Cooper (Max 12-380)

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Profile

December 10, 2012

Please give a big RAGOM welcome to Max 12-380. Max came to RAGOM from a family who loved him very much but wanted him to get more time and attention than they were able to give. Max made the trip from MN to his foster home in Waukee, IA.

Max is a 2.5 year old purebred Golden Retriever. Max was already up to date on his vaccinations but needed a few tests and Bordatella. Max received those from the vet on 12/3 and received a clean bill of health. Max does have a few extra pounds he needs to shed. Max came in weighing 95lbs and the vet would like him to lose 10-15 pounds. Max met his foster brother with lots of enthusiasm and they quickly became best of friends. Max also gets along marvelously with my 18 month old daughter. We knew Max did not like cats when he came to us but that works out just fine for this foster home because Foster Dad is allergic.

We learned on Max’s first night with us that he is a bit afraid of the dark. My daughter donated her night light until Max got used to our night time routine here. By Max’s second day Foster Dad willingly welcomed Max onto the bed and the couch and he quickly stole all of our hearts. Max went to the groomers on his third day and came home looking like a brand new boy. Max aka Maximus as we have nicknamed him is simply stunning. Since Max has been here he has helped us decorate for Christmas and enjoyed our first snow of the year.

We have been waiting to adopt since July and though we never expected to be “foster failures” the perfect dog for our family happened to be Mr. Maximus. So, with great excitement we are welcoming Max to our family just in time for Christmas. Max already has a stuffed stocking and a 4ft tall candy cane rawhide bone under the tree just like his dog brother Cashew.

WELCOME TO YOUR FUREVER FAMILY MAX 12-380!!!!

At a Glance #12-380

Golden Retriever Born: April 2010
Male 85 lbs

Status: Adopted

Profile

December 10, 2012

Please give a big RAGOM welcome to Max 12-380. Max came to RAGOM from a family who loved him very much but wanted him to get more time and attention than they were able to give. Max made the trip from MN to his foster home in Waukee, IA.

Max is a 2.5 year old purebred Golden Retriever. Max was already up to date on his vaccinations but needed a few tests and Bordatella. Max received those from the vet on 12/3 and received a clean bill of health. Max does have a few extra pounds he needs to shed. Max came in weighing 95lbs and the vet would like him to lose 10-15 pounds. Max met his foster brother with lots of enthusiasm and they quickly became best of friends. Max also gets along marvelously with my 18 month old daughter. We knew Max did not like cats when he came to us but that works out just fine for this foster home because Foster Dad is allergic.

We learned on Max’s first night with us that he is a bit afraid of the dark. My daughter donated her night light until Max got used to our night time routine here. By Max’s second day Foster Dad willingly welcomed Max onto the bed and the couch and he quickly stole all of our hearts. Max went to the groomers on his third day and came home looking like a brand new boy. Max aka Maximus as we have nicknamed him is simply stunning. Since Max has been here he has helped us decorate for Christmas and enjoyed our first snow of the year.

We have been waiting to adopt since July and though we never expected to be “foster failures” the perfect dog for our family happened to be Mr. Maximus. So, with great excitement we are welcoming Max to our family just in time for Christmas. Max already has a stuffed stocking and a 4ft tall candy cane rawhide bone under the tree just like his dog brother Cashew.

WELCOME TO YOUR FUREVER FAMILY MAX 12-380!!!!

Updates

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Well, Max hit the jackpot when it comes to his new forever life! The family that came to meet him last weekend decided he was not a fit for them. So many thanks to that wonderful family for driving such a distance to meet this boy!!

The adopter that came to pick up Miss Bella 12-413, had also fallen in love with Max on her first visit with Bella Boo. She had told me that if this other family did not work out, she wanted BOTH Bella and Max. After another thorough review of his issues and reminders of what training two dogs would be like, she did not hesitate. Terri has extensive experience in GR rescue and also had her own canine training school previously. So Max is headed to a new life with his girlfriend Bella Boo!! We couldn't be happier! Check out the picture of Max on his way to his new life. You can't see Bella as she is lying down.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Max is doing well and is very used to the routine around here. I see his head out the window watching for me to come home after work. He is so excited to see me! He still needs to work on jumping and it is difficult to train this when I have another foster who is just as excited and jumps too! Other than that bad habit, Max is doing great here. I have seen no aggression towards people. Max turns around as soon as I tell him he shouldn't do something--like bark at the neighbors--although he is a follower in that regard and not the instigator. He would prefer to just watch them go by. He still loves to wrestle with his Bella boo and they are quite the pair. Right now he and my old girl Scout are obsessed with a birds nest built under the deck. Hopefully the birds will fly the nest soon and it can be removed!

Max has a family that is interested in meeting him! They are coming down next weekend to see him. Paws crossed that they are a match for this boy.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Max was returned to RAGOM after his adoptive family had another baby and Max was too stressed. Many tears on that day by his loving family.

Max freaked out when he was taken to the vet for boarding upon his surrender. He was lunging and barking and scared the vet. We took Max into our foster home in order to learn more about him. Let me tell you what we have learned.

Max loves to wrestle and run with other dogs and he has met at least a dozen since he came here a few weeks ago. He greets new dogs LOUDLY with barks that can be frightening to the other dog and maybe to people too. I did not see any aggression in the meetings. The only scuffle he has had was at the end of a wrestling session with a friends dog. One of them didn't like something and a loud scrap ensued. No one was hurt and it ended quickly.

Max will quietly tell other dogs that he wants them far enough away from his food bowl. He hasn't had to fight about it and we don't feed dogs close together here. He has no issues with me near his bowl. He has learned to sit and wait after I put his bowl down until I tell him it is OK to eat.

Max is OK with the normal body handling that you must do for dogs--checking for ticks, brushing, nail trimming (OK, he doesn't like nail trimming but he let me do it). He went to the vet and did fine. Didn't like being held by the tech up on the table but he showed no aggression while this was happening. Just tried to get away.

Max does not like to be pushed around. A fellow volunteer tested him by tugging on his ears, pinching and pushing him a little--not to hurt him but to see how much he could tolerate. He gave her a warning growl and when she continued, he raised his lips at her.

Somewhere along the line in his life, he was handled roughly. He cowers when I yell his name to get his attention and cowers when I go to pick up his food bowl, Even when he has left the bowl after finishing. I am trying to show him that he is loved even during these times.

One thing I know for sure is that Max needs people that use positive methods for training and interacting. Max very much wants to live peacefully with his humans and fellow dogs. He is a LOVE bug! So, if you are a fan of harsher methods such as those used by Cesar, or prong collars or leash jerks, Max is not for you.

Max needs a benevolent leader who will show him what he needs to know with treats and loving pets. He responds so well to these! Max has his basic obedience down pat. Knows sit, down, shake and has a decent recall. Even when he is super excited, Max will come when called--he goes back to the excitement trigger right away but will come again.

Max needs an experienced dog owner. One that is willing to continue to train him in obedience and one who will do so lovingly. He doesn't need another dog but would love to share a home with one. He is living with 4 other dogs here. He and Bella are best friends and the wrestling is almost non stop when they are outside--or sometimes inside. He should go to a home without young kids--none under 12.

If you think you might be a match for Max, please let your placement adviser know.


Max and Bella 12-413 wrestling