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 takes treats gently from his fosterers’ hands.
Max gets on well with adult humans and will come to be stroked when he wants affection.
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 the 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 regularly enjoys stage-appropriate mental games that encourage him to problem-solve.
Max will sit when he has his lead put on and taken off inside the house, and he is learning to sit at the outside gate before and after it is opened. He can now walk [mostly] on a loose lead to and from the house and the gate. In the car, Max travels in the car boot, and is a little over excited at first. While the boot door is still closed a lead is put on him, and he is learning not to leap out as soon as it begins to open.
Wearing a harness outdoors seems to work better for control and his confidence. He is trying to learn not to pull when out on a walk and is beginning to trust his fosterers as a safe base. His recall is getting better.
In the garden, Max is with his fosterers and kept on a long line. A few times he’s gone into the pond and has loved it! As a working spaniel, he does have a strong prey drive and given the opportunity will chase and try to catch anything non-human that moves.
Max is very sensitive towards other dogs – when he hears or sees another dog he will bark and rush towards them, and in the house he is readily distracted by outside sounds (particularly dogs). He has been only on lead walks at quiet times of the day/evening, and he becomes anxious approaching bends or corners of the road. Regular walks on familiar routes have helped him to begin to relax and enjoy the experience
Max’s energy level is normal for his age.
Visiting the vet: Initially, Max was very underweight when he came into foster care. He has been gradually gaining weight and is now not far from the vet’s target for him. He has had his routine health check and is otherwise fit and well. His vaccinations are up to date. He doesn’t mind being examined by the vet or being groomed by his fosterers. Vet appointments are made for times when there were no other animals in the surgery.
Behavioural issues: Max’s fosterers have been working in consultation with SRS’s canine behaviourist. He is a young dog and is responding well to training.
He is learning it’s okay when one of his fosterers leaves the house. Max does become distressed when he’s left on his own in the house and in the garden.
The Springer Rescue Scotland behaviourist has identified that some of his behaviour is self-fulfilling and comes from having found a way to occupy himself. Additionally, some behaviour is fear-based, and other behaviour is due to immaturity and absence of early 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 might be able to live with another dog, but this is untested and 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.
Please ONLY contact us if you fit the required criteria
