Foster Location: Boonville, NY
Volunteer transport can be arranged within the Continental US to adopters within 1,000 miles of the foster home.
Typically, transport for your adopted dog is available to within 2 hours of your home.
*Dogs can be adopted outside this transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted setter, drive to a location within the transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog.
Gender: Male
Age: approximately 2 years old
Size/Weight: medium size/41 lbs.
Color: White with black spots
Breed: English Setter
Good with Children: Yes, but jumps. So parent need to be mindful with young children.
Good with Dogs: Yes
Good with Cats: Yes, no issues at all with kitty
House trained: 95% - he has accidents every now and then which I think are due to nerves and anxiety. The more he has gotten comfortable, the less this has happened. It’s really not a lot, and will just take patience and understanding from adoptive family knowing he has this anxiety.
Crate trained: Yes, he is a little reluctant to go in but if I offer a treat to calm him he hops right in and stays all day while I am at work and does not have accidents, nor does he bark in it.
Leash trained: Needs some work, but not terrible. He needs a little practice just for the simple fact that any pulling makes him nervous and uncomfortable. Once in a routine, he does fine.
Activity Level: He is a very active Setter outside and in.
Fence: I would really like to see him go to a home where there is a fence. He loves to run and play. He does play in my smaller fenced in area, and I also put him on a lead outside when I am doing yard work and he does extremely well on that, although I don’t think it should be used as a primary outlet for his exercise because he does love to run free as well. He is a young Setter with lots of playfulness so I don’t feel that leash walking would be sufficient unless dedicated to dog park time in conjunction with it.
Behavior: Max is a velcro dog and then some! He is super cuddly, super attentive, and prefers when all of your attention is 100% on him. He likes to be with you in every room, or at the very least near you. If we are busy, we will often catch him asleep on the couch, but most of the time he is really craving his human’s attention. When we lay in bed, he loves to come up and cuddle, and basically mold himself into you! He will get as close as humanly possible and grunt with enjoyment. When I am watching tv, he will try to fit himself on the small recliner, and does somehow manage to do that! Max thinks he’s a lap dog and there isn’t any form of a pretzel he won’t take on in order to achieve this lap dog status.
Medical History: Max is neutered, up to date on all vaccines & microchipped. Upon Max has tested positive for Lyme Disease. Max shows no symptomatic signs of Lyme, or any joint issues. He is currently undergoing a 30 day treatment of doxycycline to reduce the amount of the lyme antigens in his bloodstream. The Dr at this point does not feel that it will create any long term health effects; however, should be monitored. Max will be finished with his treatment around mid-January.
Foster Comments: He is very eager to please, and extremely submissive to us. Upon initial residency in my home, he would tend to army crawl to us with his tail in between his legs. He still does that when we say his name and call him, but he gently approaches and waits for reassurance that we are not upset with him. Once we give him a pat on his head, his tail begins to wag relentlessly and he just wants to kiss and hug and please.
Max was surrendered by family who took him in after his initial family abandoned him. So I’m unaware of his early life but can say that somewhere along the line he has developed some heavy anxiety. We have worked through quite a bit since he has been in foster care, and he has made huge strides in this department, but it’s something to keep in mind as it will need to be a continued work in progress.
Max seems to know basic commands, ALWAYS comes when he is called, inside and outside, and sits nicely when asked. With that said, he would do best in a calm environment and home. He does absolutely fine with other dogs, I have 3 other resident dogs - two large labs and a small boston terrier, and have had absolutely no problems. Even better, he loves all furry creatures because he does fantastic with my resident cat as well and neither bother each other and he shows zero prey drive.
I do not question Max around children, as I have an 11 year old boy - but think he should go to a home with no small children because he does jump out of excitement. We have been continuing to work on this, he does get down when told, but he is not yet broken of the habit of jumping up - especially when he is excited to see you after a long work day. He was around 2 toddlers before coming to me and they had no issues, but she did mention that it can get a little too chaotic for him and makes him nervous.
He doesn’t like loud noises, or yelling or any abrasive tone. So calm commands and lots of love are going to do this boy lots of good in the anxiety department. I will mention, as stated above, if he gets really nervous he does tinkle. He’s on a good potty schedule with us, and goes to the door when he needs to go outside, so any accidents have been purely out of nervousness. He loves reassurance, and an owner that will take the time to be consistent in praise and steadfast in their love for him will see Max come out of his shell very quickly. He is one of the most affectionate Setters I have ever fostered. There is no shortage of kisses and hugs with this boy.
Max likes to chew! I did try to leave him uncrated while at work and much to my surprise he had no potty accidents but I think chewing was anxiety driven. Since, I have crated him when I go to work, and he does wonderful with the extra encouragement to get in the crate. He doesn’t have any accidents and I give him a few toys and he is good to go. Outside he also loves to play with toys, so this boy will need and love an abundance of fun things to play with! I often catch him outside tossing the toys to himself in the air and just having the best time. When he is playing with toys he truly lights up and it’s a playful side of him that is truly just joyful to watch.
Max is allowed on all of the furniture in my home, and when I go to bed he prefers to curl up on the bottom of the bed but if you let him he’d like to share your pillow with you 🙂 He has never used the dog bed so I would prefer he go to a home that is furniture friendly because I do not see this habit being broke as he loves to lounge on the couch and chairs as well.
Max is really going to be a wonderful companion, and I’d just love to see him go to a home where someone could really focus on him and build that relationship that he craves so much. There’s nothing this beautiful boy won’t do to make his owner happy. He loves car rides, and snuggles - and if you can provide that for him he will be your best friend!
Adoption fee: $300.00
