Sponsored by: Don M
Alex is an 85-pound, neutered, purebred Golden Retriever. “Oh,” said our veterinarian, “he’s a 1999 model”. If your math skills are good, that’d make him nine years old. He’s a few pounds overweight but a little less dog food every day and some regular exercise should take care of that. After all the tests and shots at the vet he’s been given a clean bill of health.
Alex is a “gentle giant”. He walks on a regular leash very nicely. We used a Gentle Leader the first time we took him for a walk and he was absolutely perfect … but, like most dogs, he didn’t really care for the Gentle Leader. Since he walks so nicely with just the standard leash, that’s all we’ve used since.
Wherever you go he wants to be with you. If you stand still or sit he’ll park himself next to you – either near or on your feet. He’s a typical Golden. When he meets someone at the door he wants to have something in his mouth; either a stuffed toy or his leash. He’ll get a little excited but that quickly subsides.
He is completely house broken. He will come and stand quietly near you when he feels the need to go out. If you don’t respond in a few minutes he will give a little “squeek” to let you know that he is serious. If that still doesn’t get the desired response he’ll let you know that he isn’t kidding by the use of a single short bark. You can’t put it off any longer, it’s time to take him outside at that point. But there’s never been an accident.
Alex is a great traveler. He rides in the car nicely. He jumps in and out readily, no lifting or coaxing necessary. He does appreciate if you crack a rear window open a little. He doesn’t always use it but he likes to have the option of sticking his nose out and getting some fresh air on occasion.
We understand that he has had obedience training. He is definitely a smart dog and he is “treat motivated” so with the proper use of cookies you can probably get him to do most anything.
He is not crate trained. He runs free in the house and, at night, sleeps on the floor at the foot of the bed (we hear tell that he’d actually jump into the bed if allowed … but not at our house).
I'm enclosing a picture of me relaxing on the bed. I'm not a bed hog (unlike some of my foster fur-mates) and I didn't want to disturb FD, so I only used the space that was left on the bed - it didn't matter to me at all that my legs had to hanging over the side... no sir, I was as comfortable as could be. 
