Tully 2

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Update 06/05/12:

Handsome little Tully is doing exceptionally well on all fronts. He is charming, sweet and growing into a very nice dog. He has lost some of his baby teeth and is learning not to be so mouthy. He has been going to doggie day care several days a week and is learning to play with all different sizes and ages of dogs. He takes correction from the other dogs very well if he gets too animated in play. 

His housebreaking is coming along very well. His foster mom often leaves the back door open a bit on nice days and Tully often goes out to take care of business on his own. A few days ago he even rang the bells hanging on the door so someone would open the door for him. He is still closely watched and taken out frequently and he pees as soon as he gets out doors………good boy, Tully! 

Tully is proving to be a very bright young puppy. On walks, he knows exactly which houses have dogs and will stop and look for them. He is also responding nicely to verbal correction when he needs to be redirected. Sometimes when Tully confronts a new situation, he tilts his head a bit and you can almost see him trying to figure out his course of action. When he is hungry between meals, he walks over to the place dog food is kept and barks………letting his foster mom know more food is needed.

Recently Tully spent an afternoon as a MAESSR representative at a local dog event. He met hundreds of dogs and people and loved every minute of it. He met a giant dog and looked up in awe. He got the chance to sniff a goat and a sheep in their pens at the 4-H booth. He watched his foster brother get head butted by the goat and correctly decided to keep his head out of that pen. He discovered a large treat box on the ground at another booth and stuck his head in and came out with a nice big cookie. After three hours of fun, he was just pooped and needed to be carried to the car.

Tully is a wonderful dog………very smart and just as springer-like as his foster siblings. He is a Velcro boy, fun loving and sweet. Don’t miss the chance to add lovely Tully to your family.

Original:

Tully was born in a New Jersey shelter to a Brittany mom and a Springer dad. All nine of the pups were adopted, including Tully, but Tully was returned because he was found to be too much for his owners. The shelter contacted MAESSR knowing we would find the perfect home for this spirited young pup.

Tully is doing wonderfully well in his foster home. He is now about 23 pounds and his big feet suggest that he’ll be a good sized boy when he grows up. He is living with three other Springers, ages two, five and eight. He is also living with two young human teens. He easily adjusted to living in a home and living with a new pack.

This good pup is doing better than his foster mom hoped with his housetraining. He is taken out into the yard about every hour and watched to be sure he takes care of business. He is also taken out after a nap, after spirited play sessions, and after eating. He is going to the door at times and will run out with the other dogs after eating.

Although he is crated when no one is home, Tully is otherwise allowed to follow his foster mom around the house. He generally stays close by so she can correct him if he attempts to chew something inappropriate or otherwise get into any trouble. He is responding nicely to a gentle “ACK, ACK” when he gets into something and he learning to trade when he doesn’t want to give up items he “found.” Some nights Tully is allowed to sleep with his foster parents and the other dogs. He is exceptionally good, never making a peep and sleeping all through the night.

Living an active life, Tully spends a lot of time driving kids to activities, waiting for kids, going for walks, traveling to MAESSR picnics, playing in the yard, going to doggie day care, and even going to work with his foster mom. He isn’t tall enough to counter-surf or get into the trash but did jump onto a chair and then the kitchen table to get his food bowl. The little man is a thinker!

For a puppy, Tully walks pretty well on leash. He often goes for walks as long as two miles. If he sees people or other dogs on his walks, he does want to greet them. Of course Tully’s adorable puppy face draws any dog-loving human right over. Tully also knows “sit” and will often offer a sit if a treat is held out.

Very much one of the pack in his foster home, Tully plays with all the other dogs, enjoying running and chasing another dog, playing tug and wrestling. Although he’s a lot smaller than the other dogs, he has a big presence. He’s self-confident and at times a little pushy, barking at the resident dogs if he wants them to play with him. He also can get too crazy requiring his foster mom to remove Tully for a little cooling down. He can also be mouthy, especially if his foster mom is trying to hold him and he doesn’t want to be held. With his foster mom’s help and constancy from his adoptive family, he will learn some self-control and this behavior will stop. Tully really enjoys chewing bones and when he finds a new squeaky toy, he runs all over the house squeaking it happily. Tully’s foster mom does not think Tully is a high energy Springer; instead, she thinks he is a Springer with a good sized play tank! He runs around the yard a little but really seems to want to play. He hasn’t learned yet that half the fun of fetch is bringing back the ball so it can be thrown again.

If you are interested in adopting Tully, know that MAESSR only places puppies in homes that are committed to training and bonding with the pup in obedience classes. Puppies require a lot of care, attention, and patience, and they do chew on things! The decision to get a puppy and raise it to be a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted dog is a serious commitment. To reinforce this commitment, MAESSR requires all adopters of dogs under one year old to enroll their puppy in an obedience class within sixty days of adoption. Tully is a smart boy who will be at the head of his class!

Tully is fed in the kitchen with the other dogs but since he eats so slowly, his foster mom sits by Tully and keeps the other dogs away. He doesn’t seem to guard his food or toys but has given a growl when one of the dogs got his nose into Tully’s bowl.

A very good boy at the vet, Tully tolerated the poking and prodding with no complaints. He actually enjoyed the attention. The vet did note that his microchip migrated down his shoulder. It feels like a small piece of pencil lead under his skin. Tully hasn’t been groomed but is fine with brushing most of the time. Sometimes, he thinks it’s a great game and bites at the brush.

Ideally, Tully would do best in a home with another young dog who enjoys spirited play. He probably wouldn’t be a good match for a very submissive or older dog. He loves people of all ages but until he outgrows the mouthy stage, kids over ten or twelve might be best in his forever family. Tully will be his best if he gets lots of opportunity for play and activity. He’s smart and extremely observant.

Tully is a lovely little man who requires his new family to provide structure and loving guidance to help him grow up to be a fine adult dog. If you need some more fun in your life, inquire about Tully.