Age: 8 years Gender: Male Color: Liver/White Weight: 40 lbs. Variety: Field-bred Introducing Bandit, a Springer who will melt your heart. Bandit loves everyone he meets. He loves to be petted! He will also nuzzle his head into you. His foster mom discovered that he loves his human's voice. He responds so well to her speaking and even singing. He really wants to please. Bandit was an outside dog before coming into foster care, and he's made a great transition into an inside dog. He is learning the house rules. He is housetrained. He only had one accident the first night. Bandit is a diamond in the rough. His foster mom shaved his coat to get rid of the mats. That is when she discovered that he became calm when she talked to him and sang to him. Now you can see all his cute ticking! She took him to the vet for the first time in years. Bandit got an outstanding vet report. He is a dog with no health problems of any kind. His only issue was to be neutered, and he's recovered nicely. Warning: this is not a "Senior" dog. Bandit has the health and energy of a much younger dog, maybe age 3-5. He will need lots of exercise. He is learning obedience training and is a great pupil. He now knows Sit and Off, and is working on Stay and Down. He pulls on the leash, but is improving with training. He is not destructive in the house, but has been a little too interested in food on the counter and some paper coming out of the printer. Remember, everything inside is new to him. He is crate-trained. He'd like to get on the furniture but his foster mom says no. He's disappointed but listens. Bandit would do well as the only dog or with a more submissive dog. He likes his foster mom's Springer, who is a beta dog. He is worried that other dogs will take his food, so he does best when fed separately. He does share snacks well, though. Bandit was "very interested" in the one cat he's been around, and we don't recommend a home with a cat. Bandit has had some exposure to young children, even toddlers, and did well with them. His foster mom is spending a lot of time training him to become a wonderful companion. He already has the personality of a great family dog. He loves people and is friends with everyone. Soon, he will know even more about being a great best friend inside the house and his leash manners will be better. Bandit would like a family who would continue his training and have him practice his new skills. Please consider Bandit if you love long walks together and cuddling. Here is an update from Bandit's foster mom, as of 1-2-06: "This is what a new owner should expect to deal with at this stage: 1. Puppy proofing your home is a must to protect your belongings and to protect Bandit. He is into everything and takes things off counters, out of the garbage, etc. 2. You can't leave food unattended unless you want to diet and would like his help with this. 3. He will dig holes in the yard. So if you need your septic tank lid uncovered, he would be most helpful with that. 4. He must be able to "run" in a securely fenced area to burn off his energy. Preferably daily. This can be just him running around on his own or chasing a ball, playing fetch. If he doesn't have a release for his energy, he can be quite a handful in the house. A short casual walk around the neighborhood isn't going to be enough for him. He doesn't need a real long run, just a good energy burning sprint! 5. Once he has released his energy, he is a very quiet wonderful guy. He actually naps a fair bit or entertains himself with the many bones and toys we have for him to play with. 6. Must be on leash when not in a fenced area. He has shown too much interest in chasing bunnies, squirrels, cats, or anything else that moves. When he's wound up or chasing something, he does not respond to commands. 7. Needs to continue working on his leash manners. He responded very well to the Gentle Leader. 8. Still jumps on the furniture but is doing that less than before. 9. Fireworks frighten him very much. Sedatives would be a very good idea if he were left alone on the 4th of July or New Years Eve. 10. Got a bath tonight after digging a huge hole in the yard. He behaved wonderfully in the bathtub. This was the easiest bath I've given a dog. His first bath was at the vets so this is the first time I've given him one. He even let me blow dry his hair. 11. He absolutely loves to be cuddled. 12. I call him "The Collector" because he collects the toys, bones, and whatever he can get ahold of and piles them on his bed. It's like he just wants to have stuff. He doesn't play with the toys (in fact, he doesn't like it when they squeak so he holds them gently), he just collects them and carries them around. 13. He must still eat meals alone, away from other dogs, and likely will need to the rest of his life. This is the one area I'm not seeing improve. He does however, continue to do very well with eating treats with the others. He is quite the gentleman and doesn't grab food out of hand. 14. He's good at sharing toys, bones, beds, etc (just not meals) with the other dogs. I'm not seeing resource guarding issues with him. 15. For the most part, he is good with my other dogs. He had a rough first week in this area but has greatly improved. Now many times, when the older resident dogs "snark" at him, he avoids the confrontration and will walk away. But there are occasions where he stands his ground and won't back away from it. I prefer that he back away. 16. He's fine in a crate IF left alone, away from the other dogs. Starting today, we are leaving him out of the crate when unattended but in a room that has been completely puppy proofed. He can't have the run of the house like the others until he stops taking things that he shouldn't. I'm not so much worried about damage as he doesn't seem to be destructive. I worry more that he'll get into something that can hurt him. 17. On the energy thing. I think often Bandit gets himself wound up and it may be nervousness. The good thing is that many times all it takes is sitting and petting him and he calms right down. I think the physical activity really helps in this area but isn't always what he needs. Sometimes he just requires a little TLC, a belly rub, etc. Bandit is a wonderful dog, so responsive, such a good learner, and incredibly affectionate. He needs a family that will continue his training and allow him the exercise and affection that he needs."