Champ Saint Bernard & English Setter Mix Rockville, MD

CHAMP (NOW RANGER) HAS BEEN ADOPTED!

HERE'S WHAT HIS ADOPTER HAS TO SAY:


Ranger has been a part of my home for two months now and I can't remember life without him. After an initial adjustment to the new more urban environment, Ranger is the king of his new domain. He enjoys countless hours of watching the squirrels through my windows and chases them out of the yard whenever they try to enter his territory.



This weekend we went on our first away from home trip to Delaware. He was the toast of the boardwalk with everyone stopping to pet him and tell him how pretty he is. Ranger raised his regal head to the affection as if to say, "Yes, I know how handsome I am." He loves riding in the car and coming with me wherever I go.



Surprisingly, Ranger has really blossomed with his relationship with other dogs. Ranger had been aggressive to male dogs and I kept him away from contact based on that behavior. Slowly though, I noticed that he was not reacting any differently to male dogs than females so now he is allowed to sniff and run and play with any dog and there has never been an incident. He is so eager to please and is smart, too. He has learned many new tricks such as jumping over obstacles, shaking hands, rolling over, and crawling GI Joe style. He'll learn anything if there is a little love and a treat involved.



This Thanksgiving I am truly thankful for my new special friend, Ranger. Thank you so much for helping us find each other. Ranger would thank you himself but he is happily chewing on his squeaky toy right now.




Ranger's Original Petfinder Listing



Champ: St. Bernard/English Setter mix


All the beauty, loyalty, and people-focus of a St. Bernard, but without the drool or the size! Champ is a solid 68 lbs and is not going to get any bigger, unless you feed him McDonalds. He seems to have gotten all the good traits of a St. Bernard—such as the traffic-stopping mahogany-and-chestnut coat with white appointments, friendly disposition, and keen nose. Yet he shows none drooling and slobber associated with most “Saints,” even when he is excited.



A best guess at what Champ is mixed with would be English Setter. He has very pronounced spotting on his legs and feet (very decorative!) and has been known to “set” when he detects birds in the tall grass in his foster’s yard. He also watches birds in flight, which is not very common for non-hunting-breed dogs. Having hunting bird genes would also account for his enthusiasm for chasing rabbits. He might be inclined to chase outdoor cats, but he is very friendly and well-behaved with his foster’s indoor cats. He has been known to play-bow to them in an effort to entice them to frolic.



Champ’s on-leash obedience is impressive. He heels closely and attentively, and automatically sits when his handler stops. When Champ takes a trip to the local Home Depot, he always gets multiple compliments on his good behavior. Plus, he swoons at all the petting and attention he seems to attract. It is hard for anyone to walk past and not pat his earnest head and stroke his lush coat. That’s right, folks: He’s a babe magnet.



Champ needs a master, not just an owner. Because he is quite smart (don’t let the “Aww, shucks” demeanor fool you!!) and very people-savvy, Champ occasionally gets it into his head that he might be capable of running the household. For this reason, he needs a dog-savvy person who gives off leadership vibes, rather than an indulgent person who lets him take the inch that then leads to taking the mile. Champ has done very well in his foster home for his no-nonsense foster Mom, but has been known to take some advantage of his old softy foster Dad when the opportunity arises. But he takes discipline easily and without any hard feelings. He is just a delightful dog, and he probably hears “Good dog!” 20 times a day, because he IS indeed a good dog.



Champ’s energy level is high and needs to be kept in mind. He loves to wrestle with his foster “sisters,” but also gets adequate exercise from long, energetic walks. Since his leash manners are so good, he is a joy to walk, and would probably also be a good jogging partner. Champ also likes things that exercise his mind, so taking a car ride to the store and going through his obedience paces there is another way of satisfying his needs.



Champ is not a dog park or PetsMart kind of guy because he has little tolerance for male dogs. He will talk trash to other males even from a distance, if allowed to. (His fosters do not allow this.) However, he looooves the girls, and would probably do well in a home with one or several females, though he would also do fine as an only dog if he still got plenty of exercise.


Champ's Top Five Things He Likes to Do

Get petted
Ride in the car
Play with girl dogs
Get brushed
Eat


Champ’s Secrets:

He knows how to dance the Time Warp, and he does Riverdance steps (for food)
He is a Libra (just watch him try to decide on a spot to “go” in)
His is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records under “Cutest front feet”
Though he comes from West Virginia, he has not trace of an accent
He is a babe magnet. But we already told you that.




Champ has been adopted, but if you are interested in finding a wonderful dog of your own, please visit our Web site at http://www.hedgesvillehounds.com.