Max (5.5 years old) was turned in to RAGOM when his owner was hospitalized.  Living with a 'keep to themselves' couple, Max received no socialization and no basic training.  His previous life included some inappropriate interaction - lots of yelling, possibly some physical punishment, and lots of being ignored.  He ran away often, but was always returned to his home by the dog catchers.  He was  pretty unsettled for the first couple of weeks, but has really adjusted quickly!!  He is learning to trust, learning to love, learning to play, and learning to enjoy a true golden life!  Max is very well mannered in the house, gets along with other dogs and cats, and is a very friendly golden boy looking for his forever home!

UPDATES:

4/7/01:  Max is doing very well.  No aggression, no accidents, nothing but love.  I still have a kennel for him, but I don't shut the door anymore, he has the run of the house while I'm at work and while I'm sleeping.  He likes the idea of sleeping with me more than the practicality of it I think - he starts out in bed but wisely sleeps on the dog bed next to my bed once I get tossing and turning.  I realized pretty quickly that I didn't need to put him in his kennel, and he hasn't gotten into any trouble being free in the house.  That even includes one VERY long day that I got caught at work and he and my dog Puck were alone for 10 hours!  I was sure he would have had an accident or destroyed something, but he didn't.  Max only barks to alert me if something seems wrong (like a very strange looking guy walking down my alley one night), but I have found he likes to "talk" to me; he either really likes or really dislikes my singing because that's when I hear the most from him.  Max has been great with my dog Puck.  They don't really play together, Max isn't much for rough-housing it seems, but he hasn't bothered Puck or been aggressive with him in any way.  He even laid his head across Puck's hip the other night when everyone was in what now seems like a very small bed.  And the most exciting thing happened a couple of days ago, when Max finally picked up one of the many toys on the floor of my house.  They have been there the whole time Max has, and Puck has no problem sharing, but Max just didn't seem to have any interest in them.  And then, out of no where, with Puck and another dog friend of Puck's in the house, Max actually picked something up and laid down with it.  It was really great - I don't think Max ever had toys to play with before and it was nice to see him reacting to them.  He's come out of his shell and, gratefully, is still just as sweet!

3/25/01:  Well, it's been less than a day in his new foster home (separate from his brother Luke as we felt they'd adjust better in the long run this way!) and I can't help but think Max is going to be adopted in a hurry!  The hour ride home proved that Max loves riding in the car.  He was great in the car, and when we got home he, as suspected, showed no interest in my golden.  There have been no accidents, no chewing, no growling or aggression of any kind.  That even includes an unexpected visit from some dog that jumped INTO my fenced in back yard.  This startled and excited my own golden quite a bit, but Max didn't even flinch.  Max needed a little encouragement (and once even a boost) to come up on furniture.  He slept on my bed for part of the night, then I think got too hot and slept next to my bed the rest of the night.  Max has learned to appreciate being combed, I think he loves the constant contact it provides.  We cleaned up any remaining mats and even trimmed the hair between his toes.  That seemed new to him, but he didn't mind.  Max stays with me all the time.  I headed downstairs to do laundry and he was right there with me - open stairs are no problem we discovered.  He has found his voice, he talks a little bit which is rather charming - tells me he is coming out of his shell.  He definitely likes to eat, he's still a bit overweight and by the look of the pads of his feet has not been walked very much, if ever.  We'll be working on that, though.  He seems very interested in the leash and gentle leader and is eager to make walks a habit.  He had obviously started some training and is a very quick study.  We continue to work on sit, stay and come - and Max comes to his name and a whistle with no problem.  He went into his crate without issue (anything for food!).  I've yet to find anything in the house that scares him.  I needed to vacuum after the grooming, and though he didn't hang around while I did it, it didn't seem to really scare him.  The only non-golden thing about him is he doesn't have an interest in playing with toys or fetching.  My golden often falls asleep holding something in his mouth, and Max just doesn't have that same retrieving need.  Max seems like he could fit in just about anywhere.  He is no trouble at all and deserves a wonderful and permanent new home. 

3/18/01:  Max #01-036 and Luke #01-037 are just simply NEW DOGS!  They have come soooo far since their journey into RAGOM.  Luke has healed from his neuter surgery and has now been completely integrated into the 'pack' of other dogs without a problem.  Both dogs are doing a wonderful job learning some obedience skills (sit, lay down, come & stay) and are adjusting nicely to the gentle leader and a leash too!  Max wants to be loved 28 hours a day, and Luke has decided that a tennis ball and a game of fetch is a truly enjoyable adventure!!  They're really blossoming into wonderful separate personalities!  I've come to the conclusion that they would be better off in the long run if we place them separately, since they're anxiousness truly seems to be much worse when they're together than when I am with each of them as individuals.  I'd like to place them into separate foster homes first, as a trial to being separated, before a final decision regarding their placement is made.  Possibly after this weekends Foster Training, we'll have two available foster homes that would be willing to take them and see how they'll handle a true separation. 

3/11/01:  Max visited the vet yesterday for a physical exam and heartworm check.  His exam uncovered a yeasty infection way down deep in both ears - not too bad, so treatment should be effective in a week or less.  Other than the fact that he's still overweight, he seems otherwise healthy.  He was a bit anxious at the vet's office, but handled it all pretty well!  His afternoon spent back here at home without Luke was a bit more traumatic (Luke stayed for a neuter), but not as bad as I expected!  Max is really starting to show signs of being a real live golden retriever - he's quickly learning basic obedience skills and is becoming very affectionate.  He's still a bit squirmy when he's interacting with people, but that's improving too!  He's been fully integrated into the 'dog pack' around here and is doing very well!!

3/4/01:  Max and Luke are settling in nicely.  They're finally able to sleep separately (each in their own giant crate - although their crates are still right next to each other!), and they're beginning to mix pretty well with the others under supervision.  They have no interest in 'interacting' with the other dogs, but they're becoming more comfortable at least hanging around with them.  Luke still LOVES the cats - he just can't quite figure out what they're all about and he's so darn cute as he follows them around with his little ears perked in curiosity!  Both Luke and Max are starting to form some bonds with us, although Max has become more trusting at this point than Luke has.  We've started doing some interacting with them separately, and they're both more relaxed one-on-one than they are when they're together - they're anxiety is fed off of one another's anxiety, and so together they're still pretty squirrelly, but alone they're starting to settle down some (when they came, it was just the opposite - they freaked when separated!).  We're hand feeding to work on bonding and have also started to introduce some basic manners training during hand feeding (sitting quietly mostly!).  All in all, they're doing fine.  They have a long road ahead of them, but they're all golden inside (and out!) and so they'll come around in time and will soon be able to enjoy the loving, trusting life that all dogs deserve!