Harold

Meet Harold! This big boy is a sweet and affectionate 7 year old Cocker Spaniel who loves toys, snuggles, and napping in the sun. Harold is a former puppy mill breeding dog who is quickly learning to embrace his new life. He can be nervous in new situations and locations, or with
sudden movements and sounds but is excited to meet new friends and explore the world at his own pace. Harold is currently 38lb with more to lose as he came to us very overweight and with no muscle tone. We are working on getting him fit and trim and healthier. A male Cocker Spaniel should weigh about 30lbs so he has a bit more to go.

Harold has been loving having a penned-in area as his own secure space where he can hang out and relax. He’s learned the routines of going here for mealtimes, and when he needs some physical space away from his furry foster hosts. This doesn’t mean that he’s all alone in there
though – Harold likes to collect and hoard toys like a dragon hoards gold. It’s not unusual to find
him napping in a bed surrounded by every stuffy or squeaky toy in the house that he could find.
On a nice day, he likes to lay down outside in the fresh air, usually up against a fence where he
can feel secure that nobody will sneak up on him. At night and when he’s left alone during the
day, he will curl up his crate with no fuss. He hasn’t had any accidents in the house, and is sure
to let it be known when he needs to go out. He could live in a house or an apartment, as long
as he has access to a safe and quiet space to go to the bathroom. Harold has been loving his
casual outside time, so if he doesn’t have a yard of his own be prepared for long casual park
trips to soak up the fresh air.

Because of his previous circumstances, Harold came into foster care with some extra pounds
and some minor health issues to clean up. He has since had the full makeover experience,
including a dental cleaning, ear medication, and a haircut that shows off how handsome he is.
With a healthier diet and regular walks, he has started to shed his excess weight.
This boy has done a really good job of learning to walk on leash, and loves to sniff around new
places, so his new family should be ready to help him explore the world and be committed to
continuing his new healthy lifestyle. He has only just started his journey of learning commands,
and is beginning to learn to sit when told. He is very attentive and seems to pick things up
quickly though.

Harold has done a great job of making friends, both human and canine. He loves to meet other
dogs, even though he doesn’t always know how to socialize the way they do. With people, he likes to press his body against their legs and have his ears scratched. He is still building his confidence, so any introductions should be done in a controlled manner to keep him from being overwhelmed. As he gets more comfortable with another dog, Harold likes to goad them into play time, though he’s not really sure what to do next. He definitely knows how to play tug-of-war with a person or another dog though. He could do fine in a home with another calm and good natured dog like him. He will not enjoy the energy of a young and energetic dog that will pester him.

He hasn’t met any small children yet, so it’s hard to predict how he would react. Because he is still learning to find his confidence, he would not be a good fit for a family with younger children. Older children, 8yrs and up, who will behave in predictable ways should not be an issue though. He
hasn’t met any cats yet, though he hasn’t shown any noticeable prey drive towards small
animals out in the world. In general, he still gets nervous in new places and can be startled by
unexpected movements or sounds. Having someone to help guide him through the situations
does wonders for his confidence though, and really lets his delightful personality shine. Harold would be fine in a detached home, or a condo or low rise apartment. He needs a quiet environment inside and out, so a busy city center won’t be a good fit for him, but a rural setting, town, or quiet subdivision
will work well and help him adjust to the world around him.

It would be impossible to overstate how sweet this boy is. Getting to see both his affectionate and goofy sides has been an absolute treat. He is an easy dog to love and receive love from.
He is just such a sweetheart and everyone who meets him loves him instantly. Harold will make an amazing addition to a family who are ready to help him build his confidence, explore the world, and share all of the affection he has to give.