Entered: 09/08/2007
Status: Adopted
Age: 6
Color: Liver/White
Weight:
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Northampton, PA
Health: UTD, HW-
Temperament: Good with adults, unknown with children, good with other dogs and cats
Original: Winston’s owners took him to a PA shelter saying they had no time for him. MAESSR was contacted and was more than willing to give Winston all the time he needs to find a loving home that will keep him forever.
When his foster mom picked Winston up at the shelter, he was very good in the car after a little initial pacing. When sitting and looking out the window got boring, he jumped in the backseat, rolling and twisting as if scratching his back. Winston was one happy boy to be out of a shelter and heading to his foster home!
Winston did very well with meeting the resident Springers, cocker and shepherd, but now he doesn’t pay too much attention to them. He also did well with the resident cats. He curiously walked up to them, sniffed them and then just walked away from them. Instead of being canine or feline oriented, Winston has attached himself to his foster mom and follows her everywhere all around the house and outside in the yard. Winston does cry and bark when his foster mom leaves for work, but after a short time, his foster grandmother says he settles down. When his foster mom comes back, he is very happy, jumping up and down in greeting. Winston absolutely loves having his butt rubbed and does a wiggle dance while his foster mom calls the “Stevie Wonder Sway” while she is scratching it!
Winston takes treats very gently with the command of “sit” and “paw.” He also knows “down” and does pretty well with “stay.” He must know what the word “bath” means as he would become very alert with that word. Upon time for his bath, his foster mom asked him to come and he jumped right in the bathtub and was a perfect gentleman with getting his spa treatment and towel rub down. Winston also received a haircut. He seemed to be aware of what a clipper was and was not afraid of it. In fact, he stood perfectly still while getting groomed, even with his feet. With grooming his head and ears, Winston would just close his eyes. He seemed to feel much better after his bath and grooming. His ears were a bit dirty and he did well with getting them cleaned out.
Winston has met some of the neighbors and was very good with them. At being at one neighbor’s house for a while, he had fun chasing the shadows of the butterflies flying about! Besides these shadow toys, he does like to play with tennis balls and will catch them when tossed to him. As part of his welcome home greeting, Winston picks up a squeaky toy in his excitement!
At the vet’s office for his checkup, he did well. He greeted the dogs there with a sniff and then he would walk away. He did not seem to like the boxer that came up to him and he gave a little warning growl. But, he was fine with every other dog he met there. Winston has some fatty tumors, skin tags, and one lump on his back that may be a cyst, but nothing that the vet is concerned about. He may possibly have a bit of hip arthritis, but otherwise he is in great condition. He did well with getting his vaccinations, but didn’t quite like his temperature taken and tried to sit down. Who can blame a guy for that?
Winston is housetrained and does not counter surf. He does not like the crate at all, though. He was crated while the resident Springer puppy went to puppy class and the two people who were home said he cried and barked and actually tried to get out of the grate by bending the bars. He does much better given free reign of the house and he has proved to be quite trustworthy.
Winston is really quite good on the leash. He walks right beside his foster mom and she is teaching him to sit at an intersection and wait. A fast learner, he is doing well on that. Winston loves to go on walks! He gets so excited when he sees his foster mom get the leash out and he is at the door in a flash, with that happy look of “I’m ready to go!” Winston is a sweet, lovable dog. One look at him and he has you hooked!
Winston got to enjoy the MAESSR picnic in Maryland along with the two resident Springers and his foster mom. He was very good on the long ride to Maryland. Once there, Winston did very well with everyone at the picnic. His foster mom discovered at the dog beach that Winston loves to swim!
Winston will make an ideal addition to a family who has the time to spend with him and play ball, go on lots of walks, and provide LOTS of butt scratching! He would do well with another dog in the household, too. Winston has lots of love to give and would be a great companion.