ADOPTION PENDING
Let us introduce you to Spencer, a 2 yr old dark apricot Miniature Poodle. His weight is about 20 pounds. Spencer is friendly but reserved, generally quiet and fairly independent. He is looking for a quiet, adult only forever home to call his own.
Spencer came to our rescue from a puppy mill where he endured neglect and lack of socialization. This has left him wary of people and unsure about strange sights and sounds. He will startle easily at unusual noises and does not approach people he doesn’t know. He is also hesitant to go into new situations but once encouraged will explore. Once he knows you and is comfortable you will see his sweet, goofy side. Because of his early life Spencer will need a patient person to show him the world isn’t that scary and that there can be many wonderful things to see and encounter.
Spencer would do best in a quiet, adult only home or one with older (12+) respectful children. Visiting young children will be too much noise and energy for him. Since he is nervous of new things he needs someone steady in his life to introduce him to new things in a calm and patient manner. For example, Spencer has already become used to the noise of a vacuum cleaner and does not run from it.
Spencer loves a daily walk of around thirty minutes and he has mastered his leash skills already. He does not pull on the leash and walks calmly next to his person. When out walking he does not react to wildlife like squirrels or other dogs being walked. He also has daily play time with his foster brothers in an enclosed yard where he can run around. This is the one time that Spencer can get quite vocal when he is playing chase. He loves his yard play time with his foster siblings and has become quiet the clown, bouncing and running around with his tail held high. His exercise requirements are medium but he does need daily walks and some good yard time.
Spencer is not a needy dog and likes to be near his people but not necessarily on their laps. He will seek you out when he wants to be petted. He has a favourite dog bed near his person and is content to snooze there while you work or do things around the house. He will come and check on you if you are in the other room but will return to his bed once he is satisfied that all is well. Spencer is not generally vocal, especially for a poodle. Because Spencer is a poodle he will need to be groomed every 4 to 6 weeks to keep his coat clean and mat free. Spencer is basically house trained. He has had no accidents since his recovery from neutering. He will let you know he needs out by looking at you and running to the back door. It is best to let him out regularly and if not able to watch him, crate him. At this time Spencer sleeps in his crate at night and spends time in his crate when we are not home. He does not fuss and is quiet. He will occasionally lie in his crate during the day but this is rare because he prefers his dog bed. Spencer has had numerous car rides and he is quiet but nervous. He will drool heavily and if the ride is a longer one, may throw up. We are working on making him calmer by taking him on short rides to fun places to walk. Crating him during car rides is best in case he does get car sick. We expect that he will get better with car rides with more practice.
Spencer lives with three other dogs, two cats and two parrots. He shows no interest in the parrots. He will sniff the cats but does not chase them. He interacts with the other dogs and plays well with the one closest to his age. The two older dogs he does not bother. We would like for Spencer to have a dog companion around his age and size to help him learn about being a dog. Another dog in the home will be a good mentor for him and will help with his confidence building. Spencer has had no interaction with children and he should not be in a home with young children. Since he startles easily at noises and sudden movements children will frighten him. He is also a flight risk and everyone in the home needs to fully be aware of closing doors and gates right away and not letting him be outside of a secure fenced in area without being leashed.
We have been working with Spencer on basic obedience. He is quite reliable with the sit and down command. He is a quick learner and follows the lead of the other dogs. Anyone who adopts Spencer will need to take him to obedience classes which will only help to re-enforce what we have started and help forge a bound between Spencer and his new family.
To date Spencer has had all appropriate vaccines and has been neutered. He was also dewormed, had his ears cleaned and medicated due to a yeast infection in both ears and had a teeth cleaning to remove tartar. After Spencer was neutered he had a bout with pancreatitis which was caught early and was treated at home with a low-fat diet. He is doing great now. As with most poodles Spencer will need to have his ears monitored and cleaned regularly to make sure infections don’t set in.
Spencer is a quiet, friendly dog who likes to be near his people but isn’t intrusive. He enjoys going for daily walks and playing in the yard. He will amuse himself out there by running around the yard or playing chase with his foster brother. He likes to play with his toys in the house and can entertain himself. He will also do fine in a home with cats. Spencer likes to dance on his hind legs and smile when he is very happy and excited. Spencer will need a calm, patient owner to help him to continue to come out of his shell. If you are looking for a smart, friendly and not too clingy companion Spencer is your guy. He makes us smile everyday with his enthusiasm for life.