Belle English Setter Oklahoma City, OK

Hi, my name is Belle and I’m a pocket Setter- about 3 years young and just 30 lbs. I am new to this rescue gig. Previously I was with two different hunting operations and they both figured out that hunting wasn’t my thing so they finally contacted these rescue people. My first foster home was like an old dogs home and it was really boring. No one had time to work with me because I was just there for Vetting and to get me ready for my real foster home. I was really good with her. I ate great, was excellent in my crate, and behaved with the old dogs even though they would not play with me. I was good with the cats, even the bully cat that wanted to mess with me. When one of the old foster dogs got sick and had to go to A&M for special tests, I went to a temp foster home for 2 weeks. That place was great, there were other setters closer to my age and I learned to play with toys there. My temp foster Mom is a professor of child development and she really “got” me. After a couple of weeks a transport was arranged and I went on to my foster home with some incredibly nice people, who had an amazing yard and a young ES puppy that is twice my size. Can you believe that I play too rough for a puppy that is twice my size? I just get carried away with playing and it makes my foster Mom nervous since her dog is just a puppy in a bigger body. My foster Moms think a more established and active male dog that is used to physical play will be a better match for me in my adoptive home.
I am also looking for a foster or adoptive home that is very calm, patient, and only has one or two dogs with lots of time to train me and help me understand my new life. These rescue people say that with rescue ES we measure progress in months and years rather than days or weeks and I think they are right because I want nothing more than to love and be loved. I just need the time to understand and work things out.
I was very timid when I was first rescued, I would soldier crawl in the house and I’ve gained confidence and don’t do that too much anymore.
I would not be a good emotional support dog as I probably pick up on the anxieties of my person and that makes me anxious. My temp foster Mom was so calm and understanding from her work with kids and that really worked for me too. I love treats and quickly learned some routines at my temp foster so I could get treats with the other dogs. I love to give kisses and would appreciate couch and lap privileges. I need someone who has some understanding of a soft sensitive breed like ES and understands that things I do wrong are likely out of fear even though it may not be obvious.
In my attempt to tell my new people how much I like them, I can be mouthy. I do not bite, I promise, I am very gentle. The rescue people say that we need to make sure not to encourage this in a new home and for that reason I am not a good match for a home that has young children living there.
I need a home with a secure physical fence that is at least 4 feet tall. I’ve never lived without dogs and I’m just not sure if I could do that because what I really need is a dog that can show me how to behave and when things are ok or not.

Belle is in a foster home near Oklahoma City. She is spayed, micro-chipped, up to date on vaccines, and heartworm negative.


For an application to adopt or for more information about Southwest English Setter Rescue including our adoption requirements and transport availability, please go to http://www.swesr.org/. Please call us at 214-997-3885 if you have any questions.