Entered: 05/18/2019
Status: Adopted
Age: 5
Color: Liver/White/Tan
Weight: 84 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: West Deptford, NJ
Health: UTD, HW-, losing to a healthy weight, overall good health,
Temperament: Good with all people as young as two years old, good with other dogs, unknown with cats
Original: “He was so gentle and welcomed the love and friendship the kids gave him.”
Wings became a MAESSR boy due to his owner’s poor health. His previous home was a breeding farm in New Jersey and it appears that Wings spent most of his time in a fenced-in run area. This farm boy was about to embark on a new adventure that would expose him to so many new things!
After an initial meeting with his foster family’s resident dogs, a Brittany and a Cavachon, Wings easily entered the car for his ride to his new home. He readily took to the freedom of the yard and quickly adjusted to his new fur friends. Wings loves human attention and can’t seem to get enough of it. Although Wings is a big 84-pound Springer, he thinks he is a lap dog.
In his new home, Wings felt free to sit on a deck chair and nap on the lounge chair. Since he has not been neutered, Wings continues to mark his territory. Therefore, he has been limited to easy access to the kitchen porch and outside yard. During the night he is confined to the kitchen. Thus far, he has not had an accident and has left the trash can alone. Good boy!
His foster parents discovered that Wings refuses to eat dry dog food; therefore, he recently enjoyed some special canned food. Initially an attempt was made to mix the canned food with the dry, but Wings wouldn’t eat it. Instead, when no one was in the kitchen, he managed to take a half can of dog food off the island and tried to eat it holding the can between his paws! Amazingly, Wings allowed his foster dad to take the can from him without any problem. A new experience for him, evening treats took a while for Wings to accept. After several days he finally decided to participate in this nightly canine ritual. He sits for them, but it takes some convincing. Mostly he sees his fur friends sit for their treats, so he sits, too.
The most important consideration of fostering Wings was how he would react to his foster parents’ grandchildren, ages two and four. They were introduced to Wings recently and no one could have asked for more. He was so gentle and welcomed the love and friendship the kids gave him. His foster parents take care of their grandchildren daily, and the children have been trying to teach Wings new things such as fetching a ball. There hasn’t been an opportunity to see if Wings likes stuffed toys…they don’t last long in his foster home due to the Brittany’s habit of destroying them. He has mildly played with the Brittany in the backyard. Mainly Wings follows the Brittany around as he monitors the perimeter of the yard.
A sweet and very docile boy, Wings has a very low energy level. It is difficult to determine if that’s because he spent most of his time confined to a small area. He’ll walk around the yard if someone is out there with him. Mostly he enjoys lying near the chair in which someone is sitting. There is a female spayed Labrador Retriever that lives next door. Wings will sniff through the fence but doesn’t seem too excited while she is out.
His foster parents have been amazed that Wings seldom barks. He continues to do well on a leash; however, he tends to weave as he walks, checking both sides of the sidewalk. At one point he saw a rabbit and tried to bolt after it, yanking on the leash.
Wings recently had his first visit with his new veterinarian. Not only was he sociable and a good patient, but he also passed with flying colors. All of Wings’ vaccinations were updated, his ears were clear, and he was scheduled for neutering. Hopefully that will curb his marking instincts and he’ll be allowed access to the rest of his foster family’s house. Wings is just a really big boy, although the vet did mention that he could stand to lose a few pounds. Instead of being restricted to a kennel run, he’s now running around his foster family’s yard. Coupled with a low-fat dog food, that will no doubt help him shed a little unnecessary weight quickly.
Wings also visited the groomer and was very well behaved. According to the groomers, he barked only once and was a joy to groom.
Overall Wings seems to have adapted to his new lifestyle. Many things are new to him, but his mild manner and longing for human attention seem to be helping him adjust.