Traveler

Traveler, age 2 1/2

AVAILABLE SOON HW POSITIVE

Updated 8/29/11

WANTED: Business & Family Partner first and foremost, though of course managerial skills are always welcome.

REQUIRED: Experience in setting up Canine Home Manners programs; ability to multi-task; patience in directing talented but distractable staff

HIGHLY DESIRABLE: Skill in diamond cutting, finishing & polishing; NFL-level blocking/tackling ability; reliable source of old socks

SALARY: ?? Just try to put a dollar value on a wonderful dog like this one!

As you might expect from the name, Traveler loves loves loves the car!!! Oh, I can't say that enough. So I just take him for rides from time to time, gas up the car, get some ice cream from the drive-thru, whatever is short or to places that are dog friendly. Once he has had a ride in the car, he is happy to go back home with all his people.  He just seems to need a little adventure from time to time.

With children, Traveler interacts happily and calmly. He continues to just lie  down and let them pet him all over. He takes many many hugs. And is very good about sitting when my youngest wants to give him a treat. He is very gentle, no teeth ever contact her when he takes the treat.  Surprisingly, he doesn’t jump at all! He is happy to greet people,  stands back slightly letting them come to him all the way. The only time he has gone up on his hind legs here was one time when he wanted more petting—and even then he kept a distance, no rushing or jumping at all. And he’s really good on lead, doesn’t even pull.

Retrieving? Yes!!  He loves the ball! Constantly trying to sneak it into the house. He does bring it back, but not to where you are. He picks a spot he likes and consistently takes the ball back to that spot each time. The spot changes daily. It is usually close to you, but not right at your feet. He drops the ball and waits for it to be picked up. If he comes close with it and my hand is out, he gives the ball up as soon as my hand touches his mouth. No struggle, no teeth. (He is very consistent about no teeth on every level.)
 
Traveler can swim, but what he really loves is lying on the tanning shelf and just soaking. One time he was lying there and when I came over to pet him he rolled on to his tummy (forgetting where he was) and rolled right into the pool for a little swim.  Too funny! If his ball goes in the water, he waits until it is almost to the edge, then just plops in after it. He’s happy to let you towel him off after a swim, does well with handling of his feet and paws, and loves to be brushed.

He doesn’t beg while we eat dinner, BUT if the pantry door is left even the slightest bit open (or does not latch all the way) Traveler will take whatever he can grab! He’ll also poke his nose in trash cans and pluck out this & that. In general, though, he is very calm inside the house, staying mostly where I am. Typically sleeps through the night on our bedroom floor, though if the door is open, he’ll  wander back and forth a bit.

Traveler really doesn’t like the crate, so we’ll be leaving him to roam about when we are out and see how he does. (Keep your fingers crossed.)  He is becoming more responsive to commands (sit, wait, come) but he only wants to do so much. He will need lots of practice!—and for sure he needs a home where his people  are around a lot and want to spend time with him, who love to pet him and give him attention, and who can also be consistent with him. He needs a routine and consistency.

 Updated 7/27/11

Are you ready to take on a beautiful, smart Golden diamond-in-the-rough and turn him into a perfectly polished pillar of doggie society? One who would never bolt out the door at top speed, flatten his family, or have an accident indoors? Sound like a tall order? Well, yes and no. Traveler has a lot to learn—but he’s learning fast.

This aptly named boy comes to us all the way from Abilene, where a kindly young couple saved him from being hit by a car during a hailstorm as he raced, clearly panicked and lost, alongside the highway. With a Border Collie and young children already in the home, they couldn’t keep a young Golden, too—and so, a week or two later, volunteer Pat literally came to the rescue. She collected Traveler, put him up overnight in a dog-friendly LaQuinta, and arrived back in Austin the next afternoon. Whew! “Bolts from any doorway, car door, pen, baby gate.... He is not housebroken yet and is marking everything in sight.   If you try to leave him baby gated or penned he starts to bark and he is loud. He is beautiful but blowing coat like a snow day!”

That was day one… but by day two, in his foster home: 

Traveler seems to be settling down.  He has stopped marking everything in the house. He did real well in the crate last night as far as I know; we had to go out, and when we got back his crate was not slobbery & he didn’t seem stressed. This dog definitely belonged to someone before but he seems to be scared of his own shadow—the garage door opening made him jump out of his skin, and after he went up the stairs the first time he was petrified to come back down.  You could see it in his eyes: “NO WAY am I going down that steep hill!”  It took us literally pushing and pulling and using up all our chicken treats. But then today, he goes up the stairs, stands at the top, smiles from ear to ear and slowly ever so slowly comes down by himself and was so pleased he did a happy dance. Too cute!  Now he is running up and down like a madman.

We’ve found out he loves toys, balls and especially loose socks. (:

He loves to be petted, touched, stroked and he loves loves loves my husband (a man's dog?) I think he may have lived in a pen or kennel as his elbows are really calloused for such a young fella. Oh and by the way this is one pretty boy.  Beautiful head, gigantic paws, soft pretty coat. He’ll definitely need a firm but kind and patient hand.  Haven't really tried him on lead yet but I'm guessing he's terrible. (: I think we have a gem in the rough!

Sooo….. Project dog? Yes, but being the Project Manager will be so rewarding. Unfortunately Traveler has heartworms—but the enforced activity restriction will be the perfect time to occupy his doggie brain in learning all sorts of new tricks and good manners. And hey, it’s way too hot to do much outside, anyway! 

If you’re up for the job, please let us hear from you! If you’re willing to take Traveler through heartworm treatment, GRR will help you along every step of the way. We’re confident that Traveler’s journey is going to end in the best way possible—as a healthy, happy, self-assured dog in a loving forever home.

Traveler is a Starbucks kind of guy :-)