Sadie (Nellie 13-126)

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Profile

Our beautiful Nellie is a 6-year-old purebred female who was sprung from an Amish puppy mill on Monday, May 5, and now resides in rural Rochester. She is a lovely reddish-gold color with just the beginning of a lighter mask on her face. Nellie has adjusted well to our routine and is making progress every day. She came from the same puppy mill that my last foster, Mandy, did. The dogs from this particular breeder are very social and love children of all ages--evidently, his children interact with the dogs on the farm. She couldn't give enough kisses to our grandchildren, ages 3, 8 and 11, so even though children in her forever home must be at least 10 years old, she would be great with visiting kids of all ages.

Nellie received a clean bill of health from our vet, but we still have to arrange her spay surgery. Her heartworm and fecal tests were negative. She is microchipped, updated on her shots, and had flea/tick preventative, but will have to return for her second distemper vaccination in a few weeks. Nellie is a full-figured girl and needs to drop some pounds to reach her optimum weight. Right now, she is getting one cup of kibble with 1/2 cup cooked carrots every a.m. and p.m. She ate all her food the very first night we fed her, which I thought was unusual for a PM dog. It took our last foster several days before she found her appetite.

We have not really had any potty issues with her if we are diligent in letting her out every few hours. She did have several accidents early on when I didn't get up quick enough to let her out. Thus far, she hasn't given very much of a potty signal for us to know when she has to go out, so we go more by the clock. We do not have a fenced yard but she does just fine on a tie-out. She walks very well with a flat collar, but I will also try her with a Gentle Leader to see how she reacts to that.

Nellie has not had any trouble going in and out of doors, jumps right into the van, and spent only the first night she was here in her kennel. She has free roam in our bedroom at night with the doorway gated. She never goes into her kennel to rest or sleep, but prefers to be wherever her people are. We do crate her, though, if we go away. As with most PM dogs, she will hesitate if she is unsure of something, get a little reassurance from us, and then continue on her way. She was given her name on entering RAGOM, so her recall is just a beginning step in learning who she is. She gets along very well with our dog who is usually picky about his friends. Nellie will take toys out of the toy box but really doesn't know what to do with them except to drop them on the floor and get more. Nellie ignores both the two inside cats and the outside cats. In fact, I think our orange tom has a crush on her--she can't seem to go anywhere outside without him following and making a pest of himself. Last week, Nellie and Champ went to the campground with us to open the camper for the season. When we first started out, Nellie watched out the window for a bit and then settled down to nap--occasionally, she would stand up, look out the window, and then go back to sleep--she did not seem overly nervous about riding and never tried to get into the front seat.

Nellie is a quiet, gentle soul who would make a great companion for an older dog or perhaps a quiet home with a single person/couple who want the companionship of a loyal friend. We have only heard her bark once or twice. I will post more Nellie news as we get to know her better--she is a great girl to have around!

At a Glance #13-126

Golden Retriever Born: May 2007
Female 85 lbs

Status: Adopted

Profile

Our beautiful Nellie is a 6-year-old purebred female who was sprung from an Amish puppy mill on Monday, May 5, and now resides in rural Rochester. She is a lovely reddish-gold color with just the beginning of a lighter mask on her face. Nellie has adjusted well to our routine and is making progress every day. She came from the same puppy mill that my last foster, Mandy, did. The dogs from this particular breeder are very social and love children of all ages--evidently, his children interact with the dogs on the farm. She couldn't give enough kisses to our grandchildren, ages 3, 8 and 11, so even though children in her forever home must be at least 10 years old, she would be great with visiting kids of all ages.

Nellie received a clean bill of health from our vet, but we still have to arrange her spay surgery. Her heartworm and fecal tests were negative. She is microchipped, updated on her shots, and had flea/tick preventative, but will have to return for her second distemper vaccination in a few weeks. Nellie is a full-figured girl and needs to drop some pounds to reach her optimum weight. Right now, she is getting one cup of kibble with 1/2 cup cooked carrots every a.m. and p.m. She ate all her food the very first night we fed her, which I thought was unusual for a PM dog. It took our last foster several days before she found her appetite.

We have not really had any potty issues with her if we are diligent in letting her out every few hours. She did have several accidents early on when I didn't get up quick enough to let her out. Thus far, she hasn't given very much of a potty signal for us to know when she has to go out, so we go more by the clock. We do not have a fenced yard but she does just fine on a tie-out. She walks very well with a flat collar, but I will also try her with a Gentle Leader to see how she reacts to that.

Nellie has not had any trouble going in and out of doors, jumps right into the van, and spent only the first night she was here in her kennel. She has free roam in our bedroom at night with the doorway gated. She never goes into her kennel to rest or sleep, but prefers to be wherever her people are. We do crate her, though, if we go away. As with most PM dogs, she will hesitate if she is unsure of something, get a little reassurance from us, and then continue on her way. She was given her name on entering RAGOM, so her recall is just a beginning step in learning who she is. She gets along very well with our dog who is usually picky about his friends. Nellie will take toys out of the toy box but really doesn't know what to do with them except to drop them on the floor and get more. Nellie ignores both the two inside cats and the outside cats. In fact, I think our orange tom has a crush on her--she can't seem to go anywhere outside without him following and making a pest of himself. Last week, Nellie and Champ went to the campground with us to open the camper for the season. When we first started out, Nellie watched out the window for a bit and then settled down to nap--occasionally, she would stand up, look out the window, and then go back to sleep--she did not seem overly nervous about riding and never tried to get into the front seat.

Nellie is a quiet, gentle soul who would make a great companion for an older dog or perhaps a quiet home with a single person/couple who want the companionship of a loyal friend. We have only heard her bark once or twice. I will post more Nellie news as we get to know her better--she is a great girl to have around!

Updates

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

For the first time, I thought I would have a foster to present at Goldzilla but that is not to be the case this year.  Tonight we are both happy and sad--our beautiful Nellie has found her forever home.  She will have two adults to carry out her wishes, Sophie--another rescue girl for a teacher and companion and a feline friend she is going to meet shortly.  Nellie was such a pleasure and love to have in our home.  She was a very gentle soul and loved every child, adult, dog or cat she ever met.

Nellie has come a long way since leaving the Amish puppy mill.  She learned that people can be kind and gentle, love her for who she is, and give her the freedom to move about as she wishes.  In one of the photos she is waiting to come in after she tires of being outside.  When she came to us, the feathers on her front legs had been cut off and the back feathers trimmed back severely, her belly was shaved and she was very overweight.  Now, look at her beautiful full tail and all those creamy feathers--she is a real beauty!

Her new family has experience with a puppy mill mom and will move her along in having the Golden life.  She was very lucky to become a RAGOM girl and we were very lucky foster parents to have her!  We wish her the very best in her new life and in her new home.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Miss Nellie continues to make good progress in all areas.  She is enjoying the freedom of our newly fenced yard.  She will come to you now if you call her name, which was given to her upon her entry into RAGOM.  As always, she is a quiet gentle soul who loves to spend time near her people.  She loves to chew on rawhide bones or hooves but has not yet ventured into playing with toys.  Her best friend Sadie spent another week with us and got her to engage in outside play for a very short time until Champ started running with the two girls.  Both Sadie and our Champ are loud growly barky players and I think that scared her so she stopped--but it is another baby step into a new adventure for her.

Nellie has adjusted to our household and has had no potty accidents for a month.  We recently left her with free roam several times while we ran short errands or worked outside and she did fine.  I think it is just a matter of time until she will be fully trustworthy.  We have kenneled Nellie for 5-6 hours without a problem (provided no loud thunderstorms occur) and she sleeps through the night without having to go out.  Nellie still becomes anxious and will pant and sometimes pace during a loud thunderstorm but with reassurance and her calming med will settle down after a while.

Nellie's weight continues to drop so it won't be too long before she reaches her goal.  I think the free exercise she is getting in the fenced yard is helping to tighten her skin so she is beginning to shape up well.  When she is tired of being outside, you can find her waiting on the porch to come in.  Nellie takes treats every so gently from your hand.  When it is time for her to go in the kennel, we put treats in there so now she readily will go in when we say "kennel, Nellie".  Nellie would be an excellent companion for an older dog or dog who does not appreciate another dog in their face.  She would also fit into a quieter home with an older person/couple who do not want a dog dancing around their feet or jumping on them. Nellie would be a great walker since she walks very well without pulling on a flat collar. She very seldom barks but is always nearby keeping an eye on what you are doing.  With her gentle demeanor and quiet personality, Nellie is a joy to have around.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

The last few weeks have been busy for Nellie. She spent one week with RAGOM foster daughter and did fairly well. Since they both work, Nellie was crated when a bad thunderstorm occurred while they were gone. Unfortunately, Nellie had an accident in her kennel because of the thunder and again during a thunderstorm the next day. Because of the weather forecast the following day, foster daughter decided to give Nellie her calming meds when she left for work. All was well when they returned home that afternoon. Except for the two stormy episodes, she did not have any trouble the rest of the week. It's funny because our son was out here target practicing Sunday afternoon and that did not bother her, nor did a very low thunder rumble the other night. Something about the very loud thunder strikes really seem to upset her unless she has her calming medication and reassurance from her peeps that all is well. We still crate her if we are gone for an extended period of time. She and Champ spent several hours alone in the house yesterday while I worked in the flowers and foster dad watched the fencing man. Nothing was disturbed when we came in.

Another trip to the camper was in store when we returned from vacation so we could get the grass mowed and enjoy the quietness. Nellie finally decided to accompany us out on the metal dock, much to our delight! She is making slow progress with new adventures.

The last two days the fur-kids have been wondering what that strange man has been doing in our back yard. Yes!! The fence is finally finished and the pups will not have to be on a tie-out any more. Now Nellie will be able to run and explore without that darn rope between her legs. Nellie very carefully checked out the perimeters of her new space.

Since Nellie was a puppy mill mom, it would be nice if she had:

  1. Another confident dog to help her learn the ropes and be a companion for her.
  2. Children must be 10 or older since younger children move very quickly and can be quite noisy. Have no fear with visiting children of any age though since she loves all ages and sizes. She does not jump on kids or adults.
  3. Nellie is very quiet in the house and spends a lot of her day sleeping on her dog bed. Since we are retired, our home is fairly quiet although at my daughter's home with two children and their dog, there is much more activity--so, I feel she would adapt to either environment but might prefer a home with less activity rather than a very bustling household.
  4. She has attended meet and greets and met every dog in an appropriate manner. Nellie ignores both the inside and outside cats.
  5. Her family will need to understand her fear of loud thunderstorms, fire crackers, etc. and provide the appropriate support for her.
  6. Nellie does well on a tie-out but a fenced yard would be a bonus since the majority of her life was spent penned up. She would do fine without a fence if she gets an appropriate amount of exercise. She would make a great walking partner since she walks well with her Martingale collar without any pulling.
  7. Nellie is a great traveler in our van--readily hops in and goes to sleep on her dog bed. She rode well in our truck but slept on the floor instead of the seat.
  8. She does not get on the furniture (could if she wanted to) and does not jump on the bed. At night she sleeps on her dog bed or carpeted floor in our bedroom.
  9. Her potty training is moving in the right direction except for the two accidents in her kennel during the storms. She now walks toward the door when she wants to go out. The hours between her potty breaks have lengthened to almost the same schedule our dog is on. Until she is really trustworthy, it would be nice in her forever home if someone worked from home part-time, stopped home over the noon hour or could have a friend/neighbor let her out to keep her on the right potty training path.
  10. A person/family that will provide all the love Nellie can handle as she is the sweetest and most gentle dog you will find! It is a pleasure to have her in our home.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Just a short update on our gal Nellie. She became anxious during a loud early morning thunderstorm today until I gave her two of the calming tablets and put her in the kennel covered by three blankets to keep out any signs of lightning. She settled down almost immediately and went to sleep--and so did I!

Nellie and the resident dog will be spending this week with RAGOM foster daughter and family and their resident Sadie. They will have the luxury of a fenced yard to play. The other day she was all fluffed and buffed up for her week's stay. I don't think she appreciated the effort too much but her fur is now very soft and fluffy. Her tail is especially beautiful once I got it all brushed out. Soon our resident and Nellie will have their very own fenced in yard--about two weeks from now and no more tie-outs!!

I included the picture of Nellie and foster dad on the dock at the camper. Once she becomes accustomed to walking on that dock, we can perhaps take her along up north to the cabin when we go later this summer. We do a lot of fishing up there and would love to take her with us if she feels comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings like the boat dock.

More next week on our special girl when we get back from our trip.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Poor Nellie is so glad the 4th of July celebrations are over!!  Since she is not a big fan of sharp loud noises, we did not attend any celebrations and did not spend any time at the lake since we knew fireworks and fire crackers to celebrate were in the offering at the campground.  The other night we had a low caliber thunderstorm go through and Nellie sought refuge under my kitchen chair.  She eventually fell asleep there.  She does not panic, drool, or constantly pace but likes to be close to her people or find some place where she can hide her head.  Once it passes through, she will quickly rebound and join us in the living room on her bed.  For severe weather, I have used an over-the-counter natural calming med that seemed to take the edge off and keep her more comfortable.

Nellie made several major accomplishments the past few days.  We have been trying to coax her into the water and also to walk out on the dock at the campground.  Yesterday she walked very close to the water but refused to actually get her feet wet.  Today we finally managed to entice her to get her feet into the water, not just the tips of her toes.  Hopefully she will learn that swimming can be fun--or maybe just wading around for a while to cool off.  She also walked to the end of the dock this afternoon with foster dad and resident pup.  Perhaps this means she is becoming more confident and is trusting that we will not let any harm come to her.

We had Sadie the GR/black lab as a house guest for almost a week over the 4th of July (her family used our camper).  Nellie gets along very well with Sadie but still has not initiated any play with her.  Her days in the puppy mill must have entailed many hours of sleeping to pass the time since Nellie is very comfortable just spending time on her dog bed sleeping next to FD's chair.  Nellie is becoming more attentive when we pass by her and will wag her tail when we talk to her.  She has no hesitation rushing to the door when a visitor comes so she can get her share of attention and petting.  You can tell from the gentle sparkle in her eyes that she is loving all the attention and love she is getting here.  With time, I feel confident she will become more responsive and join in more activities--maybe even play with other dogs and toys.  She is just like a flower that is beginning to grow and bloom!  

We absolutely love having her here--our grandson thinks Nellie is wonderful and thought perhaps he should spend his money to adopt her instead of buying a laptop but then again, he really wants that computer.  Such a decision for a young boy to make!!  And of course, he also has to convince mom and dad they need another dog. 

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Several weeks ago, Nellie stayed with my RAGOM foster daughter while we went up north fishing. She had the luxury of enjoying a fenced in yard so she and Sadie could play to their heart's content. She and Sadie were very interested in checking out what little critters might have crossed the back yard.

A few days ago, Nellie had another trip to the camper. This week was slightly different since we used the truck instead of the van. We were able to get Nellie into the back of the truck but not up on the seat. She rode and slept on the floor, resting her head on the hump on the floor. Just before we got to our destination, she finally decided to climb on the seat and watched out the window. Starting for home, we thought it would be easier to get her up on the seat since she had done it on the way over but that didn't happen so she again rode all the way home sleeping on the floor. Nellie likes to watch all the coming and going connected with a lot of people and dogs at the campground. She even met the neighbor's little white Bichon without a hitch.

Nellie will be with us two months on July 6 --we feel like she has come a long way in that time. Coming from a puppy mill, she had no training whatsoever and is now living the good life inside. Nellie is used to the noises of every day living (moves away from the vacuum though), eats all her food even with people around, her weight is slowly coming down, she does well on a tie-out, barks very little, and pays no attention to our cats. Nellie had the opportunity to met many rescue dogs of all sizes at the Rochester Animal Coalition Adoption meet and greet a week ago. It was very busy with throngs of people and children stopping to pet her--some accompanied by their family dog. We are still watchful in letting her out to potty when she gets up from a long nap (her "signal" isn't very definite yet)--she spends all night gated in our bedroom without going out and can spend 4-5 hours in her kennel (and keep it clean) while we run errands--if it was cooler, she and resident dog Champ could go along .

In her new home, it will be necessary for Nellie to have another dog companion to help her adjust to her new environment. She loves children but children in the adoptive home must be 10 years or older. Have no fear though because she would be good with visiting/neighbor children of any age. She is extremely quiet in the house and spends many hours sleeping on her dog bed next to foster dad's recliner (easier to get a pet now and then). Nellie walks quite close to you with her flat collar, usually doesn't pull at all, but may occasionally zig-zag in front of you if she is intent on smelling something--she is learning the ropes of leash walking. With time, she will continue to blossom into the best companion you could find. If you are interested in meeting Nellie, please let your placement adviser know.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Just another short update on Miss Nellie.  Another few days over at the camper this week was in store for Nellie.  She had adapted very well to the change in environment and doesn't show any anxiety about coming and going from the camper.  We are still unable to coax her to walk out on the metal dock with us.  She did dip her front feet into the water but didn't want to go any further--oh well, another few days at the camper will be coming up and just maybe she will take a swim once she figures out what the water is for.

For the next few days, Nellie will be at RAGOM foster daughter's home with Sadie, the GR/black lab while we head to the cabin for four to five days of fishing.  Since Nellie doesn't want to walk out on the dock at the camper, we were certain she wouldn't be comfortable in the boat with us fishing and we didn't want to leave her in the cabin alone for extended periods of time.  Our resident dog loves to ride in the boat and swim in the lake.  She is a happy girl and spends much of her time inside sleeping on her dog bed.  Sadie was at our home from last Thursday through this evening when Nellie went home with her.  At FD's home this week, she will have the luxury of a fenced in yard so I am anxious to hear how she responds to that.  

Nellie will be at the Rochester 3rd Annual Super Adoption event on Saturday, June 22, if any prospective family is interested in meeting her.  Nellie is a super nice girl, her weight is coming down nicely and for 3+ weeks we have had no potty issues at all.  She loves anybody and everything she meets.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Our sweet Nellie had her first experience camping last week.  She settled into the camper very well and enjoyed watching the world go by through the patio doors.  The camp ground is not as busy when we stay there during the week.  Nellie went on a long walk each day we were there and enjoyed all the different smells available.  Foster dad tried to get her to walk out on the dock but she wanted nothing to do with that. She was satisfied to watch everything around her from the picnic table on the lake shore.  We are heading to the camper again tomorrow.  Hopefully it will be warmer so we can see if she likes to walk in the water.

The last few weeks we have been extending the time between potty breaks and Nellie hasn't had any problem with that schedule.  We did a few errands the other day and ended up being gone longer than anticipated--probably 4-5 hours.  Nellie was kenneled when we were gone but didn't have any problem with the longer hours and was sleeping when we got home.  She has not had any accidents or attempts to squat for at least the past two weeks.  She now comes when we say "do you have to go out?" and outside she seems to understand "let's go potty" so I believe she is getting the hang of what potty training is all about.

Nellie continues to be a quiet and loving house guest.  She does not get up on the furniture (but could if she wanted to), rarely barks, rides in the van like a dream, does not jump on people and is just a sweet all-around girl.  Because Nellie was a puppy mill girl, she will require another dog in her adopted home to continue to help her learn the ropes of living.  She does not have any resource guarding issues.  She does enjoy chewy treats like beef sticks or similar hard treats.  She hasn't learned to play with other types of toys yet.  Most days she can be found sleeping on her doggy bed in the living room.  At night we move it to the bedroom so each dog can have a bed.  Nellie's biggest vice is taking something good smelling out of the kitchen waste basket so I make it a point to throw meat wrappers, roll boxes, left-over food, etc. directly into the garbage can.  She doesn't bother the waste baskets in other parts of the house.  She does well on a tie-out but I know she would enjoy a fenced yard to run as she pleases.  If you are interested in meeting this sweet girl, please let your adviser know.  She would be an awesome companion!

Friday, May 31, 2013

Miss Nellie had quieter days this week. No long distance driving or anything like last week. She has been helping us do outside work when the rain showers allow us to do that. She did not like the small band of thunder showers today but found a nice secluded spot behind a chair and went to sleep there. She just needs reassurance when the thunder starts. Later today another round of thunder came through, so I played some music while I was on the computer and that seemed to settle her down--otherwise, she just wants to be close to her peeps to get some petting and soft words of reassurance.

Our visiting GR/Lab girl went back home Tuesday evening, so things are back to normal. Nellie seemed to enjoy a dog that was more her size. Several times I caught her doing a little dance with Sadie like she wanted to play, but no playing ensued. Nellie still hasn't gotten the hang of playing with toys, although she will occasionally chew on a chew toy or just drag them out of the toy box. One thing she really enjoys is a peanut butter filled Kong when she has to stay in her kennel.

The outside tom cat is still enchanted with Nellie. She can very seldom be outside without him following her around. Sadie chased my outside cats when she was here, so I am thankful Nellie has not picked up on that.

Wednesday morning was spay day for Nellie. She spent the evening at the vet's office and came home yesterday morning. She is much more alert and active today. Thus far she has been doing well and leaving the incision alone. Her last booster shot was also given. She is more comfortable lying with her back feet sort of tucked up under her. I put her dog bed outside today to cushion her stomach so she could watch me plant flowers. She never goes into her kennel to sleep or even rest as many of the foster dogs do. With her prior history, maybe she has had enough of kennels/fences. She enjoys resting out in the open.

All of her vetting is now complete and she is up-to-date on all her vaccinations. She has been doing well with potty training as long as we are diligent in letting her out every few hours. Her signals to go out are very subtle, so we haven't quite figured everything out yet. She has been kenneled for 3-4 hours at a time without any trouble and sleeps all night without having to go out. I believe it is just a matter of time settling into a new situation until we can extend the time between outings. Since she was a puppy mill mom, potty training was never on her agenda there.

Nellie is a great girl--quiet, gentle, enjoys her people, does not jump on visitors, rides extremely well in the van (hasn't been in the back seat of a car), does well on a tie-out but would be grateful for a fenced yard, loves cats and is good with dogs and kids of all ages. She would be a great companion for anyone. Please let your advisor know if you would like to meet Nellie.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Nellie has fallen into our routine quite well. She sleeps soundly all night and does not get up until we do. She seems to enjoy her reduced caloric diet and finishes every crumb. This evening I made a mistake and gave her the wrong dish but couldn't remember if I put the right portions in the right dish either. Both dogs were happy since ours probably got more than he needed and she got a little extra too just to be sure she didn't get short changed. FM has a short memory, I guess.

On checking where she was one day, I finally looked under the computer desk and there she was--trying out the cat bed. Unfortunately, she is just a little too big for that!

Nellie has been on two long road trips this week taking planters to the out-of-town cemeteries. Yesterday she logged over 300 miles round trip and today she put in about 240 miles round trip. Even though she is an Amish puppy mill girl, she rides beautifully in our van (she probably never rode in a motor vehicle in her previous home). She will jump right in, find the dog bed that suits her and sleep most of the trip. Since it was raining and cool today, both dogs stayed in the van while we grabbed a bite to eat in the local restaurant. She was not distressed or anxious appearing when we returned from lunch and immediately went back to sleep once we got started. Such a good traveler!!

Nellie will have another companion starting tomorrow night. My daughter's GR/black lab will be staying with us for the long Memorial weekend. Last Sunday was introduction day and a chance to mingle with Sadie for a while before she comes to stay with us. She did introductions very well and as you can see, she was not concerned about having another dog in the house. It almost appeared that she was going to sleep on her back. Nellie will need another dog in her forever home to act as a role model.

One thing we learned with the storms this week is that she would not be a good hunting dog or enjoy the 4th of July. She did not mind the rain nor the lightening but wanted to get close to us during the loud thunder boomers. She didn't really pant very hard either but seemed to be satisfied if she could get close and hide her head. She was between my hassock and recliner so I put a quilt over my legs and her head which seemed to satisfy her. During the night I woke up to the thunder and she had just her head under our dresser but was sleeping. She did not appreciate having to go outside during the thunderstorm to go potty, so we had to do a little coaxing to get her to venture farther out into the yard but eventually she did

She is really a nice all-around girl--quiet in the house, a very gentle nature, takes treats every so gently, rides exceptionally well in the van, loves cats, loves all children but must have children 10 years or older in her forever home (little ones are fast moving and sometimes very noisy) and is doing extremely well with her potty training (no problems for over a week). Her spay surgery has been scheduled for May 29th. After her recovery period, she should be ready to find her forever home.