Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Socialization: Casper LOVES meeting new people! He’s never met a stranger. He is very well socialized ~ good with men and women and kids. He can get overstimulated with loud and active kids. He is good with other dogs, but he would also do well as an only dog. He can get jealous with other dogs, but it’s not an aggressive jealousy. He isn’t super playful with other dogs or toys, but has spurts of playing. He has a high prey drive so homes with cats will not be considered.
Training: Casper was most likely a hunting dog, he knows quite a few Greek commands, such as sit, come and let’s go. We have been working on integrating English and hand signals into his vocabulary. Casper is not crated while we are away, but he sleeps in an open crate at night by choice. He is not a huge fan of the crate and will bark when left alone. He has shown that he can be trusted outside of the crate though. No chewing and no destruction. Every once in a while, he does have a marking accident so I simply put a belly band on him when we leave. It’s typically dry when we get home. I would say he’s 99% house trained, but I’m positive he will need more time spent on it in his new home, as there will most likely be some regression. He does great in the car and loves a road trip!
Activity requirements: Even though he is around 8 years old, Casper is very active! He enjoys walks but his walks should not be more than 20 to 30 minutes at a time, as it can exacerbate his cough from his throat condition - especially in hot weather. I would love for him to go to a home where he has a fenced yard because he enjoys being outside, but also someone that will give him daily walks because he loves to go everywhere with his person! Casper cannot be walked with a leash around his neck and he is like a sled dog with a harness, so the best option is a head collar, such as a K9 Bridle or a Halti or Gentle Leader. A front-clip harness that doesn't put pressure on his troat area might also be an option as he cannot have anything that puts stress around his neck. I use the K9 Bridle and he does wonderfully with it.
Fence requirements: A fenced yard is preferred for Casper, but I would consider a home without a fence, depending on the setup of the home.
Personality: Casper is very, very, very affectionate, if you like personal space, please do not apply! He is a Velcro dog that wants to be wherever his human is. That also includes going up the stairs, down the stairs, in the garage, in the car, etc. He gets FOMO if he gets left behind and he lets you know by loud yips when he knows you are leaving, and he wants you to know he would like to go along. Casper is very social, but to let you know that if he wants something, he will do his loud barks. We have been working on this with a hand signal and ignoring the behavior and not giving into it. Ultimately, he’s just so friendly that he wants to be near everyone.
Health history: Casper arrived in rescue with a dry persistent cough. The vet in Greece treated him with corticosteroid therapy and antibiotics that helped to substantially reduce the coughing. When x-rays were done, the radiographs showed tracheal calcification and mild bronchial calcification. This may occur as an age-related change which is the most likely cause in this case. The treatment is anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisolone systemically and some antitussive drugs to help with the cough. His cough is currently very occasional but it is possible that at some point he might need further treatment if his cough recurs. He takes an over-the-counter daily supplement that is about $35 a month that simply coats his throat and soothes it that reduces his coughing. It is called PawHealer Trachea Soother Syrup and you can purchase on Amazon. His throat condition is not an issue that bothers him, the implications of it are that he can only do short walks, can't use a collar for walking, and needs a supplement to reduce his cough to minimal and may need treatment again if his coughing worsens again. He also has a bit of an underbite and recently had a dental where some of those teeth were removed to make things more comfortable for him. In our opinion, his smile is the best in the world and his wonky teeth give him so much personality. He is being treated for an antibiotic resistant UTI and has started another round of medication and will be retested when that is completed. His next leishmaniasis test is due no later than 9/23/26.
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: Casper is an amazing dog, so well behaved, so sweet, and so kind. He was found in a remote area of Greece and was hard to get to which says a lot to me because he will come to anybody. He is extremely birdy, loves to point while we are out on walks. He is not a candidate for hunting though. If I had to guess, I would say that when he developed the persistent cough, that he was dumped at that time. Even though he’s older, he does need a fairly strong and active family, as he can be a lot! I would love to see him be able to go somewhere where he’s around kids or grandkids. He may be eight years old, but he has a lot of life and love left to give!!!! You can find more photos and videos of him on his Instagram @i_love_setters
Foster location: Oak Park, IL
Transport note: We are able to arrange volunteer transport to get dogs from their foster home to their adopter as long as the adopter and the foster are within a 1,000 mile radius of each other and the adopter is located in the USA. If the adopter is more than 1,000 miles from the foster home, adoption would only be possible if the adopter is willing to drive the distance beyond the 1,000-mile transport limit. Long distance adoptions may also be possible if the adopter is willing to pay for a flight for getting their dog from the foster home to their location if the foster feels this is an appropriate arrangement for the specific dog. Canadian adopters would have to drive into the USA to pick up their dog, as we do not transport outside of the USA.
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