Wilbur

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Updated 12/10/06: Wilbur is a complete sweetheart and proving to be quite handy around the house too. His foster mom has decided he is even more useful than the 2 resident kids in the family, as Wilbur finds immense pleasure in helping her unload groceries from the car! Seriously, Wilbur likes being given things to carry into the house, so his foster mom gives him packaged groceries and he gently carries them into the kitchen where he sits and waits for her to remove them from his mouth. He does not bite into them at all, so if you’re looking for some help with the groceries, Wilbur is the dog for you! He also is great at getting the morning paper. Woooow!!!

Wilbur has recovered completely from his neutering procedure. He enjoys going to the dog park and is friendly with all the dogs and people. He would love to begin 2007 with the adoption of a loving family who will let him lighten their chores and snuggle at day’s end.

Original: When his owners could no longer care for him, Wilbur came to MAESSR He rode very well on the long car ride to his foster home, even though he was sharing the space with another dog. When he first arrived, he was very quiet and scared but a complete gentleman. After 3 days, he started feeling more at home and his wonderful personality started showing itself.

Wilbur is a lover-boy, who enjoys doing “sit-up” tricks for a little extra love and attention every chance he gets. He is completely house-trained and has not had a single accident in the house. He is friendly towards all dogs and people, although when he first meets someone at his house, he goes into guard dog mode. He has a very loud, mean bark which can be scary to those who have not yet met him. Upon meeting someone for the first time, he will try to jump up on them. He needs to be reminded not to do this. After he has met someone, this behavior disappears. Wilbur’s foster family is convinced that this is just Wilbur’s exuberant way of saying “hi”…….but it is very exuberant.

Inside the house, Wilbur likes to stay close to his family members. He has been known to counter-surf, but he is very good around the dinner table, where he sits quietly. Outside, Wilbur walks well on the leash and enjoys a gentle run from time to time.

Wilbur recently paid a visit to the vet where he was neutered and had his teeth cleaned. He is recovering very quickly from the surgery. His teeth had moderate dental tartar and have mild permanent staining. His gums were severely receded in one location. A deep pocket was found on the left upper canine. These 2 teeth need to be watched carefully as they may cause him problems in the future. For now, dental chews and daily brushing will help control further tartar buildup. Annual dental cleanings are recommended to prevent/delay the need for extractions in the future. Wilbur’s ears are great! Occasional cleaning is all that’s necessary. He does not mind his ears, feet, or any part of his body being handled.

Wilbur is also very good about letting people near his food. He loves to carry things around for his family. He has gently carried shoes, pillows, and even a bag of sandwich bread which, to his credit, he did not get into. Good Boy!! He just likes bringing things to people! He has met young children and likes them. However, he scares small kids upon first meeting them because he tries to jump on them and he barks loudly. He would be best suited for a family with children over 10 years of age. He hasn’t yet had any experiences with cats, although he did not show any interest in the cats at the vets’ office. Due to lack of need he hasn’t been introduced to a crate in his foster home. He loves going for rides, happily jumping into the car whenever invited. He rides well in the back of the family station wagon, content to be in the rear, though he would probably ride well on the seat if he were invited up.

Sniffing in the backyard and getting to run around outdoors are things Wilbur loves to do. However, if his foster family is not with him, he only stays out for a short time, as he prefers to be close to them. If someone is outside with him, he loves a good game of chase, fetch, run, catch.

As mentioned earlier, Wilbur likes to carry things around. The day before Thanksgiving, his foster mom was busy in the kitchen. She heard a bit of a “snort” and looked over to find that Wilbur had gone to the basement, selected a couch pillow, brought it back upstairs, dropped it on the floor, and then laid his head down on it. A guy’s gotta have a little comfort in life, yes? Along those lines, Wilbur would really, really like to belong to a family that lets him sleep on the bed. He would be happy sleeping on a child’s or an adult’s bed. If that is not possible, a gentle reminder to get off the bed results in him sleeping all night contently at the side of the bed.

Wilbur is a loyal companion who is a blessing to those he meets. He deserves to be blessed with a family who will love him and share the softer side of life with him for years to come.