Avery's Story . . .
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Update 05/102021: “The lucky family that adopts her is getting the total package
of love and FUN!!!!”
Avery returned to MAESSR when her adoptive owner got
married. Once a MAESSR dog, always a MAESSR dog.
This pup is the sweetest, gentlest little girl. She is
still a little shy and is on medication to help with her anxiety. She has
made fantastic progress in her foster home.
The lucky family that adopts her is getting the total package
of love and FUN!!!!
Update 02/06/2020: “A smart puppy, she also has discovered that tossing a stuffed kong into the air will cause it to bounce and spill out treats.”
Avery continues to entertain her foster family. Be sure to see the picture of her starring in her own version of puppy bowl. The large planter has become her perch to watch the neighbors and chew a ball. A smart puppy, she also has discovered that tossing a stuffed kong into the air will cause it to bounce and spill out treats.
Avery is ready for her forever family. The ideal setting would be a yard with room to run and a 3-foot secure fence. She and littermate Harley have shown a joint interest in chasing the wildlife in the neighbor’s yard. Both, however, have good recall and return quickly when called, with Avery in the lead. It is highly unlikely that Avery will be so brave as to explore outside the yard without her partner in crime. She is the one to bark at her foster mom, watching closely from behind a glass door on cold mornings, to come out and play with them.
The ideal family also will have a family member with a strong pitching arm. Avery loves to chase tennis balls and actually returns them! Are you ready for spring ball?
Update 01/15/2020: “Avery is a little dog with a big personality.”
Avery is a little dog with a big personality. Now that she is fully comfortable in her foster home, she has become far more opinionated. The foster dad’s job is to put the food bowls on the floor. Avery tries to hurry him along by running between him and the bowls repeatedly. Food service is too slow? Bark, bark! She also has dragged a leash into the kitchen when she thought it was time for a walk.
Her antics frequently make her foster parents laugh, even when her behavior is less than welcome. One example is the time her foster mom caught her playing with the water in the toilet. This was a good reminder to always keep that lid down!
Housetraining continues. Avery has never defecated in the house and whines or scratches at the door when the need arises. She has not had a puddle problem for days, but this may be due to her foster parents’ efforts to ensure she has timely trips outside. She enjoys car rides and will jump in on command.
Avery continues her socialization with new people. She will take treats from people on the street, but remains cautious with new visitors inside the house. A few treats thrown her way usually reduces her initial barking. Regular visitors are readily accepted and her submissive urination is decreasing.
Avery is high energy and likes to play for hours a day. Her foster mom had to give her a mild sedative to help her endure the one week of restricted activity post-spaying. When playmate (and littermate) Harley hurt her leg, foster mom took Avery to the local dog park for exercise. Avery had a wonderful time playing in the small dog area. She also tries to engage the dogs she meets on the street in play, once she determines they are friendly.
Check out this love’s picture. Don’t you absolutely have to love her whiskers!!! And Avery enjoys a good lap. Is there any room on yours?
Update 12/27/2019: “She is becoming more social with dogs she meets on walks, although size matters.”
Avery (and littermate Harley) had an eventful holiday season. First it was the tree, with all of its intriguing smells and ornaments. The two found the addition of a pine-flavored water bowl particularly enticing. They were very disappointed when the tree was gated off.
Next the crowds of visitors came along with one small dog. Avery slowly warmed up to treat-dispensing guests, after a few minutes of barking. Some guests were more familiar than others, and they were lucky enough to find a dog in their lap. Avery also had a rousing play session with the visiting dog. She is becoming more social with dogs she meets on walks, although size matters. The smaller the dog is, the easier the introduction.
Avery is making progress with housetraining. Other than some submissive urination (there were 15 dinner guests over two nights and five overnight guests!), there have been no puddle problems. Avery does her business as soon as she is taken outside and runs to her foster mom for the earned treat. The final step is for Avery to learn how to ask to go out when needed.
Avery has made only a little progress on leash walking. Her new neighborhood is just too full of birds, squirrels, bunnies, and deer to walk rather than run. She is quite the gymnast. In a feat never seen by her foster parents before, Avery jumped to a wide window ledge, then over a 4-foot fence along the driveway. Fortunately, she came immediately when called. After all, her intention was to help her foster parents take trashcans to the curb.
Not all change has been positive. As she has become more comfortable with her foster parents, Avery has become a little mouthy and eager for rough play. Her foster family’s response is to stop play immediately so she learns that this behavior is unwelcome.
Avery is currently receiving a medication to reduce anxiety as she makes the huge transition to a life full of new people, pets, and urban experiences. Her spay surgery is scheduled for the near future. Stay tuned for more news.
Original: “Avery is the quieter of the two—happy to stretch out at her foster parents’ feet or cuddle in a lap.”
Avery and her littermate Harley came to MAESSR when their Pennsylvania owners felt overwhelmed by five dogs and four young children. With so much going on, the family had little time to train or socialize the two pups outside of their home, so they reluctantly parted with them. Both pups, however, quickly bonded with their new foster parents. It only took a day before the pups started launching themselves into an empty lap from any direction. Despite their small size, they can spring!
Avery is used to being crated for most of the time. She goes easily into her crate when told to “kennel” and sleeps peacefully in the crate at night. She also is crated when the foster parents are out of the home. Housetraining is still a work in progress. Avery leaves trash cans, shoes, and most household objects alone, but odd items that can be turned into a tug toy with her sibling (like a feather duster) are in danger. Her super-power is her ability to leap onto the kitchen counter from a standstill. Needless to say, this is a discouraged behavior.
This little girl knows “sit” and “come.” She is quiet rider in the car, which is a new experience for her. She pulls on the leash, but less so if she is not in competition with Harley. When she meets a strange dog, Avery flattens out on the street, but will allow the other dog to approach and sniff. New people are also scary initially and may cause Avery to submissively urinate. Given her young age and natural affection for people, this problem should disappear with more socialization. She did well with overnight guests and even jumped into a new lap the next morning. During her first checkup, the vet could handle her all over without any aggression on her part and Avery was comfortable enough to take a treat. She has not been to a groomers.
Chasing balls and running and tumbling with her sister are some of Avery’s favorite activities. Stuffed animals are rapidly disemboweled. She easily shares toys, bowls, and people with Harley. Avery is the quieter of the two—happy to stretch out at her foster parents’ feet or cuddle in a lap. More is yet to be learned about this little girl.
Avery’s first birthday was Dec. 14. She is still a puppy, so MAESSR only places puppies in homes that are committed to training and bonding with the pup in obedience classes. Puppies require a lot of care, attention, and patience, and they do chew on things! The decision to get a puppy and raise it to be a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted dog is a serious commitment. To reinforce this commitment, MAESSR requires all adopters of dogs one year old and younger to enroll their puppy in obedience classes within 60 days of adoption. Avery will be a good student!
Patience, continuing socialization, and a welcoming lap will make this petite Springer into a treasured companion.