Jamie

#13-052 Jamie, update 5/23

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Jamie is such a sweet boy! He recently attended a GRR BBQ & beer bash where he socialized with 20+ other dogs and did just great. What a super  Golden!

Foster mom is delighted with his progress:

I've been working on his original tendency to guard and making a lot of ground there. In fact, Brooklyn walked right up to his face while he was eating and ate some of the food he knocked onto the floor (he eats his food like he drinks his water - a big 'ol mess!). Granted, I was standing nearby, but judging from his nonchalant response to someone else’s nose poking into his space, guarding food doesn't look to be an issue any longer. I’d say just be cautious around extra high-value items (bones or super yummy treats) and all will be well. He is so eager to please, and a firm NO is all it takes to get him to mind.

In fact, he is doing so well that I had no hesitation about taking off his leash at the party this weekend to let him meet & greet, and he was wonderful. He hardly even begged. :)

The Golden in him is really coming out. He wiggles all over in the morning and chases squirrels with the rest of them. He's having a grand time in learning how to be a carefree dog. I even got him to accept his first toy! He loves his little armadillo and would love to carry it around everywhere, but that is his special crate toy—yep, he’s officially crate trained, too!

I should also add that he's never ever taken anything off the counter or table. He's been interested, of course, since he can see right on top, but he's been a great boy about that. He's even picked up "out of the kitchen" from the girls. :)

#13-052 Jamie, age 3

Weight: 77 pounds

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When they were scooped up by Animal Control right after Tax Day, 3-year-old Jamie and his  5 1/2-year-old pal Satin had clearly been on the road for a while: they were tired and scruffy and skinny (the shelter staff immediately instituted double portions to start padding those jutting bones a bit). Beyond that, though, it was clear they hadn’t had attentive care in ages. Jamie tested positive for ehrlichia (a tick-borne disease, and he’s just about done with his two weeks of antibiotics for that), and his poor ears were very badly infected. While he was out cold for neuter surgery, the vet performed a thorough ear flush & clean, and sent the skinny pup home with medicated drops. The infection likely involved his middle ear, since he’s still occasionally a bit wobbly and off balance, especially when he first gets up in the morning. However, even when he first arrived in his foster home, unsteady legs were not going to keep him from socializing! “I had him out in the front yard and the neighborhood kids will usually come up to see the latest foster dogs,” reported Jamie’s foster mom. “He wobbled right up to the youngest boy (about four) and stuck his nose right into his hand. Dr. Peck also said that Jamie and Satin didn't even blink at the kennel cats.”

A couple of weeks down the road, Jamie is really doing well. “A safe house, a soft bed, lots of company, and plenty of good food, including peanut butter sandwiches—this is the life!” he says. He’s a perfect gentleman indoors & hasn’t had a single accident—and he’s also learning not to counter-surf, though he’s such a tall, rangy guy that it’s hard to resist the urge to check out counters and tables. Still, he’s learning not to beg, and to be gentle when taking treats, though if he’s excited, your fingers might suffer a bit! Overall, though, his training is coming along great. He now knows SIT and DOWN! He pulls some on leash, but nothing unmanageable, particularly for such a big lanky fellow.

Jamie’s a good car rider, just lies down and gets comfy. And he LOVES being brushed. He’ll groan in ecstasy. He likes to stick his head under your hands and arms for scratches, too, and once you start petting, he produces that noisy groan. It’s so endearing! He’s a lovebug and just cannot get enough attention.

We have found that he can be somewhat protective of high-value items like bones and chewies (and his food bowl) when other dogs approach, but he’ll relax & back off if the other dog is calm & confident & obviously a leader. So we think he’d do well as an only dog or with a serenely dominant pal. And what he really needs is a gentle, loving family to keep him company during the day and give him lots of attention. He’s the original Velcro Golden!