Copper #1788 – Adopted October 2011
Posted in 2011 Archive, Archive
Male
Age: 1 yrs. & 3 mos.
Weight: 50 lbs.
Being fostered in Illinois.
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TEMPERAMENT & BEHAVIOR
Exposure to children? Yes
What ages were the children? around 4
Describe the dog’s reaction to children: We do not have children in the house, but Copper has met several children on the elevator and out on his walks. He has always been polite and treated them like he treats us.
Good with other dogs? Yes
Comments about behavior with other dogs: In our experience, Copper has been great with other dogs large and small.
He is always timid at first, but that is because he has (in the past) been beaten up by other dogs. Copper was relinquished to BBR because he got into a fight with the owner’s two Pomeranians (all 3 were unneutered at the time=bad idea). After seeing how Copper interacts with other dogs, we are pretty sure that the Pomeranians ganged up on him. He has been nothing but polite to other dogs he has met, both small and large.
We introduced him to an old Lhasa Apso first. Copper was very timid, but with a few reassuring words and pets, he calmed down and made friends quickly (10 min of supervision).
In terms of big dogs, Copper was surprisingly jovial. He was once again timid AT FIRST, but quickly went into a playful mood, running around and jumping. We have three airport security German Shepherds who live next door. Even though the youngest of the shepherds was barking and jumping erratically trying to greet him, Copper did not bark back or show any sign of aggression. He eventually began to bark playfully and starting to play with all three dogs–a situation which easily could have been overwhelming considering he was facing three larger dogs all at once.
It is our belief, that with a carefully planned introduction, Copper will easily adjust to other dogs in the family…as long as those dogs are not aggressive. We believe that Copper will fight back IF ATTACKED, but if the dog approaches him playfully, he will return in kind.
Good with cats? Unknown
Comments about behavior with cats: Copper is mixed when it comes to cats. We do have two cats that we own in our home.
Copper was initially VERY scared of the cats and would avoid them like the plague. When the cats greeted us at the door the day we took in Copper, he immediately turned around and tried to run in the other direction.
However, as he grew more comfortable with the cats, he also took more liberties when interacting with them. If your cat is the type to run, Copper will chase them. If your cat doesn’t run, Copper will engage in a stare-down and bark (because he is afraid).
We would recommend that Copper not be placed in a home with cats. However, if your cat has adequate space of its own (in the form of a large cat tower that the dog can’t reach), cats will probably be fine. He has tried to play with the cats like a dog, but he has never hurt them.
Good with birds, parrots, etc. Unknown
Good with other pets Unknown
Can climb stairs? Yes
Comments about stairs: Copper is young and agile. We live on the fourth floor of our apartment. When the elevator isn’t working or slow, Copper does great on the stairs.
Pulls on a leash? No
Comments about pulling on a leash: For the average basset, Copper is GREAT on a leash. However, for the average dog, he does exhibit some basset pulling tendencies. Compared to our previous experience with bassets, Copper is excellent when it comes to not pulling on a leash although his nose will send him off in an epic adventure that you may not have in mind.
Food aggressive? No
Comments about food aggressiveness: We feed him twice daily, on his own. He nibbles on his food throughout the day. He prefers to eat in your company. If you leave him alone with food, he will probably not eat much. He has never exhibited any signs of aggression when we attempt to move his bowl.
Has allergies? Unknown
List allergies and any related comments: No known allergies to medications.
At this time (9/11/2011), Copper has developed a foot itch in the past week. He bites his feet on occasion. We are unsure if this is a constant allergy or a seasonal change. This is the first time in a month that he has exhibited this behavior. The solution is pretty easy…wash his feet in plain water and put antibiotic ointment on his feet if his biting has caused sores…and socks if you feel like it. Since this is the fall, this tends to happen to many bassets. It may be an allergy to something environmental. It isn’t high maintenance at all.
Type of family life? Doesn’t care
Comments about family life: The foster home has been fairly quiet. We take him out on walks 3-4 times a day for potty breaks and exercise. Copper would be happy in either an active or quiet home. What matters most to him is attention (face time). See notes below about loyalty and anxiety in the last section. Since he is fairly young (1-2 years), he does have a lot of energy. But he is also more than happy to chill out on your couch or bed.
List anything the dog is afraid of (please complete, in full) Copper tends to be afraid of the unknown. He may be afraid to encounter a new situation at first. But as soon as you acclimate him to his new situation, he tends to be enthusiastic about the experience. For example, he was deathly afraid of the elevator, at first. But through repeated exposure, he has come to love the elevator rides from the fourth floor down to the bottom. If he isn’t comfortable with something, he will let you know. With a little coaxing, he will learn to love almost anything.
Copper was afraid of cats, but now shows boldness when interacting with them.
He is definitely afraid of abandonment. See next question for more on how loyal Copper is, resulting in some abandonment issues.
Copper was initially afraid of the metra when it flew by one block away from our complex, but has now grown accustomed to it and doesn’t seem bothered.
Tell us about your foster basset: Copper is the softest basset you will ever meet! He especially loves attention and being groomed. His fur feels like baby fur, but it seems like he is keeping his baby coat rather than losing it.
Copper is also exceptionally loooooooooooooong, even for a basset. He is about 26 inches long from shoulder to base of tail–which is longer than some other bassets.
Copper prefers to be wherever you are…on the couch, on the bed, or in the bathroom. He will follow you and seek your love at every moment. He is a super sweet puppy who desires your company and love. He loves to lie in your lap while you are watching t.v.—he thinks he weighs as much as a mini poodle despite what the weight scale says. He will lick your face and hands if you let him, so that he can show you that he loves you.
Copper is exceptionally loyal to his caretakers. This has resulted in some minor anxiety symptoms. We believe it would be best for Copper’s psychological health if someone was home most of the day. Unlike some anxiety situations, Copper DOES NOT destroy things in the home when you leave. When you move from room to room, Copper wants to be the first one through the door so you do not leave him behind. This means he will be your bathroom buddy (or at least, attempt to be), and he will wait patiently for you to finish your business. When you leave the home, Copper will whine/bark. With the use of a no-shock, Citronella collar, Copper has learned to quiet his bark. He DOES NOT bay like a basset should. We think that his early life spent with Pomeranians gave him a more “normal” barking pattern. You will likely not hear him howl.
When you come home for the day, Copper becomes overwhelmingly happy. He will jump and play and bark/whine in happiness that you are home. If you sit on the floor at this level, he tends to calm down faster. He is just happy that you are home—it’s a part of his extreme loyalty to you.
Copper has an odd relationship with crating. Because he is so loyal, he does not like to be crated and therefore separated from you. If you choose to crate him, he will whine for a few minutes until you stop talking. If he hears you, he will whine (because he wants to be WITH you). Once you are quiet, he will quiet down for the rest of the night in the crate. He probably won’t crate himself. It may take encouragement and a few treats…and maybe a little firmness. If you let him, he is a quiet bed partner and will sleep quietly at your feet.
He lives to love you. If you let Copper into your heart and life, he will love you unconditionally.