Entered: 07/26/2001
Status: Adopted
Age: 2
Color: Liver/white
Weight:
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Newville, PA
Health: Excellent, HW-, UTD
Temperament: Excellent – a little nervous
Original:
MAESSR does not ordinarily take owner relinquishments in to foster care. We made an exception for Trixie because she was living outside with a big chain around her neck. We were worried about her health and safety.
Trixie is a pistol! Although probably over a year old, she is still very much a puppy. What a sweet and energetic little dog! She seldom sits still. She gets more exercise walking on a Flexi-lead than most dogs get running free. She loves to play fetch with me, and to chase, tug, and wrestle with my dog. Very amusing watching her think she can keep up with a German Shorthaired Pointer; Trixie comes inside with grass stains up her legs from wiping out on the corners! Even so, she has good house manners. She is housebroken, has chewed only on her bone and dog toys (she is a puppy, though, and tends to pick things up), is not a furniture-hog, and likes to lie under the kitchen table. She jumps up a lot and does the puppy jump-and-grab thing (hair, shirt, hand). She responds to ear cleaning, mat trimming, and burr removal with puppy mouthiness. She hates to be put into a crate but protests by hiding and stiff-legging rather than by mouth and is quiet once in the crate.
Although Trixie was clearly neglected, I don’t think she was abused. She is not hand-shy, and she responds to a firm “No!” with the typical Springer “OK, but it seemed like such a good idea” look. She will approach some strangers on her belly, especially in unfamiliar surroundings, but she still approaches. Trixie is a good learner, but she can be headstrong. She knows “sit” but often will not admit that I am talking to her. She is learning “wait”, with food and exiting to the outdoors as powerful motivators. She is very physical with my dog but takes the inter-canine discipline well and doesn’t mind when Gretel sends her flying.
Trixie would do well with an active family. She needs a firm hand or she could easily take over the household. An obedience class is a necessity for her. She would do well with another dog, although she could be hard on an omega dog.