipper

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Original: “Tipper was great at the vet. Tipper is great in the car. Tipper is great in the house. Tipper is great getting a bath at home. Tipper is great at grooming. Tipper is a GREAT dog!”

Tipper is a beautiful black/white field bred English Springer Spaniel from New Jersey. He was adopted along with his brother, but theirs was not a peaceful existence. Tipper was relinquished because his littermate was bullying him and coveting the owner; the discord just became too much. Unfortunately, Tipper was not the alpha dog in the house, but that could be to another’s gain. A wonderful, smart dog, Tipper is now with his MAESSR foster family and has quickly fit into their home. Prepared to be greeted by kisses and huge wiggles!

Tipper would be best suited as the only pet in his adoptive home. Due to his prior experience with his brother and no experience with cats, he will settle in well if he is the sole recipient of attention. He has met other dogs and is fine with a sniff/sniff play or sniff/sniff walk away. He has only had an altercation with one little cockapoo, so he is best on leash until he is secure in his surroundings and secure with his adoptive owner(s). 

In his former home, Tipper had free range of the house and the backyard. He was not regularly walked.  The rules are different in his foster home, and he accepts change well. Walking without pulling is a work in progress. Tipper was fitted with a harness which helps. He has free range of the home, is not crated, and is completely housetrained. Being on furniture is not permitted; at night he sleeps on his dog bed. Tipper’s signal to “do his business” is a bark at the door.  When his foster parents are not home, he is kept in the kitchen where he waits for them by the door. 

Tipper has lovely manners. He was caught counter-surfing once, but food was left on the counter. He took it but didn’t eat it. He was told “no” and he hasn’t done it again. If there is no access to counter food, he will not surf. Trash is out of his reach. Tip is free-fed in the kitchen, and he usually eats at the end of the day. He does not resource guard.

Surprisingly, the only inappropriate thing Tipper chewed was his harness. His foster parents now take his harness off when he comes back in the house and exchange it for a collar. He likes to sleep with a shoe if left out, but it is never nibbled on. He has a few stuffed toys but is rather indifferent to them.

Tipper has the great qualities to be a ball boy at Wimbledon. His foster parents take him to an area where he can safely be off leash and toss the ball. He retrieves, brings it back to their feet, and barks for it to be thrown again. If he needs a break, he will go and sit in the shade until he is ready to start up again. He LOVES his tennis balls. When it is playtime, Tip is VERY energetic, but calm when he realizes his people want to be; he just melds into their moods.

Tipper was great at the vet. Tipper is great in the car. Tipper is great in the house. Tipper is great getting a bath at home. Tipper is great at grooming. Tipper is a GREAT dog!

He has been tested with children as young as five. He prefers adults, and just walks away from youngsters. His former owner said that Tipper played ball nicely with his nine- and 12-year-old grandchildren. 

The one surprise with Tipper is that he has never growled while in foster care. He barks at a doorbell, barks if he needs to use the bathroom, and barks to tell his person to throw the ball. What a good disposition!

Since Tipper is young, he is not set in his ways. His adopting family can work on him to walk better on leash. He will get used to being around kids; there are no kids in the foster home. Best of all, he always keeps his person in view. Tipper is 95% trained to come when called, but 100% will come with training and security.

Due to his prior problems with his brother, Tipper would be best as the only canine in the home. He may adjust to other animals, but he has not been tested. Since he was never really walked as a pup, a backyard would be ideal, or a place where he can go off leash to play ball. Be prepared to play ball, that is his passion!

Tipper is a lovely dog, and it is so nice to be welcomed home with his full-scale tail wiggles. What a great companion he will make for a lucky family.