Okay, we've had Trixie for four months, now. It seems like longer, but it was just July 11th that we went to check on this Golden that couldn't seem to stick at a home. (3 homes between the end of May and then)
We'd never owned a Golden before. not sure about the breeds my wife had before we met, but for me, every dog was a beagle or beagle mix, Including Brillo, who was quite lonely after we'd had to put Cinnamon down in May.
Wow, I'm sure glad the previous homes that took her didn't do their homework on Goldens! I'm sure they read all of the good things about them, and loved the way they look- then when the dog turned out to be something that has needs of it's own- not somethng you keep on a shelf until you're ready to spend time with it, they found someone else to take her.
Good for us!
I did my homework. I knew that different breeds have different needs. I knew that goldens need lots of attention, and are not as independent as beagles. My wife and daughter were on board with how a Golden was going to be a new experience for us. They love this goofy blonde girl, and I think, as a team of three, we've given Trixie a good home. Her demeanor has changed in a way that would suggest this.
She was somewhat destructive when we first got her. Lots of chewed shoes and Polly Pockets. She even chewed one of my guitar cables, but I let her live
She's mellowed quite a bit. I think she knows that we're her forever home. She's still a very active dog, and our evening playtime is still a special bonding time for us. (I work nights and always take her out for some good run/play time when I get home- good weather or bad)
We've gone away on vacation twice since we got her. My dogs have always stayed with my sister and her dogs when we go away. The first time was for two days, and my daughter was there, too. The second time, all three of us went away for a week, and Brillo was the only thing from her everyday life that was with her. I think she may have been a bit worried that she'd been shuffled again that week, as she was a bit hyper. When I went to get them after we got back, she was very happy to see me and to get home. We ran for about ten minutes, and then she went into a serious relax mode for a couple of days. So relaxed, I wondered if she were sick, or possibly getting ready to go into heat.
Speaking of heat- we were given two stories as to her age when we got her. One story had her being born in December, one had her born in March. When we had her in for her first shots, the vet said he would lean towards March, as he could tell that she had not been through a heat cycle.
Right now, she's recovering from being Spayed last Friday. Vet says she was about a week away from going into heat. The 'no play' rule during her recovery is absolute torture and agony. It's probably rough on Trixie, too.
The vet says that taking a dog that had trouble sticking with a home during the early months brings more problems than getting one earlier. I told him that I don't mind a project dog. Cinnamon was two years old and had been neglected, abused and thrown away by two homes when I got her, and she turned out to be the Best. Dog. Ever. Vet tells Trix that she won the lottery, finding a home that loves her and takes care of her. We thought we were the ones that won the lottery getting her!
So, after 4 months- I'm incredibly pleased with this sweet and goofy 50 pound lump of love. She's everything I expected her to be- it's almost like she read everything I did about Golden retrievers and their traits and tendencies. The way she has mellowed tells me that our efforts to do right by her must at least be close. Right now, I'm looking forward to two things with her- getting off of play restriction (I've already promised her some new outside toys) and Christmas! My sister already has made her stocking, and is working on her "puppy's first Christmas" ornament.
If you were expecting a question, or some good advice, I apologize- just a happy rant from a very satisfied owner of what seems to be a very happy Golden.
We'd never owned a Golden before. not sure about the breeds my wife had before we met, but for me, every dog was a beagle or beagle mix, Including Brillo, who was quite lonely after we'd had to put Cinnamon down in May.
Wow, I'm sure glad the previous homes that took her didn't do their homework on Goldens! I'm sure they read all of the good things about them, and loved the way they look- then when the dog turned out to be something that has needs of it's own- not somethng you keep on a shelf until you're ready to spend time with it, they found someone else to take her.
Good for us!
I did my homework. I knew that different breeds have different needs. I knew that goldens need lots of attention, and are not as independent as beagles. My wife and daughter were on board with how a Golden was going to be a new experience for us. They love this goofy blonde girl, and I think, as a team of three, we've given Trixie a good home. Her demeanor has changed in a way that would suggest this.
She was somewhat destructive when we first got her. Lots of chewed shoes and Polly Pockets. She even chewed one of my guitar cables, but I let her live
She's mellowed quite a bit. I think she knows that we're her forever home. She's still a very active dog, and our evening playtime is still a special bonding time for us. (I work nights and always take her out for some good run/play time when I get home- good weather or bad)
We've gone away on vacation twice since we got her. My dogs have always stayed with my sister and her dogs when we go away. The first time was for two days, and my daughter was there, too. The second time, all three of us went away for a week, and Brillo was the only thing from her everyday life that was with her. I think she may have been a bit worried that she'd been shuffled again that week, as she was a bit hyper. When I went to get them after we got back, she was very happy to see me and to get home. We ran for about ten minutes, and then she went into a serious relax mode for a couple of days. So relaxed, I wondered if she were sick, or possibly getting ready to go into heat.
Speaking of heat- we were given two stories as to her age when we got her. One story had her being born in December, one had her born in March. When we had her in for her first shots, the vet said he would lean towards March, as he could tell that she had not been through a heat cycle.
Right now, she's recovering from being Spayed last Friday. Vet says she was about a week away from going into heat. The 'no play' rule during her recovery is absolute torture and agony. It's probably rough on Trixie, too.
The vet says that taking a dog that had trouble sticking with a home during the early months brings more problems than getting one earlier. I told him that I don't mind a project dog. Cinnamon was two years old and had been neglected, abused and thrown away by two homes when I got her, and she turned out to be the Best. Dog. Ever. Vet tells Trix that she won the lottery, finding a home that loves her and takes care of her. We thought we were the ones that won the lottery getting her!
So, after 4 months- I'm incredibly pleased with this sweet and goofy 50 pound lump of love. She's everything I expected her to be- it's almost like she read everything I did about Golden retrievers and their traits and tendencies. The way she has mellowed tells me that our efforts to do right by her must at least be close. Right now, I'm looking forward to two things with her- getting off of play restriction (I've already promised her some new outside toys) and Christmas! My sister already has made her stocking, and is working on her "puppy's first Christmas" ornament.
If you were expecting a question, or some good advice, I apologize- just a happy rant from a very satisfied owner of what seems to be a very happy Golden.
