After twelve days with Goldie we have learned a few of her little eccentricities. She still walks like a dream when on a gentle leader. She doesn’t even pull when there is a squirrel sighting or when another dog is across the street. She’s a pleasure to take for a walk. She does like to walk close to you. She’ll bump into your left leg about every thirty steps or so. She knows that you’re there but I guess the physical contact is just another method of reassurance. Goldie went with us, and our resident dog, to the RAGOM picnic. She was a little overwhelmed with all the dogs and the activity but behaved herself quite well. She did, however, have to have a long “lie down” when we got home. She was exhausted. She didn’t seem too excited to meet some of the foster dogs that preceded her in our home but we certainly enjoyed doing so. We know nothing of her background but we have to guess that she escaped from a puppy mill. And just why do we guess that? She was unsure how a house door worked and gave every indication that she’d never before seen a set of stairs. She also gives the impression that she’d eat anything and everything all the time. Because she’s always looking for food she tends to “counter surf” when not being watched. So how does she arrive here completely house broken? That’s just another one of the mysteries from her past. When Goldie arrived she had no fear of humans but seemed to immediately distrust other dogs. That behavior obviously was because other dogs were competition and she had to come out on top. She didn’t seem to know playing, with another dog or with a toy. As you can see from the latest pictures she and the “resident dog” are now (mostly) buddies.

Goldie also has a taste for eyeglasses. We think that she prefers the polycarbonate lenses to the just-plain-plastic lenses. It must be the satisfying “crunch” as she bites into and shatters them. We haven’t determined if she thinks that bifocals or sunglasses are better than regular glasses but, believe it or not, we don’t wish to continue the experiment. Unless, perhaps, we can get government funding – the glasses get expensive.

When peeling tomatoes to make chili she was lying on my feet. A trip downstairs to get jars and lids meant that she had to go along to help. She starts out behind you (because she doesn’t know exactly where you’re headed) but when you reach the stairs she’s got to go around and get ahead. Keep that in mind for the return trip when you are carrying a load and she again has to pass you on the stairs. She sometimes stops, blocking the stairs, so you have to pay attention or the trip can become just a little too exciting.

She will readily sit on command but a “down” is much harder. She also needs work on the “come” command. She’ll do it if she thinks there’s something in it for her but if something else is more interesting …

In two more weeks she will be tested to ensure that the heartworm treatment has been successfully completed. When she passes that test we’ll schedule her spay and begin to get serious about finding her a forever home.