Baxter Philadelphia, PA

Adoption info | Photos

• Breed: English Springer Spaniel
• Size: Medium
• Color: Black with White
• Sex: male
• Age: Adult
• Neutered? Yes
• Good with kids? No
• Good with dogs? Yes
• Shots up to date? Yes

Adoption details

Hi! I’m Baxter. I’m a 2 year old neutered male English Springer Spaniel. I’m happy, smart, affectionate and very handsome (people comment all the time). I love to play ball and Frisbee. I love to walk and go on hikes. I’ve even done parts of the AT! I love to snuggle with my family in the evenings while we watch TV or read. I will sit, stay, (lay) down, look, leave it, (get) off and drop it at almost every request. I am very polite—I allow my human family to enter and leave the house before I do (when asked). I am crate trained and will go to my crate when asked to “take a nap.” I also have a small rug that I will go to when I hear “go to your rug.” I enjoy the bark park but it’s not a regular part of my life. I play with the other dogs but when they get rough I find my family member and stay out of the middle of the scuffle. I live with my mom and dad and Sally, a five year old Springer. Sally and I spend time grooming each other and playing. I go everywhere with my family—vacations and all. I love to travel. I have recently begun a new hobby—I’m learning to run with my mom. I’m a much better runner than she. As you can tell I am well loved and cared for.
You may be wondering why in the world I’m looking for a new home. It all started last Thanksgiving. I had a very, very bad week that ended with a very horrible day. My grandma came for the holiday, my college aged sisters came home, all their friends started showing up at the house at all times of day and night. Mom stopped walking me. The house was crazy. Grandma has a habit of dropping tissues all over the house. I find soiled tissues irresistible. Grandma and I had several skirmishes over the tissues (she would chase me and take them from me). On the 8th day of Grandma’s visit my mom noticed me marking the sofa—I had never done that before and I have not done it since. I was stressed. The next day I had a tissue and was lying next to the wall concentrating on my prize. Grandma walked very close to me and I felt trapped—like I had no way out. The next thing I knew I bit Grandma. It was a really bad move on my part. I knew it the minute I did it.
I was immediately enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania’s Behavior Modification program. I am a model student. I did really great. I responded so well that we all thought our troubles were behind us. After a wonderful summer vacation in Vermont we (Mom, Dad, Sally and me) were driving home. It was about two hours into the trip. I was curled up in the corner of the back seat in that drowsy state somewhere between being awake and asleep. The cooler was beside me. Dad reached back to open the cooler. I was startled. Once again I felt cornered. I snapped and grabbed his hand (about the same place I got Grandma). Dad is ok and he is not mad at me although he was not happy about it.
The big problem is my extended family. They are now refusing to come to my house with me here—even if I’m outside. They have my mom crying a lot because they say terrible things about me. They give Mom ultimatums—them or me. It’s an impossible situation.
There’s one more thing I need to tell you. I used to have seizures. They were very mild. I am completely controlled and haven’t had one since I began my medicine. I take Phenobarbital for my seizures and Fluoxetine for my anxiety. Mom gets them at Wal-Mart and it costs about $10 a month.
Once in awhile Sally and I are boarded—everyone who cares for us thinks that I am wonderful. My groomer loves me. I continue to practice my Behavior Modification exercises and we keep in close contact with our friends at Penn. Both my mom and dad think that I am a great dog—I’ve even heard them say that I may be the best dog they have ever had in many ways. What I really need now is a quiet home to call my own forever. Please consider me, I am a great boy.