SIMOS

Gender: Male
Age: ~3 years
Size/Weight: 38 lbs (still very underweight – should be ~10lbs more)

Color: Blue Belton (black & white)

Breed: English Setter

Good with Children: There are no children in Simos’s foster home, but I think he would be fine with older children.  He is friendly and loving with everyone, but he can be a bit exciteable, and might be overwhelming for very small children.

Good with Dogs: YES.  Simos is in a foster home that currently has 7 other dogs, and he gets along well with all of them. He does not play as much as some of his siblings, but he is quite content to be surrounded by other dogs.  

Good with Cats: Seems to be.  There are no cats in Simos’s foster home, but there was a cat in his temp foster home.  He showed interest, but was not aggressive toward that cat.

House trained: Yes, largely.  Simos hasn’t had an accident in weeks in his foster home and he never messes in his kennel.  

Crate trained: Yes, but he is not a fan.  Simos is crated in his foster home overnight and when no one is at home.  He will go in readily with a treat or food.  If you cover his kennel with a blanket, he will settle down and relax and he sleeps in it through the night.  If his kennel is uncovered and/or he can hear people moving around, he does start barking and can be persistent about it.  He doesn’t bark much at all outside his crate.  I would prefer a home for Simos where he does not have to be crated much.

Leash trained: Not really.  Simos pulls hard on the leash and wanders quite a lot.  We have a very large back yard, so we have not worked much on leash-walking.

Activity Level: High Energy.  Simos loves to run…and run.  He does long laps around our 2+ acre fenced yard and loves to stretch his legs.  If he gets enough activity, he settles down well indoors and is always up for a cuddle on the couch, but if he cannot burn off his energy, he is restless.  He tends to be very active early in the day and quite calm and snuggly in the evenings.

Fence: Required. Can be physical or Invisible fence, but Simos needs regular access to a safely fenced yard to burn off his energy.  Leash walks or occasional trips to the park will not be sufficient for Simos or his new family.
Training/Behavior: Simos is still learning about being an inside, family dog.  He has a naturally sweet temperament, but he needs to continue learning basic obedience.  He is pretty good about coming when called.  He is food obsessed (not surprising considering he was starving when we found him), but he would counter surf and steal food given the opportunity.  He gets along very well with everyone he meets and wants to be loved.  He needs a family that will appreciate his good character and be willing to work with him on training.

Simos would definitely benefit from doing an obedience class with his new family.  

Medical History: Simos is healthy, UTD on all vaccinations, and is on flea/tick and heartworm prevention.   He is underweight and needs to gain up to 10 lbs – I am feeding him a combination of adult and puppy food to give him more calories.  Simos’s hind legs are a bit turned out, and it is noticeable when watching him from behind, but it doesn’t seem to hamper his ability to run at all, and it does not cause him any pain.  

Simos originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. He tested negative before coming to the USA, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years, so potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years.  Typically, the test needs to be sent to a special lab, but any regular vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab.  The cost of the test seems to vary widely by area, but I pay ~$150 at my vet.

Foster Comments:
Simos is a beautiful and sweet boy.  He was found emaciated on the streets of northern Greece and was brought to us.  He was very likely an abandoned hunting dog as he was found in an area where dumping unsuccessful hunting dogs is common.  Prior to coming to the USA, I don’t think he ever lived in a home.

Simos is still learning about living in a house, but he is doing very well.  He doesn’t have accidents in the house or in his kennel and he has not chewed anything inappropriate in weeks.  He LOVES his people and adores having his face rubbed and cuddling up beside you.  He likes to snuggle up on the couch especially in the evening and is a great TV watching buddy at night.  He will come up and lay his head in your lap and wait for you to pet him. 

During the day (especially in the morning), he is full of energy and needs to run.  He loves to patrolling the yard and race around chasing birds and bugs.  He occasionally plays chase with his setter siblings, but mostly runs around checking things out and doing his own thing.  He needs a fenced in yard to safely explore and burn off his energy.  When he first gets out of his crate in the morning, he is very bouncy and ready to go.  He gets more and more calm as the day progresses and is a great snuggle bug in the evening.  

Simos is looking for an active family to love and play with him and give him the home he deserves.

Adoption Fee: $300.00

Foster Location: Temperance, MI