ADOPTED
Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process.
Looking for a sweet, affectionate, easy-going, gentle companion who loves to walk???? Look no further! Our sweet Foster “Dorothy” is looking for a home that offers just that!!
Dorothy is a loveable 5 year old Cocker Spaniel who has been recently spayed and microchipped. She comes fully vaccinated and vet checked. She is a medium size dog, weighing approximately 28 pounds. Her fur is soft and shiny and is mostly red with a lighter shade of red on the top of her head and on her belly. Dorothy sheds very little and will require grooming a few times a year as well as frequent brushing to keep her fur from matting. Her beautiful droopy eyes that seem to express everything she is feeling. One look in those eyes and you know exactly what she is thinking. From a gentle kind look to an obvious look of disgust, her eyes give her away!
Before coming into our care, Dorothy lived in a Puppy Mill. She was used for breeding purposes and had little to no socialization until a few short weeks ago. Everything she has been experiencing and continues to experience is new to her. Our first indication that she may come around was a gentle paw lift. As we tried to interact with her, she backed up, looked at us and lifted her paw in our direction. Since then, she has been learning to love, play and interact in a whole new world that she never knew could ever exist. She has much more to learn about trust and self-confidence. She continues to amaze us every day as she hits new unexpected milestones.
Although she is very cautious with everyone she meets, she loves to be with her people. Her “safe place” is on the couch. Since her arrival, she has spent much of her time assessing the room from her favourite location. She has learned to venture throughout the house but any sort of loud noise or new person in the room will find her right back on the couch in her “safe place”. Anyone who adopts Dorothy will need to be patient with her as she works on her confidence. Since coming into our care she has learned to trust her foster family but continues to show her fear whenever there is a quick unexpected movement or a loud noise. New people in her life will have to earn her trust and this will take patience and time.
Dorothy currently shares a foster home with another foster dog. She does enjoy being on her own but since she has shared our home with her foster brother, we have noticed her come to life as she has a
little competition for attention. We have noticed that she finds her voice when she is not happy with her canine companion. We have seen her sideways look of disgust at some of her foster brother’s antics. She is willing to share the attention with her foster brother but will not be left out when there are treats or cuddles to be had! She will push her way in to be part of the pending snuggles. Dorothy also likes to share food with her foster brother. It is mostly one sided as she waits for him to leave his crate and food unattended. She will circle the coffee table and casually reach in for a quick bite of food and continue her walk around. She is very efficient and will walk by the crate when she notices an observer!
Dorothy is affectionate, calm and quiet indoors and would be well suited to most homes without small children. Due to her previous life, children would be too stressful with their sudden and unexpected movements. We are looking for a calm and quiet adult home for Dorothy. Dorothy is well suited to a home on her own or with a mature and calm male dog. She doesn’t wish to play with another dog but can live peacefully with another dog as a companion, just not a playmate.
We have worked on a few commands in the short time that Dorothy has been with us. She is very smart and highly trainable. She has learned our routines quickly. Dorothy responds to the command “come”. A quick clap of the hands, her name and the command “come” brings her immediately to our side. We are currently working on the command “sit”, which she has mastered when there are no other distractions.
Walking is an absolute must for Dorothy! She loves to go for walks and explore. Her little nub of a tail doesn’t stop when she is out for a stroll! She notices any and all dogs that pass her by. She will reluctantly move to the side to let them pass but would prefer to meet and greet any and all of them. Careful attention to what she might pick up during her walks is a must. She has been known to pick up masks and wrappers on her travels. Dorothy also likes to snack of fresh snow, as she walks, she will scoop a mouthful up without missing a step.
Dorothy is housebroken but does not quite know how to let us know when it is time to go out. Dorothy paces back and forth and walks around the room when she needs to relieve herself. She will usually go out every 3 or 4 hours and gets right to business when she is outside. If there is a distraction, mostly loud noises or other people, she may take a little longer. If you try to bring her in before she is finished, she will usually hesitate by the door and want to go back outside. When in doubt, we have followed her lead.
Dorothy is crate trained. To keep her safe, Dorothy sleeps in her crate at night and any other time that she is left unattended. She doesn’t enjoy going into her crate if she can help it, the couch remains her choice sleeping quarters! Dorothy will go into the crate when asked, sometimes a little physical redirection is required, but once she is inside she is quite content. She has not been left in the crate during the day for any longer than a few hours at a time. Dorothy prefers the security of her crate to eat her food and also as a safe place for her to retreat if she is feeling nervous or scared. Her adopters would be best to place her crate in a busy part of the house to help her adjust to her new household. With the crate in a busy area, it will allow her a space that she could go to feel secure.
The gentle nature of Dorothy is her best trait. You could spend hours just cuddling on the couch. She accepts treats very slow and gently. She will not grab or snap at any toy or food offered. She also is happy to give up her favourite chew toy or food without complaint.
Barking is not a problem with Dorothy. She may bark at her foster dog and anyone first entering the house to warn us of someone new. She typically will stop almost immediately and remains quiet soon after they arrive.
During Dorothy’s vet check, we were told that Dorothy may need dental work in a few years but doesn’t require a dental at this point. The vet mentioned that practicing dental hygiene (brushing, dental diet, treats etc.) will help delay this. The vet has no other health concerns.
Dorothy is nervous to get into any car. She will not jump in on her own and needs to be lifted in. Once inside she remains nervous for a short time before she settles down. Extra time spent on short fun trips would likely make her more at ease for travelling longer distances.
If you think that this adorable Cocker Spaniel “Dorothy” would fit into your life, make room in your heart and on your couch! Until then, she will continue to enjoy her Foster Family and wait for that perfect life that she deserves!