Entered: 09/25/2016
Status: Adopted
Age: 6
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 52 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Health: UTD, HW-, overall excellent health
Temperament: Good with adults and older children, unknown with small children; good with other dogs, has lived with a cat but will chase any that run
Original: “He will play independently with toys, particularly those that squeak, but also had a wonderful time rolling a grape around the kitchen floor.”
Travis became a MAESSR dog because his owner in Pennsylvania was moving into a place that didn’t allow dogs. The change from a country dog to a city dog was initially difficult for Travis, but he quickly is adapting to his new lifestyle.
In his previous home, Travis could run on two acres. He now enjoys a large yard with a four-foot fence and long walks. In the park, he no longer shies away from dogs, strollers, bikers and joggers running toward and behind him, and he is pulling less on the leash. Travis also was previously allowed to sleep on beds and furniture, and was very unhappy about being demoted to the floor in his foster home. However, he does know “off” and now seldom attempts to join his foster parents at night. Instead, he is allowed to sleep next to their bed.
Travis is housetrained and waits by the back door to go out. He knows “sit” and “lie down” and comes when called. He will play independently with toys, particularly those that squeak, but also had a wonderful time rolling a grape around the kitchen floor. He gets along well with other dogs and has become playmates with a local Labradoodle. Travis will counter-surf or trash dive if the opportunity arises, but his love of food also makes him a good candidate for learning new tricks. He will sit for his meals and can be petted while eating. He enjoys car rides and will settle down in the passenger row after a short ride.
Travis is delighted to meet visitors, but is a little shy with new men. He was muzzled at the vet’s office as a precaution because this seemed to be a new experience for him and he needed multiple shots and a blood test. His health is excellent. He loves to be brushed by his foster parents and has no problem with having his feet and ears handled. His naturally short and shiny coat means that grooming can be handled at home with regular brushing to keep his ears and feathers from matting.
A challenge in fostering Travis is that he is not used to being confined. According to his owner, Travis will destroy a wire crate to escape. In his foster home, he easily jumps three-foot baby gates from a standstill. This behavior makes it difficult for his foster parents to leave the house without him. Fortunately, he is not the least bit destructive. His foster mom is teaching him to wait at the door and to spend increasing amounts of time in a crate without distress.
A strange behavior that occurs a few times a day is that Travis will chase his tail and go spinning and barking through the house. To interrupt the cycle, his foster parents hold his collar to settle him down and then toss soft toys as a distraction. This somewhat compulsive behavior will need to be discouraged, no matter how funny it first appears.
This playful and athletic dog will be ready for an active home soon after he is neutered and masters a few more house rules.