Entered: 04/30/2022
Status: Adopted
Age: 5
Color: Black/White/Tan
Weight: 60 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Stuarts Draft, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, receiving low dose thyroid supplement, losing to a healthy weight
Temperament: Good with adults, not good with children, good with other dogs, good with cats
Update 05/20/2022: “He was very anxious when he went to the professional groomer. For the groomer’s safety and for Watson’s, he was muzzled.”
Although Watson was used to home grooming, he was very anxious when he went to the professional groomer. For the groomer’s safety and for Watson’s, he was muzzled. This made the grooming process go smoothly.
Original: “His foster dad describes Watson as a very friendly cuddle bug who does not hesitate to roll over for a belly rub.”
Watson became a MAESSR boy when his Pennsylvania owner accepted the fact that her home was not a good fit for him. He was very nervous and unsure of the two girls (ages 12 and 10) living in the home. Their mother described the girls as squealy, high pitched and rambunctious, jumping around a lot. One had grabbed Watson unexpectedly and he reacted by biting her. When Watson would hear the kids slam the door when they came home from school, he often retreated to his crate. The owner realized that her home was not working for Watson or her children and she reached out to MAESSR to find a better home for her handsome Springer.
From the start, Watson found his foster home to be a quiet, loving safe place for him. It is a single adult home with a male Springer foster brother and resident cats. His foster dad describes Watson as a very friendly cuddle bug who does not hesitate to roll over for a belly rub. He loves to be in the home office with his foster dad during work.
Watson is a happy dog and loves anyone he meets with the classic wigglebutt and exuberance. He will try to give kisses when possible and craves attention. The resident male Springer also craves attention, so dad has to watch them and keep them calm while giving attention to both.
Watson is fed away from the resident Springer because both like to check out the other’s food bowl and that would lead to a tussle better avoided. Both dogs get along and play with each other, but they need to be monitored as sometimes their play can get out of hand. Watson listens very well and goes to his crate when he is fed and for bedtime. He understands the command “crate.” He sits when receiving a dog biscuit and accepts it gently.
Watson gets along with the resident cats and ignores them for the most part. He will go to his crate to sleep at night and has not had any accidents in the home. He uses a dog door to go outside to a fenced backyard and enjoys sniffing around and chasing birds. He does not catch them but looks up in the trees and follows them around the yard. Watson likes for his foster dad to be outside with him and watch him play, otherwise he will follow him inside to be close.
When foster dad is gone for short periods of up to four hours, Watson and his foster brother are left gated in part of the house with access to the backyard through the dog door. They both watch him pull out of the driveway at the fence and both greet him when he returns. No issues appear to have ensued.
Watson does like to de-stuff dog toys and dog beds so he is best with very tough dog toys. He is allowed on the sofa when he wants, but more often will just lie on the floor.
With his thyroid numbers on the low end of the scale, Watson now receives a low dose thyroid supplement for that. It will also help him shed some extra weight he is carrying. He weighs 60 lbs now and would benefit from losing about 10 lbs. His vet appointment went well, but he was very excitable. He got his nails trimmed with the help of foster dad holding his head. It was a strange place for him, but he did well. He did pull on his leash when going to the vet. He has not been taken on a leash walk, as he has a nice fenced backyard to run in.
When Watson initially arrived at his foster home, he had mats in his ears that he let his foster dad remove with scissors. He also received a bath, which he didn’t mind. He will go for a professional grooming soon.
Watson’s forever home could have a low energy dog in it and some cats too, but it must not have any children in it! He likes a calm environment, but would reward the owner by being a very loving and happy Springer.