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SPOCK - EXTENDED PROFILE
Name – Spock
Status – Foster - Available for Adoption
Type - Dog
Breed – Great Dane
Date of Birth – 3 Years
Color – Black
Eyes – Brown
Ears – Pendant
Claws – Black
Tail – Undocked
Altered - Neutered
Distinguishing Marks – Extra Inner Eyelids Some Atrophy on Right Leg with Limp
Allergies – Most Foods (Fish base, no grain) and some Air and Contact Allergies
Crate Trained – Yes
Housebroken – Yes
UTD on Vaccinations – Yes
Rabies – Yes
Microchip – Yes
Dewormed – Yes, Panacure
Flea treatment – Yes, NexGuard
Heartworm – Negative
Collar Requirements – Standard Collar, Haltie Collar for added control when needed
Leash Requirements - Standard
Medications – Vistaril
Overall Physical Health – Health ( 8 ) - (1-3= Poor, 4-6 =Fair, 7-8 Good, 9-10 Excellent)
Weight (4-5) - (1=severely emaciated, 5 – 6 normal, 10 = morbidly obese)
Spock has a few easily managed health issues that explain his rating as a 8 .
- Behind his Ears
- In his Arm Pits
- His Legs, occasionally
* If there isn't time or its easier, Spock can go a month without a bath if need be as long as these areas are wiped down with dog or baby wipes.
Overall Mental Health – Good (4 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock is fine mentally. He is on track for a dog of his age and is of average intelligence. Spock has some OCD about licking (over grooming) and scratching himself but responds to verbal commands easily to stop. This has a lot to do with the hives he had and still gets on occasion and him trying to keep himself clean. This has also slowed considerably.
People – Average ( 4 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock used to be initially wary of new people, but once you told him it was ok, he relaxed. He has vastly improved in this area and acts much more out of curiosity than wariness. If he is startled he might bark which usually makes people jump. He has a very big bark! Once he knows you he is a lover. He LOVES HUGS! If you are seated he will, if you let him, walk up and put his head on your shoulder for a hug. Since this was trained into him early by his previous owner, he does not have the issue many dogs do with putting your arms around him. He likes it and finds immense comfort in it. He continues to improve as we work with him. He is far less fearful/distrustful than he was when he arrived about new people and we are happy with his fantastic progress.
Children – Good ( 4 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock likes children and has been around children as young as a newborn and been kind to them. He seems to really like kids and loves getting hugs from them because they are usually just the right height for him to put his head over their shoulder. Even though he is great with kids it would be best that if he goes to a home with older children or responsible young children. This only has to do with food. Small children are less aware of what they do and often feed dogs things they shouldn't or walk around with food that he can easily steal. He is an excellent thief!!! We do not want to set him up to fail and he absolutely knows better than to be protective over his food, high value foods that are very attractive could be problematic just like with any dog. It is for this reason that we would prefer he go to a home with older kids, but we always look at things on a case by case basis.
***NOTE*** ALPRAS animals are always adopted out on a case by case basis to the best home for them. If you happen to have children who we believe will be able to handle Spock and be responsible and are younger than 12, your family could be an approved adoption. The same goes the other way. If the members of the household, kids over 12 or adults, do not seem to be able to handle the reasons behind the restrictions or exhibit self control (such as feeding him things they shouldn't) the the answer would be no. We will always do what we believe is best for the animal.
Dogs – Excellent ( 5 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock does very well with other dogs. He has not been growly or snappy with any dogs of any breed so far. He has lived with a range of different dogs of varying breeds and size from a 8 lb Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix to a 120 lb Cane Corso mix. Spock enjoys laying with other dogs and is not at all confrontational with them. He has even been crated with other dogs before. He is surprisingly aware of where other dogs are and doesn't have a tendency to step on them. Spock is a lower ranking pack member, though he has never been the Omega, and is content to let Dominant dogs take the lead. He would make an excellent addition to any pack as he does not see himself as disabled and loves, loves, loves, to play with other dogs.
Cats – Excellent ( 5 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock is great with cats because he doesn't really care about them too much. He doesn't mind their presence. He isn't protective over his spaces like his bed or crate. He doesn't step on them or bother them. So a house with any kind of cat and personality should be fine.
Pocket Pets – Unknown
It would need to be discovered. ALPRAS does not currently have any pocket pets. Though we have not been able to test him with them, we doubt there would be much issue. Still to be on the safe side, introductions to these animals should be done carefully and with consideration to both species.
Behavioral Issues – Mild ( 2 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = None and 5 = Many
Spock is a thief. An expert ninja thief! So much so its one of his nicknames! Anything that is food related within reach, he will try and get. He is smart enough to work out most trash cans so we have come up with some creative (and no so creative) solutions to this problem in the past. He has improved wonderfully in this area in the last year. With the work, watchfulness, prevention, and training over the last 2 years, he has learned to leave things alone for even hours at a time. We do not leave food unattended for the most part regardless, and do not leave anything out that he could get into (like a loaf of bread vs a can) long term. It was a huge problem initially because he would eat paper or plastic wrappings and even tin foil if he did get into it. He can be sneaky enough to take food off a plate as well (which again is why small children could be an issue, dogs love highchair food!). Some of this behavior was due to how hungry was but since we have found a good balance on his weight and feeding in conjuction with him no longer being a growing pup this has abated significantly. Though his weight has to be kept a little below what a normal dog's weight should be, with finding the right combination of food and timing he's been able to cope with it far more easily though he still occasionally thieves.
We have worked on this behavior and have instilled rules for both him and the humans. He now knows he cannot enter the area in which we are eating. He has learned to get away from something he's not supposed to have after he's stolen it when given the command to 'Leave' or 'Drop It'. We can take items from his mouth that he is or isn't supposed to have now (but only and adult should do this for obvious safety reasons). We also made sure to take up his food bowl sometimes when it has a few little kernels left in it so that he knows we can remove things from him as well as give them to him. At his prior home he was said to be protective of food items or things in his mouth. Since that is not tolerated here, he has not been allowed to present that behavior. Due to this, the only resistance he has given is trying to lean against you while you pick up his bowl that still has food in it. He has gotten better even with this challenge.
Other than the issues with his food he doesn't really present any major problems that stand out very heavily. Some owners may not want him to lay on furniture, this is something we do not discourage him from and do not consider it an undesirable behavior. He is a big dog and due to his leg he needs to be able to get on and off the floor more easily. He does have access to orthopedic dog beds and enjoys dog beds in general. However he cannot always stand up on bad days from the ground that easily and will only use the couch on those days. Due to this, a potential adopter must understand his needs and have a place where he can do this that is appropriate. He he has been trained to only lay on designated furniture.
Energy – Medium ( 3 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Low and 5 = High
Despite being only 3, Spock can be kept at a lower activity level than many other dogs. He is considered a handicapped pet and while, like every animal he needs to have outside time and interaction with the world around him, he has some limitations and should not be forced to do really long walks or extended activities without rest. Spock is pretty good at self regulation, but he will try to please his person and overdo it or overplay with other dogs and may need to be told to stop for a while or be separated to take a break. He can go for short walks and should allowed to play with other dogs to socialize and get energy out. He is a gentle play partner for the most part, but with dogs who can play rougher or are of the same size he has learned he can use some strength. His favorite playmates have been a crazy Dutch Shepherd and an 85 lb Am Staff but he's had good play times with many small dogs including a 8 lb Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix. We do have to encourage other dogs to not bite his legs. That is a lesson taught to the other dogs, not to Spock. He can do a short amount of running, which is more like loping. It is hilarious to watch him frolic and there is no other word to describe that particular action. Most of the time he just wants to hang out with his people and does spend a lot of time resting. He may also rest a lot more because of pain on bad days or if he has over done it. Again, like many limited pets, he knows when to stop most of the time and regulate himself.
Barking – Mild ( 2 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Minimal and 5 = Very Often
Spock is not a big barker but when he barks, he barks big. He has a deep bark you would expect from a Great Dane and it can startle and scare people who don't know him. He mostly barks if he sees a stranger or animal outside the fence area. This is more of an Alert Bark and he does not bark aggressively or encourage other dogs in the pack or the strange dog to bark. Most of the time he woofs til the person or animal leaves the area although if they do not he will persist without intervention. He will occasionally bark to be let in after a while. The other time he barks has to do with the earlier issue with new people.
Spock does have a personality quirk that most people find amusing. If Spock hears a Firetruck Siren he lets out a low building howl that is in perfect tune with it. He also has two other different howl/bark combos. One for Ambulances and one for Police Cars that mimic their sound. It can be pretty funny and it doesn't bother most people, even neighbors have laughed about it. He does not do it if its on the TV or Radio, only if it is an honest to goodness siren. He does listen when you tell him to stop and he does have the silly command 'You are not a Fire Truck' or 'Spock, you are not a First Responder'!
Swimming – Poor ( 1 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Currently Spock is a poor swimmer. We have just started working with him in the pool. He still is panicky and doesn't understand how to use his back legs yet in the water. We will be working with Spock and Hydro Therapy as he learns to swim. Hydro Therapy would be very beneficial for him because it will help him gain some strength in his bad leg although it isn't any kind of requirement. The more he learns to use it and gets the low impact of water to do so, the better chance he has of being able to continue using the leg in the future. Right now because of his poor swimming skills we use a Dog Life Vest. He may Always need one of these to swim.
Toys – Good ( 4 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock enjoys toys quite a bit now. He doesn't seem to tear apart 'plushie' types of toys often, he's only done it twice to date. He does fine with pretty much any toy. We have not played Tug of War with him because of the weakness of his rear leg. The other reason we do not play this game is because we do not want him to get used to the idea of trying to keep things from being removed from his mouth. Spock will use chew bones and sometimes will take a ball and sit with it. He likes to take the animal plushie 'Skins' and carry them around and if he's feeling playful he will toss them up in the air. If using a squeaky toy he will be interested but doesn't exactly know what to do with it next. He is far more interest with people than with toys. We give him the rating of 4 because we do not know how he will react with every toy at this time though he has proven to be ok with the ones he has encountered so far. We do not recommend that he gets 'treat' oriented toys or puzzles due to his allergies.
Known Commands:
Sit, Wait, On, Off, Back, Swim, Play, Drop, Come(here), Eat, Drink, Leave It, No(when needed), Yes, Go, Stay, Go Potty, Crate, Down, Go Poop, Quiet,Take, Give, Stop, Enough, Give Space, Get Out Of That, Go Do Something With Yourself, No Chicken Scratch, Don't do it, Give Space, Back Off, Hug, Stop Licking (over grooming), Stop scratching, Couch, Play,
You are not a Fire Truck, Spock, You are NOT a First Responder
Nicknames: Spocko-Taco, Ninja, Moose, James Dean, First Responder
Commands Working On -
Since he is fairly limited in what he can and cannot do, there are not a lot of commands that are necessary for him.
Other Notes:
Spock is a pretty good boy overall. He really wants to try and be a good boy. It's obvious he wants to do things and although he has to be somewhat restricted, and knows it, he handles it well for such a young dog. He will probably always be a little itchy from time to time, need extra baths, and (although amusing) occasionally have to wear a T-Shirt if for some reason allergies become a serious problem temporarily. There are some considerations to be taken into mind for potential adopters. Spock has very manageable health problems and always will. He will always need to have a Permanent Veterinarian if at all possible. This is important because he may need to see a Vet more often in the future and needs to have built a relationship of trust with them. Additionally, because Spock has to have baths often he cannot use typical over the counter flea meds of any kind and must be on an internal preventative which must be obtained though a veterinarian such as NexGuard. Though we don't usually like to use internal preventatives because of the many side effects that can come with food/medicine reactions and long term effects that are unknown (especially for newer types of internal preventatives) it is the best way to handle it and so far he has done well with NexGuard as a medicine and not had a bad allergy to it either.
One of the first things an adopter needs to consider is if they can make the commitment to his care in the future. Though he has very manageable health problems, Vet fees, Special Food (or a raw diet if wanted) that is grain free and fish based, a Crate (to minimize activity when needed or if he injures his leg), Halti Collar, Thick Leash, Muzzle (if needed at the time for a vet, painful manipulations, or claw clipping), Special Soaps and/or Shampoos, Dog Beds and/or Washable Couch Covers so he can be on a couch, Ongoing and possible Future Medications, and most importantly Time.
***Note*** Spock will come with a Halti Collar, Leash, Muzzle, Dog Food Bowl, Medicine, Food, Food Bin, Shampoo, Bed, Some Toys, Treats, and Collar/Tags
Spock, like any dog, is a commitment and he deserves someone who can handle his physical and financial needs. Although with the great strides he's made with his leg, it is still possible that he may one day require a Wheelchair.
Disabled Dogs can lead very Happy and Full lives, their human needs to fully understand the needs that they have and be ready to accept full responsibility to their health. On the other side of this is how much joy Disabled Pets can give to their caregiver. Many people who have owned disabled pets feel that they have learned much from them , been wholly inspired by them, and have been given the greatest joy for having known them. Please take all this into mind when thinking of adopting Spock or any disabled/handicapped pet and remember that they do not see themselves as disabled and should be treated like normal pets. They do not want to be pitied because that will not help them. Confidence, love, physical care, and equality will. That said, if you are still interested in Spock or any pet from any organization, please do not let their 'weaknesses' fool you for those 'weaknesses' are often their greatest strengths!
Status – Foster - Available for Adoption
Type - Dog
Breed – Great Dane
Date of Birth – 3 Years
Color – Black
Eyes – Brown
Ears – Pendant
Claws – Black
Tail – Undocked
Altered - Neutered
Distinguishing Marks – Extra Inner Eyelids Some Atrophy on Right Leg with Limp
Allergies – Most Foods (Fish base, no grain) and some Air and Contact Allergies
Crate Trained – Yes
Housebroken – Yes
UTD on Vaccinations – Yes
Rabies – Yes
Microchip – Yes
Dewormed – Yes, Panacure
Flea treatment – Yes, NexGuard
Heartworm – Negative
Collar Requirements – Standard Collar, Haltie Collar for added control when needed
Leash Requirements - Standard
Medications – Vistaril
Overall Physical Health – Health ( 8 ) - (1-3= Poor, 4-6 =Fair, 7-8 Good, 9-10 Excellent)
Weight (4-5) - (1=severely emaciated, 5 – 6 normal, 10 = morbidly obese)
Spock has a few easily managed health issues that explain his rating as a 8 .
- Spock has food allergies, so he will always need to have special food. He likes just about anything you feed him so an upgrade in food will not have him turning his nose up at it. He is on Taste of the Wild (Salmon) and is doing well with it. He is currently on Vistaril (an inexpensive allergy medicine), which he takes for his allergies and it has worked excellently. He may occasionally have some general seasonal allergies, but it is fine with the medicine.
- Spock, if he isn't bathed, could get a yeast infection on his skin. This is NOT harmful to other people or animals. It only affects him. This means that Spock would benefit having baths/showers every week or every other week. Its handy that he's a 'wash and wear' kind of dog. His baths take maybe 5 minutes and he dries very quickly. He does tolerate the bathing well, especially when done in a shower with you. The worst spots on Spock are as follows:
- Behind his Ears
- In his Arm Pits
- His Legs, occasionally
* If there isn't time or its easier, Spock can go a month without a bath if need be as long as these areas are wiped down with dog or baby wipes.
- Spock has what is called DJD. DJD stands for Degenerative Joint Disease. This is NOT harmful to other people or animals. This disease is in his Right Back Leg. Due to this having been discovered when he was less than a year old, it has had some visible effects on his body and how he moves. There is some Atrophy in his Right Leg which means it is thinner and smaller than the other leg. He does not always use that leg and on bad days he will not put it on the ground at all on those day except when absolutely necessary and it may shake a little. Spock has improved immensely over the past 2 years in this area and has come a long way in his physical rehabilitation. He can now almost always put weight on the leg, he can pivot on it, run, jump, frolic, enjoy intense play and do most movements normally.
Overall Mental Health – Good (4 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock is fine mentally. He is on track for a dog of his age and is of average intelligence. Spock has some OCD about licking (over grooming) and scratching himself but responds to verbal commands easily to stop. This has a lot to do with the hives he had and still gets on occasion and him trying to keep himself clean. This has also slowed considerably.
People – Average ( 4 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock used to be initially wary of new people, but once you told him it was ok, he relaxed. He has vastly improved in this area and acts much more out of curiosity than wariness. If he is startled he might bark which usually makes people jump. He has a very big bark! Once he knows you he is a lover. He LOVES HUGS! If you are seated he will, if you let him, walk up and put his head on your shoulder for a hug. Since this was trained into him early by his previous owner, he does not have the issue many dogs do with putting your arms around him. He likes it and finds immense comfort in it. He continues to improve as we work with him. He is far less fearful/distrustful than he was when he arrived about new people and we are happy with his fantastic progress.
Children – Good ( 4 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock likes children and has been around children as young as a newborn and been kind to them. He seems to really like kids and loves getting hugs from them because they are usually just the right height for him to put his head over their shoulder. Even though he is great with kids it would be best that if he goes to a home with older children or responsible young children. This only has to do with food. Small children are less aware of what they do and often feed dogs things they shouldn't or walk around with food that he can easily steal. He is an excellent thief!!! We do not want to set him up to fail and he absolutely knows better than to be protective over his food, high value foods that are very attractive could be problematic just like with any dog. It is for this reason that we would prefer he go to a home with older kids, but we always look at things on a case by case basis.
***NOTE*** ALPRAS animals are always adopted out on a case by case basis to the best home for them. If you happen to have children who we believe will be able to handle Spock and be responsible and are younger than 12, your family could be an approved adoption. The same goes the other way. If the members of the household, kids over 12 or adults, do not seem to be able to handle the reasons behind the restrictions or exhibit self control (such as feeding him things they shouldn't) the the answer would be no. We will always do what we believe is best for the animal.
Dogs – Excellent ( 5 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock does very well with other dogs. He has not been growly or snappy with any dogs of any breed so far. He has lived with a range of different dogs of varying breeds and size from a 8 lb Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix to a 120 lb Cane Corso mix. Spock enjoys laying with other dogs and is not at all confrontational with them. He has even been crated with other dogs before. He is surprisingly aware of where other dogs are and doesn't have a tendency to step on them. Spock is a lower ranking pack member, though he has never been the Omega, and is content to let Dominant dogs take the lead. He would make an excellent addition to any pack as he does not see himself as disabled and loves, loves, loves, to play with other dogs.
Cats – Excellent ( 5 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock is great with cats because he doesn't really care about them too much. He doesn't mind their presence. He isn't protective over his spaces like his bed or crate. He doesn't step on them or bother them. So a house with any kind of cat and personality should be fine.
Pocket Pets – Unknown
It would need to be discovered. ALPRAS does not currently have any pocket pets. Though we have not been able to test him with them, we doubt there would be much issue. Still to be on the safe side, introductions to these animals should be done carefully and with consideration to both species.
Behavioral Issues – Mild ( 2 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = None and 5 = Many
Spock is a thief. An expert ninja thief! So much so its one of his nicknames! Anything that is food related within reach, he will try and get. He is smart enough to work out most trash cans so we have come up with some creative (and no so creative) solutions to this problem in the past. He has improved wonderfully in this area in the last year. With the work, watchfulness, prevention, and training over the last 2 years, he has learned to leave things alone for even hours at a time. We do not leave food unattended for the most part regardless, and do not leave anything out that he could get into (like a loaf of bread vs a can) long term. It was a huge problem initially because he would eat paper or plastic wrappings and even tin foil if he did get into it. He can be sneaky enough to take food off a plate as well (which again is why small children could be an issue, dogs love highchair food!). Some of this behavior was due to how hungry was but since we have found a good balance on his weight and feeding in conjuction with him no longer being a growing pup this has abated significantly. Though his weight has to be kept a little below what a normal dog's weight should be, with finding the right combination of food and timing he's been able to cope with it far more easily though he still occasionally thieves.
We have worked on this behavior and have instilled rules for both him and the humans. He now knows he cannot enter the area in which we are eating. He has learned to get away from something he's not supposed to have after he's stolen it when given the command to 'Leave' or 'Drop It'. We can take items from his mouth that he is or isn't supposed to have now (but only and adult should do this for obvious safety reasons). We also made sure to take up his food bowl sometimes when it has a few little kernels left in it so that he knows we can remove things from him as well as give them to him. At his prior home he was said to be protective of food items or things in his mouth. Since that is not tolerated here, he has not been allowed to present that behavior. Due to this, the only resistance he has given is trying to lean against you while you pick up his bowl that still has food in it. He has gotten better even with this challenge.
Other than the issues with his food he doesn't really present any major problems that stand out very heavily. Some owners may not want him to lay on furniture, this is something we do not discourage him from and do not consider it an undesirable behavior. He is a big dog and due to his leg he needs to be able to get on and off the floor more easily. He does have access to orthopedic dog beds and enjoys dog beds in general. However he cannot always stand up on bad days from the ground that easily and will only use the couch on those days. Due to this, a potential adopter must understand his needs and have a place where he can do this that is appropriate. He he has been trained to only lay on designated furniture.
Energy – Medium ( 3 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Low and 5 = High
Despite being only 3, Spock can be kept at a lower activity level than many other dogs. He is considered a handicapped pet and while, like every animal he needs to have outside time and interaction with the world around him, he has some limitations and should not be forced to do really long walks or extended activities without rest. Spock is pretty good at self regulation, but he will try to please his person and overdo it or overplay with other dogs and may need to be told to stop for a while or be separated to take a break. He can go for short walks and should allowed to play with other dogs to socialize and get energy out. He is a gentle play partner for the most part, but with dogs who can play rougher or are of the same size he has learned he can use some strength. His favorite playmates have been a crazy Dutch Shepherd and an 85 lb Am Staff but he's had good play times with many small dogs including a 8 lb Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix. We do have to encourage other dogs to not bite his legs. That is a lesson taught to the other dogs, not to Spock. He can do a short amount of running, which is more like loping. It is hilarious to watch him frolic and there is no other word to describe that particular action. Most of the time he just wants to hang out with his people and does spend a lot of time resting. He may also rest a lot more because of pain on bad days or if he has over done it. Again, like many limited pets, he knows when to stop most of the time and regulate himself.
Barking – Mild ( 2 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Minimal and 5 = Very Often
Spock is not a big barker but when he barks, he barks big. He has a deep bark you would expect from a Great Dane and it can startle and scare people who don't know him. He mostly barks if he sees a stranger or animal outside the fence area. This is more of an Alert Bark and he does not bark aggressively or encourage other dogs in the pack or the strange dog to bark. Most of the time he woofs til the person or animal leaves the area although if they do not he will persist without intervention. He will occasionally bark to be let in after a while. The other time he barks has to do with the earlier issue with new people.
Spock does have a personality quirk that most people find amusing. If Spock hears a Firetruck Siren he lets out a low building howl that is in perfect tune with it. He also has two other different howl/bark combos. One for Ambulances and one for Police Cars that mimic their sound. It can be pretty funny and it doesn't bother most people, even neighbors have laughed about it. He does not do it if its on the TV or Radio, only if it is an honest to goodness siren. He does listen when you tell him to stop and he does have the silly command 'You are not a Fire Truck' or 'Spock, you are not a First Responder'!
Swimming – Poor ( 1 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Currently Spock is a poor swimmer. We have just started working with him in the pool. He still is panicky and doesn't understand how to use his back legs yet in the water. We will be working with Spock and Hydro Therapy as he learns to swim. Hydro Therapy would be very beneficial for him because it will help him gain some strength in his bad leg although it isn't any kind of requirement. The more he learns to use it and gets the low impact of water to do so, the better chance he has of being able to continue using the leg in the future. Right now because of his poor swimming skills we use a Dog Life Vest. He may Always need one of these to swim.
Toys – Good ( 4 ) *Based on a 1-5 scale with 1 = Poor and 5 = Excellent
Spock enjoys toys quite a bit now. He doesn't seem to tear apart 'plushie' types of toys often, he's only done it twice to date. He does fine with pretty much any toy. We have not played Tug of War with him because of the weakness of his rear leg. The other reason we do not play this game is because we do not want him to get used to the idea of trying to keep things from being removed from his mouth. Spock will use chew bones and sometimes will take a ball and sit with it. He likes to take the animal plushie 'Skins' and carry them around and if he's feeling playful he will toss them up in the air. If using a squeaky toy he will be interested but doesn't exactly know what to do with it next. He is far more interest with people than with toys. We give him the rating of 4 because we do not know how he will react with every toy at this time though he has proven to be ok with the ones he has encountered so far. We do not recommend that he gets 'treat' oriented toys or puzzles due to his allergies.
Known Commands:
Sit, Wait, On, Off, Back, Swim, Play, Drop, Come(here), Eat, Drink, Leave It, No(when needed), Yes, Go, Stay, Go Potty, Crate, Down, Go Poop, Quiet,Take, Give, Stop, Enough, Give Space, Get Out Of That, Go Do Something With Yourself, No Chicken Scratch, Don't do it, Give Space, Back Off, Hug, Stop Licking (over grooming), Stop scratching, Couch, Play,
You are not a Fire Truck, Spock, You are NOT a First Responder
Nicknames: Spocko-Taco, Ninja, Moose, James Dean, First Responder
Commands Working On -
Since he is fairly limited in what he can and cannot do, there are not a lot of commands that are necessary for him.
Other Notes:
Spock is a pretty good boy overall. He really wants to try and be a good boy. It's obvious he wants to do things and although he has to be somewhat restricted, and knows it, he handles it well for such a young dog. He will probably always be a little itchy from time to time, need extra baths, and (although amusing) occasionally have to wear a T-Shirt if for some reason allergies become a serious problem temporarily. There are some considerations to be taken into mind for potential adopters. Spock has very manageable health problems and always will. He will always need to have a Permanent Veterinarian if at all possible. This is important because he may need to see a Vet more often in the future and needs to have built a relationship of trust with them. Additionally, because Spock has to have baths often he cannot use typical over the counter flea meds of any kind and must be on an internal preventative which must be obtained though a veterinarian such as NexGuard. Though we don't usually like to use internal preventatives because of the many side effects that can come with food/medicine reactions and long term effects that are unknown (especially for newer types of internal preventatives) it is the best way to handle it and so far he has done well with NexGuard as a medicine and not had a bad allergy to it either.
One of the first things an adopter needs to consider is if they can make the commitment to his care in the future. Though he has very manageable health problems, Vet fees, Special Food (or a raw diet if wanted) that is grain free and fish based, a Crate (to minimize activity when needed or if he injures his leg), Halti Collar, Thick Leash, Muzzle (if needed at the time for a vet, painful manipulations, or claw clipping), Special Soaps and/or Shampoos, Dog Beds and/or Washable Couch Covers so he can be on a couch, Ongoing and possible Future Medications, and most importantly Time.
***Note*** Spock will come with a Halti Collar, Leash, Muzzle, Dog Food Bowl, Medicine, Food, Food Bin, Shampoo, Bed, Some Toys, Treats, and Collar/Tags
Spock, like any dog, is a commitment and he deserves someone who can handle his physical and financial needs. Although with the great strides he's made with his leg, it is still possible that he may one day require a Wheelchair.
Disabled Dogs can lead very Happy and Full lives, their human needs to fully understand the needs that they have and be ready to accept full responsibility to their health. On the other side of this is how much joy Disabled Pets can give to their caregiver. Many people who have owned disabled pets feel that they have learned much from them , been wholly inspired by them, and have been given the greatest joy for having known them. Please take all this into mind when thinking of adopting Spock or any disabled/handicapped pet and remember that they do not see themselves as disabled and should be treated like normal pets. They do not want to be pitied because that will not help them. Confidence, love, physical care, and equality will. That said, if you are still interested in Spock or any pet from any organization, please do not let their 'weaknesses' fool you for those 'weaknesses' are often their greatest strengths!
'I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter...the cast-offs of human society.
I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal, and I was angry.
"God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?"
God was silent for a moment and then spoke softly.
"I have done something," he replied,
"I created you."
The Animals Savior - Jim Willis
I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal, and I was angry.
"God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?"
God was silent for a moment and then spoke softly.
"I have done something," he replied,
"I created you."
The Animals Savior - Jim Willis
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