Entered: 10/21/2012
Status: Adopted
Age: 8
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 64 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, overall good health
Temperament: Good with adults, reportedly good with children as young as 4 but unobserved in foster home, good with other dogs, reportedly good with cats
Original:
Winston’s owners in Virginia relinquished him into MAESSR’s care due to the acceptance of a new job in Florida that would involve a lot of travel. Realizing that they would not have the time to spend with him that he deserved, they knew that MAESSR could find him a good home. He had lived with them since he was six weeks old and had grown up with an Irish setter companion (who passed away two years ago) and several cats. Well cared for, Winston has had routine vet visits and has been a very healthy pup. This lucky guy also visited the groomers every four weeks and reportedly enjoyed those visits.
This is one low energy pooch with GREAT house manners. Winston is housetrained; there have been no accidents or incidents of marking in the foster home. He whimpers to signal that it is time to go out, getting louder and louder in case his first attempts were ignored. This is especially evident in the morning. Winston doesn’t dig, chew, jump the fence, submissively urinate, beg for food, counter-surf, get into the trash or jump on people. Good boy, Winston! He does bark to alert his people that someone is at the door or near the house. Although this is not excessive, he does provide good notice. He warms up to people quickly and enjoys the attention they provide. He is an easy care pooch – even cleaning his ears is easy!
Although he’s never had formal obedience training, Winston knows come, sit, stay, lie down, and give tootsies (to get his paws wiped when he comes inside after it’s been raining.) He obeys immediately, paying close attention to commands. He also recalls when off leash and can be trusted in areas without a fence. Winston is eager to please and loves to hear praise or get loving scratches and belly rubs. He is proving himself to be a true Velcro Springer by keeping his foster parents in sight at all times.
Winston was not taught to walk on a leash but has made good progress using an Easy Walk harness since arriving at his foster home. He has learned the joys of daily walks and gets very excited when the harness and leash appear. He already understands heel and easy while walking. With more practice, he will be a great walking companion. Winston enjoys car rides and is a champion long-distance traveler as well. He was well behaved at the vet’s office and made certain everyone knew he was there by some enthusiastic greetings.
Crate trained earlier in his life, Winston hasn’t been kept in a crate in the past few years. He is refreshing his knowledge of the crate in his foster home, which has gone very well. He had free run of the house in his former home, and reportedly can be left for up to 10 hours with no messes. Foster mom believes this is true and is leaving him out for short periods of time. So far, so good!
Playing Frisbee and fetch the ball are some of Winston’s favorite outdoor activities. There is no resource guarding of toys or treats. He seems to enjoy swimming but doesn’t venture too far into the lake. Reportedly, he prefers a swimming pool! There hasn’t been a good attempt to play with the resident Springer pup as hard as she has tried. Additional time may make him more comfortable and willing to play. However, this boy is a true cuddle bug! At night he is invited to sit in the recliner with foster dad or on the sofa beside foster mom. He curls up, puts his head into a lap, and snoozes. He is there in case his humans need some stress relief and is available for rubbing, scratching or cuddle time. What a thoughtful boy! He enjoys all this individual attention and love.
Winston is currently fed a lamb and rice kibble mixed with raw or canned vegetables. He enjoys dog treats but has not been given people food. He is not food aggressive and eats comfortably in the kitchen with the resident Lab. His food bowl can be moved or removed without incident. This well behaved Springer sleeps in the master bedroom on a dog bed near foster mom. He settles nicely after a bedtime treat.
This is one loving Springer who could be comfortable in many home environments. He is calm and is extremely well mannered. He would do well with empty nesters or families with older children. First time dog owners would get a well-trained pooch. Winston would do well with another canine companion without wanting to be an alpha dog or could be an only dog. More than anything, he needs a family that would love and embrace him. In return, they would have his devoted love and affection. He is such a loving dog that wants to be close to his family. Do you have room in your life for this easy-going guy?