AYA

Aya

Aya ABIN 19-179, 2 years

Foster dog name: Aya

Gender: female, spayed

Age: 2 years

Size/Weight: medium - 28 pounds (but underweight, maybe more like 35 pounds once at healthy weight)

Color: orange & white

Breed: English Setter

Good with Children:  Yes, I do not have children at home so I tested her with my sister’s children, ages 5 and 6-year-old girls while on an outing at a wooded creek area.  Aya was well behaved with them, did not jump on them, and actually started licking one of them on their shirt.  She was skittish with fast movements like one running suddenly.  I think this is all part of her timid nature, which I anticipate will get better as she is exposed to more things and gains confidence.

Good with Dogs: Yes, she really enjoys the company of my 2 dogs.  She is submissive but readily initiates play/romping.  Licks their faces and often cuddles with them when lying down.  Good with older dogs (I have a 13 year old) as well.  She has shown absolutely no aggression.  Will steal a toy or two, which can be entertaining with games of chase ensuing.   Aya would like a fellow playmate!  

Good with Cats: unknown.  I do not have cats.  Aya is a gentle, sweet dog that is easily redirected with verbal cues.  Since she does listen well, I think cats could be ok but would need to be introduced/supervised.  I have not noticed a strong interest in squirrels, so I am unsure of her prey drive.  

House trained:  Yes, off to a really good start.  Aya has not had any accidents since her arrival, either in house or in her crate. She has not chewed on anything but toys.  But, don’t leave your spaghetti bowl unattended as she did take a liking to mine!  Aya sleeps on my bed and I close the door at night so I can get her outside first thing in the morning without roaming the house.  Also, I watch her closely and modify her behavior with a verbal cue when I see her grab anything she should not.  I would not trust her yet to be left alone inside free to roam when no one is home.  She has done very well inside but there has not been enough time to say she is “completely house trained.”

Crate trained:  Yes.  I feed her in her crate and she goes in quickly.  Settles down nicely. When I leave home, I crate her with toy treat/peanut butter.  She has been fine in the crate for 4-6 hours when I am not home.  She does have the presence of my 2 dogs in the room with her, so perhaps that helps her settle down.  Since she does well in a crate, I think she would be ok to sleep in crate at night if desired.

Leash trained: No, she pulls and does not appear to have any previous leash training.  I am walking her with a harness and trying to have her walk with my other 2 dogs as a group.  At first, she is pulling ahead and in different directions, and as walk progresses she improves somewhat.  I do not walk her very much, so I think she will still need training when she is adopted.

Behavior: Aya is a very sweet, submissive dog with no sign of any aggression.  She tends to be timid, with crouching down/belly up postures when she is unsure.  She does recover quickly, and loves to have her belly rubbed.  She bonds well with both people and dogs.  Likes the sofa.  At night, she sleeps on my bed.  Rides well in car with no tether.  She is doing great with treat training, as she has been quick to pick up commands “sit”, “down”, and now working on “stay.”  She responds well when you call her to come to you, to go inside, and is easily redirected with verbal cue.  

Activity Level: She is medium to high activity.  Active, puppy-like play but also loves to chill out on the grass.  Loves to romp with my younger dog, but she will go submissive when play is more intense or when my dog barks at her.  Likes to play with toys outside, so throwing toys/ chewing toys/ squeaky toys are all good!  Settles down well in the house, snuggling with my dogs on the sofa.  She also likes to look out windows and play with toys indoors, but mostly chew toys.  It is highly desired for her to have a playmate, as she is very engaging with other dogs.

Fence:  The necessity of a fenced yard is flexible, but she is active and loves to run and explore.  I can see frequent play dates with other dogs in yards that are fenced, or dog parks work well for her as she gains more confidence.  She is very curious, so active running/walks is also great.  That said, having a fenced yard is definitely easier and desired given her activity level.  She has not tried to jump my 5 ft wire fence even when I am on the other side watering plants, etc.  If not in a fenced yard, she does need to be on leash.

Medical History:  Up to date on all shots, spayed, HW- and healthy.  Needs to gain some weight.  Aya is from Turkey where Leishmaniasis is endemic. She has tested negative, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system.  Potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years.  Your vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab.  The test typically costs $120-150 but varies from vet to vet.

Foster Comments:  Aya is a darling dog with big brown eyes.  She is very endearing with her sweetness and submissive nature.  She is timid at times but quickly recovers.  She has a very nice combination of bonding with both people and dogs.  I would love to adopt her myself as she fits so nicely in my household and is incredibly engaging and entertaining, but I want to keep a “foster” spot open in my home.  She is a very easy dog to fall in love with!