Willow 13-137

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Beautiful Willow joined my household a mere 5 days ago. With her sweet disposition, trusting eyes, and playful spirit, it already feels like we’ve known each other forever. It likely won’t be long until some lucky family/person will feel like I do, like I won the Golden Retriever lottery!

Willow is a gorgeous, purebred, 8-year-old sweetie, who is reddish in color and weighs about 70 pounds. Prior to moving to the big city, Willow enjoyed many happy years as a momma dog at a farm located in a tranquil rural setting. One of her first challenges was getting acclimated to all the sounds that come with metro living. Hearing neighbors on the other side of the 6 foot fence, sirens, and most noticeably planes overhead, initially gave her a start. But now Willow takes those sounds in stride.

Willow has a general wellness vet appointment scheduled for May 31, and her spay surgery is set for June 8. Therefore it will be a few weeks before she will officially be available for adoption. Coincidentally, some of Willow’s vaccines expire in early June, so the timing is perfect for this otherwise healthy and up-to-date Golden love.

While Willow enjoyed very comfy surroundings in her former life, now that she has retired, this is her first opportunity to be a full-time house dog. Many things, like stairs and carpet, are new and different for Willow now that she lives in a house. I admire her can-do attitude, though. It usually takes just a little gentle encouragement for Willow to give something a try. In just a few days, I’ve seen Willow go from relaxing by herself in the hall, to joining me on the floor in the living room, to now seeking out her very own doggy pillow set out for her enjoyment. And I am happy to report that she receives an A- for her top-notch potty training efforts (remember, Willow did not live inside a house until now). Just one accident so far, which in hindsight was more my fault than Willow’s.

This weekend Willow had her first bath while in foster care, and she loved it. At first I had to coax her a bit, and did so simply by standing in the tub and asking her to “come by me.” Smart girl Willow jumped right in (and stayed in even after I exited the tub). I have quickly learned that affection is the driver for pretty much everything in Willow’s life. If she can get close enough to you to be petted/scratched/caressed, she is a happy girl.

This first week has been all about getting to know Willow and helping her acclimate to her new life. We have been taking it slow, and I do not have the most complete sense of the ideal adoption situation for Miss Willow yet. She has done really well adjusting to the basics at my quiet, one-person household, and I have a feeling that she would thrive in multi-person and multi-dog households as well. Willow has been around children and other dogs at her previous residence. She is super easygoing, affectionate with a capital A, and a very good listener. Willow will be available for adoption a few weeks AFTER her spay surgery scheduled for June 8.

At a Glance #13-137

Golden Retriever Born: March 2005
Female 70 lbs

Status: Adopted

Profile

Beautiful Willow joined my household a mere 5 days ago. With her sweet disposition, trusting eyes, and playful spirit, it already feels like we’ve known each other forever. It likely won’t be long until some lucky family/person will feel like I do, like I won the Golden Retriever lottery!

Willow is a gorgeous, purebred, 8-year-old sweetie, who is reddish in color and weighs about 70 pounds. Prior to moving to the big city, Willow enjoyed many happy years as a momma dog at a farm located in a tranquil rural setting. One of her first challenges was getting acclimated to all the sounds that come with metro living. Hearing neighbors on the other side of the 6 foot fence, sirens, and most noticeably planes overhead, initially gave her a start. But now Willow takes those sounds in stride.

Willow has a general wellness vet appointment scheduled for May 31, and her spay surgery is set for June 8. Therefore it will be a few weeks before she will officially be available for adoption. Coincidentally, some of Willow’s vaccines expire in early June, so the timing is perfect for this otherwise healthy and up-to-date Golden love.

While Willow enjoyed very comfy surroundings in her former life, now that she has retired, this is her first opportunity to be a full-time house dog. Many things, like stairs and carpet, are new and different for Willow now that she lives in a house. I admire her can-do attitude, though. It usually takes just a little gentle encouragement for Willow to give something a try. In just a few days, I’ve seen Willow go from relaxing by herself in the hall, to joining me on the floor in the living room, to now seeking out her very own doggy pillow set out for her enjoyment. And I am happy to report that she receives an A- for her top-notch potty training efforts (remember, Willow did not live inside a house until now). Just one accident so far, which in hindsight was more my fault than Willow’s.

This weekend Willow had her first bath while in foster care, and she loved it. At first I had to coax her a bit, and did so simply by standing in the tub and asking her to “come by me.” Smart girl Willow jumped right in (and stayed in even after I exited the tub). I have quickly learned that affection is the driver for pretty much everything in Willow’s life. If she can get close enough to you to be petted/scratched/caressed, she is a happy girl.

This first week has been all about getting to know Willow and helping her acclimate to her new life. We have been taking it slow, and I do not have the most complete sense of the ideal adoption situation for Miss Willow yet. She has done really well adjusting to the basics at my quiet, one-person household, and I have a feeling that she would thrive in multi-person and multi-dog households as well. Willow has been around children and other dogs at her previous residence. She is super easygoing, affectionate with a capital A, and a very good listener. Willow will be available for adoption a few weeks AFTER her spay surgery scheduled for June 8.

Updates

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Greetings from the wonderful world of Willow 13-137. Fresh from an awesome vacation in Apple Valley (while foster mom took care of business in Wisconsin), sweet Willow is full of stories about her antics while in the tender loving care of another RAGOM volunteer and her family. Here are some highlights:

  • Willow thoroughly enjoyed twice daily walks, and walked nicely on a leash as she followed the lead of one of the resident dogs.
  • Willow spent time with a cat and did not show signs of aggression; granted, it was an older and slow moving cat, but time with any cat is better than no time at all.
  • On her first night, Willow could not seem to settle and get comfy. In the morning, her host found her snoozing in the shower, yes, the shower (and it wasn’t even a stormy night). After that, Willow spent nights curled up on any available dog bed along with the resident pups.
  • Willow had a blast with her three new canine friends, and adored her special human friends. It was no accident that foster mom asked this volunteer to care for Willow in her absence. This gal provided Willow’s transport from her former home at the kennel, to her foster home, and we’ve kept in touch ever since. It is a wonderful thing that so many folks love Willow.
  • Vacation foster mom and regular foster mom keep experimenting to find the right thing to help Willow cope during thunderstorms. The poor girl is inconsolable; and the tough thing is that a tool/resource/arrangement only seems to work once, and then it is back to the drawing board. We will keep trying, and hopefully communicate a solution that can be duplicated soon.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Greetings all! Willow here, finally getting the opportunity to compose my own update. Things are terrific. I was off the radar for a bit, as I prepared for surgery, then recovered from surgery, and now I am back to share what I have been up to since the last time my foster mom wrote an update.

My spay surgery was performed without complication, and it turned out the vet removed three teeth (2 upper canines and 1 front incisor) instead of just two. The vet believes the damage to these teeth was more likely a result of long term gnawing on a hard surface back at the kennel, versus any kind of disease or condition. Once my gums are completely healed, I look forward having more appropriate items to chew. I was not bothered by my stitches at all (well, I left them alone anyway), and the vet said I was healing beautifully. Mom is being conservative when she says that I can have baths and play with hard/tug toys again starting in August. I am back to eating my crunchy kibble, and oh how I love it.

Speaking of kibble, the vet also reports that I’ve lost a little weight, which is a good thing as I was a smidge thick around my waist. My foster mom appreciates how I am not really interested in people food at all. Granted, I do beg for more attention, but I have yet to ever beg for food.

Since foster mom’s last update, I have enjoyed the company of some dogs who came to stay overnight, attended a RAGOM workshop where I met other foster dogs and their foster parents, and hung out with foster mom’s parents when they visited for a few days. Foster grandpa tried to take me for a walk around the block, but I wasn’t so sure I wanted to go. Since foster mom is disabled and can’t walk much, my only leash walking practice has been from the house to the garage, from the car to the destination – all very short jaunts. Foster mom is not sure why the walk with foster grandpa did not go well, but thinks that with steady encouragement and a strong bond with my future family, leash walking will improve. After all, my favorite thing in the world is to be with you, so I am willing to learn and adapt to just about anything.

Finally, since I have a tendency to be stressed during loud storms, FM had a strategic plan for dealing with the 4th of July fireworks. We stayed in with the windows closed and the TV relatively loud, and all was well. Sometimes with the occasional audible “boom” I got concerned and would go look out the window, but that was it. I did what I always do, follow foster mom from room to room and was happy just to be with her. For a refresher, I am an 8-year-old, healthy, former kennel momma dog, who is mellow, experienced with kids at the kennel, and has been known to chase cats. My ideal family will be looking for a constant companion dog, and willing to share lots of affection with me. It would be best if I am not required to spend time in a crate; although I calmly enter a crate, I tend to get a bit stressed once the door closes. Otherwise, life as a pet Golden is AWESOME, and I can’t wait to find my forever family!

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Greetings from St. Louis Park, MN, where Willow 13-137 continues to thrive, amuse, and just be her super sweet self. Seriously, this girl has it all – mature exuberance, trust, confidence that grows a little every day, and love, oh so much love. It is abundantly clear to me why Miss Willow was so beloved at the kennel she formerly resided at. Every human she meets can’t help but fall in love with this kind and patient soul.

Since her last update, Willow has demonstrated good, but not perfect, leash walking skills, an interest in playing with and sharing her toys, and a bit of anxiety during thunderstorms. Willow’s storm anxiety is manageable as long as she can be near you, and/or she has a safe place to retreat. I should share that the impact of the first clap of thunder we heard together resulted in Willow the Golden Retriever jumping up in my lap.

It has been a joy to watch Willow settle in to life as the top dog (she is the only full-time pup in my home) and a house dog. My sense is that despite having a wonderful past life on the farm, Willow kind of digs the creature comforts that she has been introduced to. Willow just wants to love, and be loved. And it is an added bonus when the belly rubs she receives take place when she is sprawled out on her very own, super fluffy dog bed.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Willow’s fan club continues to grow and grow. Since her last update, Willow managed to charm every person she met during a wellness exam at the veterinarian. Customers and staff members all commented on Willow’s wonderful temperament. We were all impressed by Willow’s calm and trusting approach to what was likely one of her first visits to a vet (in her past life, a vet came out to the kennel to administer vaccines, etc.).

Overall, Willow is in good health, but there are some issues to attend to before she will be ready for her forever home. In addition to being spayed, Willow needs to have two teeth removed. This need for a combo of surgical procedures means that the date has changed from 6/8 to 6/25. We are on a waiting list for an earlier surgery date, and of course I will provide an update if this happens. In addition, Willow was heartworm free and her blood work was excellent. I am treating her for hook worms and an ear infection - common issues and easily treated.

Below is a summary of all things Willow:

  • CRATE – Willow is calm and comfortable in a crate. In fact, I leave the crate door open and sometimes she goes in it just to hang out.
  • CATS – I am told that Willow will chase cats, but do not know any cats to introduce her to in order to test this out (but am working on this).
  • CARS - Willow needs a little coaxing to hop into my SUV, and then she is an excellent passenger, watching the scenery out the window. Willow’s experience riding in vehicles is very limited. I don’t think she is completely comfortable with being a passenger yet, but she does not demonstrate overt stress either.
  • DOGS – A friend brought three dogs over to visit. We introduced them one at a time, and Willow was very patient with all of them. I would describe her as being happy but not thrilled to meet them (they are younger and a bit boisterous). However, as she spent more time with the visiting dogs, Willow became more playful. By the end of their visit (3 days later), Willow was initiating play with one of her new pals.
  • MOTIVATION – For Willow, it is all about human affection and attention. I admire how with just a little gentle encouragement and positive reinforcement, she will give whatever you ask of her a try. Did I mention Willow’s passion for affection and attention?
  • Willow knows how to “sit,” “wait,” “come,” and she’s getting better at “leave it.”

As a reminder, sweet girl Willow will likely not be available to be officially adopted until the end of June, due to her impending surgery mentioned above. But if you would like to learn more about Willow, please contact your Placement Advisor.