Bessie 20-173
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Profile
Updates
Sunday, August 1, 2021
It's been a while since you may have seen an update for Bessie, but rest assured she is making huge progress so that she can head into the heart of many potential adopters.On that note, I think Bessie might be most happy with an adopter who is home most of the time. She really doesn't demand much except to know you are around for her to feel loved and safe.
She also loves to play outside and bounce around with a resident dog. When left to her own devices, you will find Bessie to be playful and quite calculating. She loves to steal tennis balls laying around in the yard and then create a pile for her own enjoyment. She's very proud of herself when she can sneak off with all the balls and leave the resident wondering what happened to all of them!
Bessie still doesn't know if she should come up to you for hugs and pets, but you can go to her and she is thrilled to get that attention. She will come very close to you, but isn't sure if it's okay for her to venture to you. She does walk right by you, so she does come close. I think with continued patience, she will soon learn what she has been missing for her 8 years in a breeding facility.
Bessie loves baths. She shakes and then runs outside and rolls around in the grass. She feels so good.
At night, she no longer waits downstairs until morning. She follows my last resident up to the bedroom and then curls up on her rug and snoozes--I've even heard a couple of snores, which means she is really relaxed and maybe dreaming of her Golden life!
Bessie also loves her walks with her foster brother who makes her feel safe and adventurous. She is very interested in all the new smells and saying hello to fellow dogs also being walked. She is nervous when there are people behind her, so we usually just walk off to one side and let them pass. Then she is very comfortable again.
While I'm outside working in the yard, all the dogs weave in and out of the garden areas trying to swipe a tomato or cucumber, including little Miss Bessie. In her eyes, I can see her saying, "Did you see me do that? See how smart I am!"
Bessie deserves a family that will let her know that she is loved and find confidence on her own schedule and terms. Let's find Bessie her forever home.
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Bessie is continuing to learn how to relax and enjoy the Golden life after living a long and restrictive life in a commercial breeding facility. Bessie is now in the Twin Cities area and getting to know and understand a second RAGOM home with two resident dogs and a resident cat.
Bessie is very gentle. She is bashful, but is so interested in everything going on around her which increases daily. She is very quiet until you go to bed, and then she gives out a little bark, as if to say, "Hey, where did everybody go?" Then she chews on her antler for a while before she goes to sleep and waits patiently until the next morning to go outside and run with the resident dogs.
Bessie has full roam of the house, even while I'm at work which can be eight hours, and there has been absolutely no problem. She does look for confidence from my resident boys, but will go outside and come back in without them. Bessie also is a good leash walker and does enjoy car rides.
Bessie would do well with an adopter that has a calm home - not necessarily quiet, but a calmer environment so she can continue to grow and be comfortable. Bessie will not be a burden to the family or to your resident dogs or cats. She doesn't guard her food or her toys. She is as sweet as you can imagine and just needs a chance to be a part of a forever home.
Sunday, January 24, 2021
A new year for our Bessie, breeding-free -- forever. Nothing but a real Golden life from this time forward. It will only get better now. I am sure she is thankful the holidays are over! But she got through it okay.
She is getting nice and trim now from a better diet and walks. I discovered with her that the faster you walk, the less she has time to be concerned about anything else. So, we walk at a fairly fast pace, and it goes great.
Yet, there are things like when we walked by a parked vehicle and a bunch of birds underneath flew up that definitely got her attention. She flattened, but I got her right back on course immediately, and she was fine. What this does actually is teach her to be more and more trusting of me. She is learning I will keep her safe.
She is taking more steps out of her safe area, checking things out and seeing what’s going on. She is always anxious to see if one or both of our boys want outside! Boy, she is ready and zooms right past me, runs out, then stands there looking at me, as if to say, “See, I made it again! I can do this!”
We still try to take her in the truck with Big Brother Bridger. She does pretty well. She leaves as many wet nose prints as Bridger does! All in all, the rides go pretty well.
Of course, when I change and clean her bedding, she sure notices right away and really checks it out. Boy, anything different gets her attention!
We have a wicker basket of toys with mostly Nylabones, balls, and a couple of soft toys. What I think is interesting is the way Bessie chooses the bones. I will spread them all around, and she will choose a knuckle bone, a Nylabone, a hollow bone, or a large rubber one (she really likes the long, orange one in the photo). Nothing really with any of the soft babies. She just hoards her different bones.
Kneeling by her on the floor and loving her up is such a great feeling. She now likes that and is not nervous much at all anymore. I truly enjoy it! She also does well with my hubby, Tim. He is the only who takes her for the rides in the truck and feeds the gang in the early morning, so she is accustomed to him as well. Such a dolly.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Our Bessie girl is growing more with each passing day. A little more confident all the time.
When weather allows, we go on our walks. She does walk fine by me and has that Golden wiggle butt! There are many new things “out there” to explore and experience. Some things are quite odd, like Christmas yard art. She has been real brave walking by those.
Having other people around is still intimidating, but her courage will come with time, practice, and repetition. I use a harness along with her martingale collar for safety, and it works great. Bessie seems comfortable with it.
I think we can see she has lost some weight. We will know for sure when she goes into the vet this Friday for her spay. Be a blessing when that part of her journey is behind her. Bessie remains very healthy, and her coat is so soft.
She and her buddy, Bridger, remain very good pals. Having a social, happy canine partner does wonders with these girls. Seeing her run and play around in the yard is so heartwarming.
She is such a beautiful delight to foster! RAGOM does so much for these Goldens, and we can really use donations! Would you like to sponsor Bessie? Makes a wonderful holiday gift!
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Bessie came into RAGOM as a retired breeder dog. Her date of birth is 3/23/13. She is currently 70 pounds, and the ideal weight for her would be more like 60 pounds or so.
Bessie has had her initial vet visit and a bath and grooming as well. She did well with both, considering all that she has been through. She is due for her spay on December 18, after which she will be available to adopt.
Bessie does well with our two resident dogs and our cat. She remains shy yet, but is really trying. All in good time.
Bessie will need a calmer home and another medium to large, confident dog. She gets along great with our 2-year-old Doodle and totally ignores our 12-year-old Corgi and our senior kitty. She is a quiet girl and totally OK without a crate now. She needs a family who is very patient and familiar with retired breeder Goldens.
As you can see from her photos, she is one beautiful, auburn-colored Golden girl! Her health is good, and she does not act nor look like 7 years old. She is quick!
She is learning new things each day, from walking around on grass and tiled flooring to doors and new sounds. A very new world to learn. She has adapted to going on car (pickup) rides, too.
As it is common with these girls, she did not eat during her first few days in a new environment. We did find a mixture of food she likes. She has a very soft mouth.
In the short time she has been here, Bessie has already learned to go in and out through the patio door by herself! She and our young Doodle, Bridger, love to chase each other around the yard! There are times, however, when we need to keep the 30-foot leash on her, as she can be stubborn about coming in! Not much, but sometimes.
Are you the right family for this beautiful girl? Willing to put in the work and patience?
Closed to Applications: Many families have submitted applications for Bessie or she is working with an applicant for a potential adoption.