Looking for a sweet, happy and gentle companion? Hope is your girl! We have absolutely loved the time she has spent with us. Hope - a purebred Golden - is a lovely soon-to-be 7 year old retired breeder girl who is really enjoying her time in RAGOM. Truthfully, I just can’t say enough good things about this girl.

Hope is very gentle and also a bit timid. She spent all her years in a breeding situation and didn’t get a chance to socialize or do all the things that a typical dog might have done – so she’s understandably cautious, yet eager to learn new things. She is making up for lost time and really enjoys life. 

As you might guess, Hope can be a bit worried by new sounds, sudden actions, and new situations, but she does not let that stop her. She is very determined and there is really nothing that makes me happier than to watch her run across the yard to greet me – her face lights up with joy (mine, too).

Hope came to RAGOM in rough shape – she had ear infections to treat, vaccines to catch up on, a bit of a weepy eye and an odd gait. I’m pleased to say that all of these have been treated – and she’s been spayed as well, so no more puppies for this girl. 

Her ears are clear, she’s current on her vaccines and she had surgery to fix her eyelids and also to treat the contracture that was causing her odd and painful gait. She is recovering from these surgeries and doing nicely. 

She can easily manage stairs, has jumped up on the couch and can jump into the car now – things she struggled with before her surgery. Right now, she needs slow walks, not necessarily long walks, but opportunities for her to build muscles and practice her new gait. 

We really wish there was a place where we could take her swimming, as that would be perfect exercise for her – but walks are good, too.

Because she comes from a breeding background and had limited experiences, Hope needs to have a confident medium-sized dog to show her the ropes. She really relies on a dog buddy to help her figure out new situations. Hope also requires a fenced yard, as sudden sounds could easily frighten her and cause her to bolt. 

Hope gets along with both male and female dogs – young dogs and old dogs alike. Because she is very nervous around sudden noises and motions, she would do best in a household with older children. She rarely barks.

Hope does get nervous around fireworks and thunderstorms, but responds nicely to medicine if you can plan in advance. Otherwise, she would like it if you’d pet her and comfort her while she waits for the commotion to go away. 

I’d be misleading you if I left you with the impression that Hope is an active girl – she loves a good nap. She has a dog bed that is also her safe spot, and you can find her there if she’s not at your feet. She enjoys time outside or wherever her people and dog buddies are. Hope has blossomed into a wonderful companion.