English Setter puppies and dogs in Sturgis, Michigan

Socialization: Debbie is very shy around men and new people. She is very attached to her foster mom and will run to her when approached by new people. She has been in her foster home for about 3 weeks and she will still hide from the dad and teenage boy in the house. This is slowly improving but her new family will need to continue to work on her confidence in these situations. She is excellent with the resident dogs, one female and one male, she is very submissive and eager to play with them. There are no cats in the foster home, but Debbie’s foster mom is a vet tech and she has taken her to work several times. Debbie just ignores the resident house cats there. Training: Debbie can sit for a treat or her meal. She will come most of the time when her foster mom calls for her. She will counter surf if there is something left out. Debbie is working on potty training. She is very close to being fully trained but does not ask to go outside just yet. We have crated her a few times when we are gone for an extended period of time and she seems to do well but did have some drooling when we got home. Activity requirements: Debbie enjoys some daily zoomies in the fenced yard. She is working on leash training and would benefit from an Easy Walk harness. I think moderate exercise would be sufficient for her. Fence requirements: Because of Debbie’s low confidence in social situations, I think a fenced yard would be best or daily walks but she loves to run around in a fenced yard. I think a dog park would be overwhelming. Personality: Debbie is a tale of two dogs. In the morning, before the rest of the family is up, Debbie is a playful silly setter who loves to play fetch with her toys, wrestle with her doggy housemates and dance all around her foster mom and seek out couch snuggles. Once the rest of her family gets up she becomes shy and nervous. She will still allow the other family members to pet her but will hide if she can. When visitors come to the house, she will retreat to her foster mom’s lap or hide under the kitchen table. I hope with enough time and patience she will learn that people are safe. Health history: Debbie is spayed, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations, and on monthly heartworm prevention. She has a healed fracture in her front left leg, there is a bumpy callous there but does not seem to affect her mobility. She came to rescue very thin and is slowly putting weight on. She has spondylosis in her lower back. This shouldn’t necessarily affect her day to day life but may result in some stiffness in her back end. She will need a good diet, possibly some joint supplements and to keep a nice lean weight. Her next leishmaniasis test is due by September 2025. Foster comments: We do not know what Debbie’s life was like before rescue but it seems that she did not have many positive experiences with humans and is slowly learning they can be trusted. She is a very gentle soul and needs a home with other dogs to help her build her confidence. Her adoptive family will need to understand that it will take a lot of patience and positive rewards for her to feel comfortable at a new home. Foster location: St. Louis, MO This dog originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. They 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 is approximately $150-$250. or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80. ##2213405##

Socialization: Russet knows no enemies! He is very friendly and respectful of other dogs. He is on the submissive side with other dogs and people. He has a high prey drive, so cats are not a good idea. He would be good with kids aged 4 and up. Training: Russet is good in the house. I suggest a crate when when you are gone. He doesn't mind a crate at all, and will sometimes go in on his own for a nap. We are working on commands, he already knows sit and down. Activity requirements: Russet is good on a leash, but he needs a home where he can run off leash every day, or at the least every other day, in a safely fenced area. Fence requirements: A fence would be great, he does great at dog parks, he LOVES to run. Homes with an inivisble fence may also be considered as an option for him. Personality: Russet loves people, loves to cuddle, and enjoys a good nap on the couch. He also loves to chase squirrels, and playing with his toys. He is an all around good boy, adjusting well to being a "family" dog. He is sensitive to correction, and can be a little hard headed at times, but comes around quickly. Health history: Russet is neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations, and on montly heartworm prevention. He has no known health issues. His next leishmaniasis test will be due in September, 2025. This dog originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. They 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 is approximately $150-$250. or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80. Foster comments: Russet's happy place is with his human, he wants to please! I would love to see Russet in a home where someone is around most of the day. If left alone for long periods, he would have to be crated currently, and would probably overwhelm the family upon return with pent up energy. A home with a dog door and a fence would be a dream come true for Russet (but are not requirements). He loves activity but is happy to nap on the couch or in his crate, with one eye open to see where you are going. Foster location: Des Moines, IA ##2226081##

Socialization: Kyti is still a bit shy and reserved with new people. She is sweet and gentle, but tends to back away from people that she doesn't know, particularly if they are loud. If new people are patient and sit down quietly, she will cautiously approach, and she does love affection once she starts to trust you. Hands held above her head make her flinch, so approaches to pet her need to start from underneath her chin, and then you can gradually rub the sides of her face and finally the top of her head. She is very affectionate and snuggly with the people she knows and trusts. My brother and his family came for the holidays with my 2 nephews (10 & 13 years). She was nervous at first, but by the end of the evening, she relaxed with them and allowed all our guests to get close and pet her. She could go to a home with older kids (7+ years) who are respectful. Kyti is great with other dogs. She has met and lived with many in her foster home and she gets along well with all of them. She plays a lot with our other foster Maestra (who is a puppy and smaller than she is), but if she gets overwhelmed by other dogs, she will disengage from play. She has a pretty good sense with other dogs and very quickly learned to avoid our older, grumpy male setter and just keep her distance from him. She will happily snuggle on the couch beside our other dogs, and doesn't even mind when Maestra uses her as a pillow. We do not have cats in our house, so we have not seen how she behaves with him and really cannot say whether she would be good with them or not. Training: Kyti is still learning commands, but she generally responds well to the Greek command for "come" (pronounced Ella). She is very well behaved in the house. She is crate-trained, although she doesn't really care for it, but we have found that she doesn't need to be crated. She goes into her crate for meals because she can be a bit food protective (not surprising given her history), but otherwise, she is left free. At night and when we are out of the house, she is gated in our TV room and generally sleeps on the couch overnight. She does not have accidents and has not caused any trouble or damage when left alone. Given the chance, she might try to counter-surf, but we have not given her the opportunity or observed that behavior. Activity requirements: Kyti is an active young setter and she really enjoys running free and playing chase with some of the other dogs. I would consider her energy level to be typical of a young setter (not super high, but also not low). Once she has had a good romp, she is happy to settle down calmly in the house. We have a very large yard (~2 acres) so she has lots of room to run. We don't often take leash walks, but she does enjoy walking and is reasonable on a leash, although she will pull if she sees a squirrel or rabbit. We would like her to have a home with a good sized yard or a safely fenced park where she will have some opportunity to run free. Fence requirements: Our preference is for Kyti to have a home with a fenced yard where she can run free and expend her energy, but we would consider a home with regular trips to a secure dog park or other exercise options if they are consistent and adequate for her needs. Homes with safely fenced yards will be preferred. Kyti is still timid and easily startled, so we are not sure how she would do with an invisible fence. We will consider this option but have some reservations given her fearfulness. Because she is shy, if Kyti gets loose, she will be difficult to recover and will run from any people she does not know, so it is important for her to be in a secure area. Personality: Kyti is sweet and loving and very affectionate with her family, but she is reserved and a bit uncertain with strangers. She loves to play with toys and with other dogs (although not too many at once). During the day, she loves to run in the yard and play chase with her foster sister. In the evenings, she loves to cuddle on the couch and get pets and snuggles with her family. She loves the couches in our TV room and enjoys when we all sit down together for a movie or to read a book. Health history: Kyti is microchipped, up to date on vaccines and on monthly heartworm prevention. She is generally healthy, but she was found very pregnant, chained outside with only an old airline dog crate for shelter. She had 9 puppies, and she and her babies came in to rescue just a few days after she had given birth. Once her babies were safely weaned, she was spayed, and we have not seen evidence of any medical concerns. When she was first rescued, the vet did note a small heart murmur, and ultrasound revealed a minor degeneration of the mitral valve. There was no treatment recommended, but she should be re-checked in about 6 months. Here is the English translation of the Ultrasound report and copies of all her medical reports and images can be provided to prospective adopters upon request: "LVOT degenerative mitroid valve without left atrium distension, no pulmonary vessel distension is observed, left vlood return is observed in the mitroid valve doppler bay M mode. Functional shortening 29 which is defined at the limits of normal LA/Ao 1.5 within normal limits Ao/ PA 1-1 no dilatation of pulmonary vessels is observed Appical View 4 chambers. Similar to LVOT relationships of A. abdominal and gulf normal, no distension of gulf no is observed. Conclusion: degeneric valvidopathy of the mitriod valve, grade B1, without cardiac remodeling, is observed, the peritality of myocardia is satisfactory, the patient does not need to follow any treatment. Check-up in 6 months." Her next leishmaniasis test is due in October 2025. This dog originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. They 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 is approximately $150-$250. or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80. Foster comments: Kyti is a sweet and loving dog who clearly had a rough life before rescue. It is obvious from the way she flinches from a raised hand or a loud voice that she was probably unkindly treated in the past. Despite that, she desperately wants to be loved and is very affectionate with those she trusts. Although she is a momma dog, she is still very young herself and likes to romp and play like a puppy at times. An ideal home for Kyti would be one with another friendly and confident dog who can help show her the ropes and realize that the people around her can be trusted. She takes cues quickly from other dogs and also enjoys having a playmate. While she is trustworthy alone in the house, we would prefer a home where she will not be left alone for long hours and can be a regular part of the family. Couch privileges are a MUST for her, and we will not adopt her to a family where dogs are not allowed on the furniture. She needs to be a full and complete part of the family. She would probably be happiest in a quieter home without lots of loud voices or constant influx of strangers. She will need a patient, gentle and loving family who will give her time to trust and feel safe. Foster location: Temperance, MI ##2226094##

Socialization: Neda greets other dogs and new people of all sorts with a wagging tail. She enjoys playing with dogs that she knows. She will initiate play and respects when a dog is not interested. I would consider her more on the submissive side. She alerts on the birds and rabbits that come into the yard and suspect that she would consider cats as prey. This behavior can be confirmed if needed. Training: Neda has been slow with learning the commands in English but responds to the few greek comands we know--ella--to come and Bravo--job well done! She does understand "come this way" and "come inside" -but has yet to understand that she has a name. She understands to go to the door when she wants out--but this could mean out to potty OR out to hang out & watch out for rabbits (they are more exciting than us). Her inside behavior is low key. She will play with balls and very few toys and chew sticks. She runs from squeaky toys! She was underweight when she first came, so she would surf the counter and table. We are feeding her three times daily in a slow feeder. This has put some much needed pounds on her. It has also lessened her food insecurity and the counter surfing. Activity requirements: Leash walking will not be enough for this young setter! She loves to run full out--then show us her happy spins! She will need a larger fenced yard to burn off her energy and to explore. She has had over two acres to run and play in foster care which has worked well. We take all the dogs walking in the State Park near by for a 40/60 minute walk a few times a week for leash practice. She has taught us that she is a fetch dog who brings back the ball and drops it at your feet! She will self entertain indoors and outside with balls, toys and her leash. One of her favorite things to do is to rough house and wrestle with another willing dog. Fence requirements: A fully fenced yard will be necessary for Neda to burn off her need to run. She loves watching and chasing birds at the feeder, and stalking the rabbits that foolishly wander into the yard. She is presently being trained on an e-fence, making progress daily. Our metal fenced area is about 20' x 15' , 40 inches tall, she will try to squeeze through it but has not attempted to jump over or climb it. Personality: Neda is confident enough to sit and play by herself. She does initiate play with the other resident dogs (and has wrestled with Banjo -- our English setter twice her size!). She does notice and ponder new things such as the flags that have now appeared to mark the yards boundaries for the e-fence. Her prey drive can be strong but she can be redirected when leashed. Health history: Neda is spayed, microchipped, up to date on vaccines, and on monthly heartwotm prevention. When Neda arrived, she was on the thin side and needed to gain about 6 pounds. At this time, she is about halfway there. She is in good condition physically and mentally with no medical issues at this time. Her next Leishmaniasis test is due 09/2025. This dog originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. They 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 is approximately $150-$250. or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80. Foster comments: Neda would benefit from a home with a fenced large yard to explore and hang out. She loves and adores her people and would NOT be happy with being left alone a full work day. She is good in the car (dealt with a run through the car wash) and is content while we take care of errands. She enjoys another dog for company and to share her bed or couch. With enough attention given to her, she is a great companion and could be an only dog. Foster location: Port Crane, NY Requirements: Applicant must have a fence (physical or invisible) to adopt. ##2238172##