Hi everyone! My name is Bonnie and I am new to the RAGOM family as of Sunday March 7, 2021. I came in with my brother Clyde 21-048A.

My paperwork says I am a Blue Merle Goldendoodle. I think Clyde must have gotten all of the "Golden" genes as he is the fluffy softer version, though he got a big summer haircut so you can't see that right now. I really look more Labradoodle and my fur is wiry and coarse. I have a lot of interesting black spots in my fur that gives me a unique look too.

My birthdate is listed as April 15, 2019, so it will be easy to remember since that is Tax Day, now renamed Bonnie's Big Day! So hard to believe that I will be 2 years old. And I was a young mother, at least once, and that must have been fairly recently. But, now that I am a part of the RAGOM family, I know my life going forward will be all about me having fun and loving my people.

I am on the petite side, about 40 – 45 pounds, pretty skinny and need to put a few pounds on my frame. I am sure that will be easy enough to do in the next six months or so. Now for a little bit of information on my first two weeks as a RAGOM dog.

I arrived at my foster home on Sunday, March 7 after a very long day Saturday and Sunday travelling. I must say I had no idea what was happening and how my life was about to change. It took me 45 minutes to come out of the crate, and full disclosure, it was not all of my choice as I did need a lot of encouragement.

Watch my first steps of freedom:

Once I came out, I started to slowly explore the backyard. All of us were very calm. After an hour of just walking the yard, it was time to go into the house. When Foster Mom picked up the lead and tried to get me to follow, I was a bucking bronco and did my best to get away.

She dropped the lead and let me just chill for a bit then tried again. Same response. Eventually she got close enough to gently pick me up and bring me in. I was not very comfortable with being touched and just froze in place and diverted my eyes.

We made it into the house and just hung out in the kitchen. After a few hours, it was dinner time and I was very hungry. I ate my fill very slowly. The rest of the evening was very quiet and I just took it all in. When it came to bedtime, I darted into the kennel in the bedroom, happy to feel safe. I slept well that night and didn't make a sound.

In the morning, I watched as the resident dogs snuggled in bed then got up for breakfast. Foster Mom opened the crate door but I backed up. Who knows what was going to happen next? I thought it is safe in here. So, Foster Mom left the room with the door open.

I could hear the others in the kitchen, so quietly peeked my head out around the bedroom door, and saw Foster Mom in the dining room. ZOOM! Back to the crate I went! This back and forth went on for 90 minutes before I got up enough courage to make it to the kitchen.

Over the next three days, I really relaxed and made great strides. I come out of the kennel right away in the morning, happy to greet the day. I have learned to go through all of the doors and Foster Mom can be standing there now (for the most part).

By day eight:

• I learned to go down a full flight of stairs (ok, I was scared and that took three days to do that)
• Went for a car ride and did FANTASTIC
• Took a walk on leash (no more bucking bronco!)
• Mastered the art of sleeping on the big bed with Foster Mom and the resident dogs and snoozing on the couch
• Barked and growled at another dog that looked just like me (oh wait, that WAS me in a mirror).

Such major progress from day one. Foster Mom is SO proud of me!

Now it has been almost two weeks here and I am very relaxed. I have NEVER had an accident in the house. I don't really have a signal yet, maybe a little bit of pacing, but we do go out to play since Foster Mom is working from home. The resident dogs ring the bells on the doors if they want to go out and I just follow them.

If she has to leave for an errand, I am in a large crate in the living room and do just fine. I am quiet as a mouse. The resident dogs hang out with me in the room too.

Normal household sounds like microwaves, TV's, refrigerators, hair dryers and vacuum cleaners do not frighten me. There are even roofers next door banging away and that is ok. I even went outside and saw them on the roof. I watched for a bit, then resumed my sniffing and running in the yard. I really love being outside in the fresh air!

It will be a little while before I can go home to my forever family. I still have to have my no-more-momma surgery, and that is not yet on my calendar. Once I know that, I will provide an update on my page.

Here are some pictures and links to videos so you can see my personality! Enjoy!

Love, Bonnie

See Bonnie's Video Playlist and watch this sweet girl have fun!

A Note from Foster Mom:

Bonnie has made such incredible progress in two weeks. She still does have a couple of issues to work on. Her biggest "fear" is being approached head on and reached for to put on trailing lead. She is getting better at being handled and is not quite as stiff and will look around now.

She lets me wipe her feet when coming in. I still have to corner her to be able to put on the lead or leash, but the resistance is getting less. I think in time, things like leashes when associated with positive things like going for walks will help to resolve that. Now she is starting to follow me when on leash too.

She is not afraid of humans, just the reaching for her. It is highly likely since she was a breeding mom that that act of reaching and leashing only meant one thing for her.

In the house, she chooses to be in the same room hanging out with me and is fine coming and going between rooms and passing me. She comes to me to sniff all the time and is very relaxed about it, not timid. As long as I am not reaching for her, all is good. If I do, she will scamper away, but is not afraid.

If I keep my hands at my sides or in pockets and bend over to call her, she happily comes to me. However, if she knows I have a treat for her, she will take the treat from my hand and is very gentle about it. She will lick peanut butter off of my finger now too.

When she is on the bed, she does a funny thing related to hands. If they are on top of the covers, she will use her nose to try and cover them up by repeatedly push "fake dirt" on them like some dogs do when trying to hide a bone or ball in a couch or dog bed. If I put my hands under the covers she will then lie on top of my legs or curl up and lie on my feet. So human contact when it is her choice is perfectly fine.

She is a slow eater and does walk away from her food. Over the course of the day, she is eating well and should start putting on some weight. She settles down in the house very nicely.

Bonnie has been absolutely wonderful in her play style. She is a bit of a tease and will grab a toy or stick and show off to the other dogs, daring them to take it. If my Labradoodle and Bonnie are on opposite sides of a stick, even if small, she is all about the play and they will prance around the yard. I have not seen any resource guarding with food or toys.

If her lead gets stuck on something in the backyard, she will quickly try to chew it off and becomes a little panicked. She would not do good on a tie out.

Now at two weeks, she can be off the lead in the backyard as I am out there with them. She thoroughly enjoys running and playing and has not tried to jump a five-foot fence. For the most part, she will follow the other dogs into the house. But if she doesn't, I will have to circle around behind her to "pressure" her to go in. This is getting better now and she is coming in on her own.

My dogs are very affectionate and love to be touched and cuddled. Bonnie watches this and will come into the pack for the fun wagging her tail, but still does not want to be reached for. I can now, in those situations, touch her on the face with a finger and she is staying in the group. She does want to be loved.

She will need another medium to large, confident dog in her family, preferably one that likes to play and run and help her burn off young energy. She has not been cat tested yet, so that is an unknown. Children should be at least 13 years old and respectful of Bonnie’s gentle nature. She will also require a physically fenced-in yard.

Thank you for reading about Bonnie.