Boston 08-317

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Profile

Boston came to us from a crowded shelter in Iowa, where he was at risk of being euthanized. But the staff there recognized that a terrific dog like this should be given every chance, so they contacted RAGOM and we snapped him up. Boston was turned in to the shelter by a family who did not have time for him anymore. He has lived his entire life outside, tied up to a kennel.

Those days are over now, and Boston seems to know it. He is happy, curious, affectionate, and appropriately deferential to me and my resident dog Chaz. Medium gold in color with a blond underbelly, Boston has a stocky build and a broad forehead with a shortish snout, giving him a perennial puppy look.

Don't let that silver on his face fool you. At seven years of age, Boston is full of life and spark. I usually take foster dogs on a walk immediately after they arrive at my house to establish a sense of leadership right away. We didn't get very far before I realized that this guy didn't want to walk—he wanted to RUN! (After spending his entire life in a kennel and the past few weeks in a shelter, who could blame him?) So I got my recumbent trike out of the garage and off we went. He ran—yes, RAN—next to the trike for a good few minutes before settling into an energetic trot. Head high, ears perked, it was as if he were saying, "So THIS is the rest of the world! Let's see what's out here!"

I was impressed not only by his energy, but also by his fearlessness. It took several outings with the trike before my dog Chaz was comfortable running alongside. Not Boston. The contraption didn't faze him at all. His intake papers say that he is also unafraid of storms, thunder and gunshots, and I can believe it, given what I've seen of him so far.

Most Goldens have good dispositions, but Boston is especially sweet. Even though he is still intact, he has shown no snarkiness with my resident male. He craves human attention and loves being petted and brushed. I discovered, however, that his underbelly is thick with mud-encrusted mats—too many for me to cut away. So he will need to be taken to a groomer for a belly shave. But that will probably feel pretty good to him this summer. He will also need to be neutered, which I will try to schedule for next week.

Boston clearly loves people, seeks out affection and bonds quickly. Although he has had no formal obedience training, he's a quick study. He has already learned by modeling my dog how to sit on command. Having been an outside dog all his life, Boston is not housetrained. However, I think he will learn this quickly as well. So far, he has not marked inside the house, and when taken outside, he readily does his business.

Boston will make some family a wonderful companion.  He's the perfect age—no longer a high-maintenance puppy but still lively enough to fit in with an active family. With his people-oriented, unflappable personality, he'd also be great as a therapy dog.

If you're interested in meeting the charming and competent Mr. B., come by the RAGOM booth at the Pride Festival between 2 and 6 on Sunday, June 29.

"So much to do! So much to see!"
 

 

Mr. Puppy Face
 

  

"May I come in now?"

Yes, Boston. Yes, you may. 

 

 

At a Glance #08-317

Golden Retriever Born: June 2001
Male 70 lbs

Status: Adopted

Profile

Boston came to us from a crowded shelter in Iowa, where he was at risk of being euthanized. But the staff there recognized that a terrific dog like this should be given every chance, so they contacted RAGOM and we snapped him up. Boston was turned in to the shelter by a family who did not have time for him anymore. He has lived his entire life outside, tied up to a kennel.

Those days are over now, and Boston seems to know it. He is happy, curious, affectionate, and appropriately deferential to me and my resident dog Chaz. Medium gold in color with a blond underbelly, Boston has a stocky build and a broad forehead with a shortish snout, giving him a perennial puppy look.

Don't let that silver on his face fool you. At seven years of age, Boston is full of life and spark. I usually take foster dogs on a walk immediately after they arrive at my house to establish a sense of leadership right away. We didn't get very far before I realized that this guy didn't want to walk—he wanted to RUN! (After spending his entire life in a kennel and the past few weeks in a shelter, who could blame him?) So I got my recumbent trike out of the garage and off we went. He ran—yes, RAN—next to the trike for a good few minutes before settling into an energetic trot. Head high, ears perked, it was as if he were saying, "So THIS is the rest of the world! Let's see what's out here!"

I was impressed not only by his energy, but also by his fearlessness. It took several outings with the trike before my dog Chaz was comfortable running alongside. Not Boston. The contraption didn't faze him at all. His intake papers say that he is also unafraid of storms, thunder and gunshots, and I can believe it, given what I've seen of him so far.

Most Goldens have good dispositions, but Boston is especially sweet. Even though he is still intact, he has shown no snarkiness with my resident male. He craves human attention and loves being petted and brushed. I discovered, however, that his underbelly is thick with mud-encrusted mats—too many for me to cut away. So he will need to be taken to a groomer for a belly shave. But that will probably feel pretty good to him this summer. He will also need to be neutered, which I will try to schedule for next week.

Boston clearly loves people, seeks out affection and bonds quickly. Although he has had no formal obedience training, he's a quick study. He has already learned by modeling my dog how to sit on command. Having been an outside dog all his life, Boston is not housetrained. However, I think he will learn this quickly as well. So far, he has not marked inside the house, and when taken outside, he readily does his business.

Boston will make some family a wonderful companion.  He's the perfect age—no longer a high-maintenance puppy but still lively enough to fit in with an active family. With his people-oriented, unflappable personality, he'd also be great as a therapy dog.

If you're interested in meeting the charming and competent Mr. B., come by the RAGOM booth at the Pride Festival between 2 and 6 on Sunday, June 29.

"So much to do! So much to see!"
 

 

Mr. Puppy Face
 

  

"May I come in now?"

Yes, Boston. Yes, you may. 

 

 

Updates

Friday, July 18, 2008

I'm very happy to announce that Boston went to his forever home this evening. He will live with a wonderful couple, Beth and Ted, and an older fur-brother Rolle, who lost his litter-mate to cancer nearly a year ago. We are all hoping that Boston will help put the spring back into Rolle's step and keep him company when mom and dad are away from home.

Boston will have a fenced-in yard, where he can chase the bunnies out of Beth's garden. Best of all, every other weekend or so, he'll be able to go up to the family cabin for swimming in the lake and running along acres of groomed trails.

I'm sad to lose my biking buddy—Boston was amazing at it. But it's great to know that I will be seeing Boston again from time to time at the dog park—and maybe even the family cabin if I can wrangle an invitation for me and Chaz.  :)

So long, Awesome Boston. And welcome to the Golden Life!

Boston and his new family. Walking with Big Brother Rolle.   

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Mr. Puppy Face is recovering nicely from his neutering. He shows no sign of pain, nor is he licking the incision (good boy!), so he does not have to wear the cone.

He can't have any strenuous exercise for 14 days after the surgery, so we have had settle for leash walking instead of exhilarating trike runs. Given that Boston has had no training, he does exceptionally well on walks. He rebelled at the Gentle Leader, so I have him in an Easy Walker harness, which he tolerates just fine. Except for occasional lunges at critters ("SQUIRREL!!!"  "BUNNY!!!"), Boston shows an amiable willingness to walk at the pace you set for him. With training and practice, Boston should be able to walk nicely on a flat buckled collar.

He's also very good at meeting and greeting other dogs, showing no snarkiness or posturing. This is amazing to me, given that he has been so isolated all his life.

Other things I've learned about Boston: 

Housetraining:  He has not had a single accident in the house. However, I have not left him alone for more than three or four hours, so he has not truly been put to the test. When he goes to his forever home, I would highly encourage his new family to provide structured potty breaks in increasing intervals until the behavior is completely ingrained. But the fact that Boston has not marked inside even once suggests that he's already starting to get it.

Countersurfing:  None. He's interested in the delectable smells coming from the counter when I'm fixing meals but has not attempted to put his paws up for a better look.

Cats:  Boston must have been exposed to cats in his first household, because he leaves them completely alone. My cats are fairly dog-savvy, however, and they know not to stimulate a chase. Still, I don't see any sign of prey drive when Boston interacts with them, so I would say that he's cat friendly.

Crates:  I have had a crate set up and open, available to Boston if he chooses to use it. He has shown no inclination to, so I expect that he has never been crate-trained. Because he does so well having roam of the house, I see no need to train him to the crate—at least, while he's with me.

Health: Boston is one healthy boy! His ears are clean and his teeth are in great shape—white and unbroken. The vet could see no indication of hip dysplasia when she manipulated him while he was sedated, nor does he show any outward signs of it. His heart is sound and his blood tests revealed normal results.

Ideal Home:  Although I would not like to see Boston tied out for more than a few minutes, he does not need to go to a home with a fenced-in yard. He would love to have someone home with him most of the time, and I think he deserves that. At the very least, he needs to be let outside once a day, so if you work nine to five and can come home at lunch time, that might work out for him. A second dog in the house would also help Boston be less lonely if you're gone long hours.

This guy just does not have any issues! He's ready to plug and play into his new home. If you'd like to meet Boston, just email Placementatragom [dot] org.

"Do I look neutered? No, seriously, I think I'm looking a little soft..."
 

 
Mellow boys, just chillin' on a Fourth of July weekend. 
 

 
Saying Hi to a 4-month-old Goldendoodle named Honey on Minnehaha Parkway.

  

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Did I mention what an athlete this guy is? He just loves running next to the trike. In fact, he sets the pace for all of us. As you can see from the photos below, I have him hooked up to a harness that keeps him safely in position so I can steer and brake with my left hand. (With my right, I'm holding my resident dog Chaz by a leash.)  Because the outrigger bar is fastened securely, Boston can actually propel the trike by pushing against his harness like a sled dog.

So I let him determine how fast we'll go. When both dogs are fresh, Boston will break into a run and Chaz will follow suit. It's a real rush having two dogs running alongside, powering the trike! Chaz, who's almost half Boston's age, doesn't have nearly the energy or drive, and he'll be the first to slow to a trot. So then I have to brake the trike a bit to bring Boston's pace down to match Chaz's.

We went for a ride along Minnehaha Parkway this evening, then rode to Liberty Custard in Tangletown—one of summer's great pleasures—for a Frosty Paws. Chaz has had many a Frosty Paws in his day, and he knows how to take his time and savor the delicacy. Boston, not so much. It was all I could do to keep him from eating the paper cup.

Boston is a do-anything, go-anywhere kind of dog. If you're looking for a real pal, the kind of dog you can enjoy integrating into many different aspects of your life, Boston's your guy. I can see him accompanying someone to work, to outdoor cafes, to dog parks, to picnics by the band shell, on road trips—you name it and he'd be game.

Boston gets his "adjustment" tomorrow morning. I'll update again once he's safely home and recuperating.

Boston, my left engine!   Happily running along as I risk life and limb to shoot photos with my iPhone.   Giving him a scritch as we wait for a light to change.   The Golden-Powered Trike   Aftermath at Liberty Custard. We'll have to work on that licking thing.    

 

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Boston was a veritable sponge at Pride, soaking up as much attention as he could get. He continues to

impress me with his resiliency and eagerness to please.

A few other things I've learned:  Boston respects baby gates, is largely disinterested in the cats, and is content to sleep on the floor (although he'd probably also like the couch or bed if he were invited up). He's also mostly quiet in the house. But every now and then he'll let out a loud bark that shatters the household tranquility and sends the cats flying. He must be hearing people outside--or else waking up from an interesting dream. He responds well to verbal correction and immediately quiets down. I will make a concerted effort to teach him that gratuitous barking is not the done thing around here.

Boston will be having his neuter surgery on Wednesday. He'll be kept overnight for observation, then it's back home on Thursday for R&R. He'll need a few days to recuperate, but then he can start being introduced to prospective homes. If you would like to meet this handsome and affable fellow, please contact Placementatragom [dot] org.