Apollo
Apollo Age: 3 1/2
AVAILABLE: To Be Determined *
Updated 9/23/11
This peppy guy spent his first week or so in a “stash” home, waiting for his “regular” foster home to become available. He’s now moved to foster home #2 – but wherever he goes, he’s having a blast, making up for all that time spent alone in the backyard. He’s in heaven meeting, greeting and going out and about! As you might expect, he ADORES walks. Doesn’t even pull on the lead too much.
He’s friendly to kids – interested in them and likes to give kisses. He does get very excited to meet people of all sizes and hops around, though he does know not to jump right ON you. And he LOVES to play with other dogs of all sizes. He actually seems to really enjoy small dogs in particular but doesn't discriminate—if it moves, he plays with it! He is very physical in his play but not aggressive.
As for cats – we have passed cats on our walks and he shows absolutely no interest in them. Doesn't try to chase them. Still, slow and cautious would definitely be the way to go for intros to a house cat. (He might want to play with Kitty if she took off!)
For such a bouncy guy, he’s calm and good in the car. Seems to like going for a ride.
Apollo loves to play ball. He will bring the ball back to me but won't drop it; you need to take it from his mouth (he gives it up readily). He enjoys splashing and lounging in the plastic kiddie pool. He is a true water dog—he even likes to be squirted with the hose. And he likes to sit ON the sprinkler when you turn it on to water the yard—too funny!
For a dog who spent so much time alone outside, he has become surprisingly well behaved indoors now that he’s had a chance to settle in and settle down a bit. He hasn’t chewed anything up, nor has he counter surfed. And he hasn’t had one single accident here. He likes to follow me from room to room— “Shadow” would be an appropriate name for him. Not surprising that he’s so eager for attention, given his past history.
Apollo is high energy & not the least bit shy—he came into my house and immediately started playing with my Golden. He’s got a funny personality! He likes to chase light around the room so if you have a flashlight and shine it on the wall or ceiling for him he tries to “bite the light” and will play this game FOREVER! He would do well in an active home where he gets daily walks and exercise. Obedience training, learning tricks, and so on will be wonderful for him, because once Immiticide is available again (see below), he will need to have heartworm treatment—and that will mean a couple of months of exercise restriction. Training him should be fun! He is a SWEET, sweet dog who wants to please you.
* Due to the nationwide shortage of immiticide, the drug used for anti-heartworm injections, our heartworm-positive dogs must wait to begin their treatment—for weeks or months, depending on when the drug becomes available again. In the meantime, they will start on a course of doxycycline, which may help (in conjunction with Heartgard) to kill adult worms more quickly. If you would like to adopt Apollo before he begins HW treatment, just let us know! We will cover the cost of his injections with one of our GRR vets as soon as it’s possible to begin treatment.
Updated 8/31/11
Yes, Apollo is the Sun God in Greek mythology… but this summer, Central Texas has had more sun than even a Sun God can take! When we found out that Apollo the Golden Retriever was living outdoors, even as the mercury hit 112 degrees; and that his source of water, a kiddie pool, “has a leak in it”; and that he didn’t always get fed regularly, due to his owner’s long, long work days and other family issues…. we knew we needed to act fast. It was time for Apollo to come indoors and chill out!
The owner told us that Apollo loves people, and it’s true. He’s thrilled to pieces to have human attention after spending most of his life as a lonely backyard boy. He is a lover for sure & loves to rub up against you for pets. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been to the vet or had his heartworm meds in a few years; we were hoping he’d be heartworm negative anyway, but no such luck. He’ll need to be treated. Not that anything is slowing him down right now!
His foster mom reports:
This a one big goofy puppy. He has a beautiful blonde coat, big soulful eyes, a prominent “point” on his clever head, and a snout that goes on forever. I could not get him to eat, but then realized his poor nose would not fit in the food bowl. Funny!
He is just so happy and excited to see other dogs and he wants to play. He and puppy Mia have been playing nonstop for the last hour and finally they are both worn out.
Apollo listens pretty well but is very rough around the edges. He is a handful inside! Definitely keep him on a leash for a while as he likes to jump up and over things like sofas, chairs, my kitchen island… He’s extremely nervous, lots of slobbering and panting, but it's slowly getting better. He is following Mia's lead around the house, but of course I am not so sure she is that great of an example!
Once he settles down and learns a few manners, he is going to be a wonderful new member of some lucky family.
* Due to the nationwide shortage of immiticide, the drug used for anti-heartworm injections, our heartworm-positive dogs must wait to begin their treatment—for weeks or months, depending on when the drug becomes available again. In the meantime, they will start on a course of doxycycline, which may help (in conjunction with Heartgard) to kill adult worms more quickly. If you would like to adopt Apollo before he begins HW treatment, just let us know! We will cover the cost of his injections with one of our GRR vets as soon as it’s possible to begin treatment.
