Max 3001686
Max 3001686
BREED: Springer Spaniel, Liver & White
AGE: 17 months
LOCATION: Berwickshire
NEUTERED: No, will be adopted with a contract to be neutered once settled pending veterinary advice.
CHILDREN: 14 years +
OTHER DOGS: Reactive to other dogs.
CATS: Untested, likely to chase.
LIVESTOCK: Untested
STATUS: AVAILABLE
A little bit about Max: Max is a friendly, gentle, and sensitive dog. He settles well in the house and is relaxed during quiet times. He also likes to be where things are happening. He has a ‘soft’ mouth and has not grabbed food from his fosterers’ hands.
Max gets on well with adult humans unless they intrude into his space, and then he’ll try to move away. Max will come to be stroked when he wants a fuss.
He has settled well in other homes he has visited.
More about Max: Max is house-trained and will sleep on his own in any room with an open door. At night he likes to come through to fosterer’s bedroom when lights are out but will go back to his bed when told. Given a chance he would like to sleep on the bed, but this has not been encouraged.
He doesn’t like the sound of the vacuum cleaner and will go to another room.
Max enjoys and benefits from using his mind. While he has been in foster care, daily basic training in fun, engaging tasks has been led by his interests and supported through positive reinforcement. He can concentrate for short periods before walking off when he’s had enough.
Max’s energy level is normal for his age. He loves his walks and is definitely a water babe! Inside the house, Max has learned to sit when he has his lead put on and taken off, and he is learning to sit at the outside gate before and after it is opened. He likes being gently towel-dried after a wet walk.
In the car, Max travels in the car boot. He does get a little over excited at first. A lead is put on him before the boot door is opened, and he is beginning to learn not to leap out as soon as it is opened.
Max is very sensitive towards other dogs - he barks, pulls, twists, and strains to get to them. He has only been taken on lead walks and is also anxious when he can't see around bends or corners of the road. He is kept on a long line when he is outside with his fosterers in the garden because he will run at the gate or the garden fences trying to get to dogs. Although he can be taken away from the situation, his recall and distractibility have been poor.
In the house, Max is quickly distracted by outside sounds (particularly dogs) and jumps up at windows.
Max has a strong prey drive and his reaction to cats is unknown but given the opportunity will chase anything non-human that moves.
Although he wears a collar, wearing a harness as well seems to work better when he’s outdoors. He is trying to learn not to pull when out on a walk and is beginning slowly to trust his fosterers as a safe base.
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Visiting the vet: Max was very underweight when he came into foster care. This is currently being addressed based on veterinary advice and will need to be regularly re-assessed until he reaches a healthy weight. He has had his routine healthcheck and is otherwise fit and well. His vaccinations are up to date. He tolerated being examined quite well but was anxious around other dogs in the waiting room. He will tolerate being groomed.
Behavioural issues: Max’s fosterers have been working in consultation with SRS’s canine behaviourist. He is learning it’s okay to be apart. Max will become distressed if left in the house or in the garden on his own.
Consultation with the behaviourist has identified that some of his behaviour is self-fulfilling and comes from having found a way to occupy himself, some is fear-based, and other behaviour is due to immaturity and absence of training.
Home needs: Although he is young and learns quite quickly, it will be best for Max if his new owner/owners are able and experienced to meet his needs and continue with his training.
Older dog-savvy children (14 years plus) would be fine. No cats or smaller pets. He may be able to live with another dog, but this would take carefully managed introductions. Walking opportunities in quiet but interesting locations would be good, even better if water is involved! A garden for continuing training would be ideal.
He is a lovely dog and will make a wonderful addition to his forever family.
Ongoing support: Springer Rescue for Scotland will be available for any support with your new dog and can offer behavioural support in case of any problems that may arise on adopting a dog.
Please do not express interest in Max if you are going on holiday in the next 8 weeks.
If you have been home-checked or approved by email then please complete the interest form below.
If you haven’t applied yet but think I’m your perfect companion, please complete an application on the website and then submit the form below.
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