6/6/05: I met transport to pick up Daisy. Transport team Lynn and friend bought her toys and a wonderful bed of her own before saying good-bye. I thought it was so sweet that they wanted her to have things of her own. Daisy was very appreciative and gave lots of wags while she carried her toy around to show off.

Daisy was transported from a kill shelter where she spent two months as an owner turn in. Some of the volunteers there had been bringing her home. I can't even believe she spent that much time there without being adopted, she's so well behaved and friendly! AND, talk about beautiful!!! She has a pretty red coat with just the right amount of feathering to make her pretty but still easy to take care of. She was stressed - shown by panting - from the time I picked her up until a few hours after she was settled in my home. The transport was over 3 1/2 hours for her. She jumped right into my car without prompting. She was very trusting.

She showed some signs of being skittish to loud bangs (I dropped the retractable lead and one of the cats knocked something over) when we first got home and I think this was caused by the stress. I haven't noticed any skittish behavior since. It started to storm right after we got home and that didn't seem to upset her. She even went outside to potty in the rain - something my dogs never do. Even being unsure of what was happening to her she was very forward and curious to see where she was.

When I got her home I introduced her to my four cats, whom she pretty much ignored, and my two dogs - a 70# GSD/Golden and 20# Shih Tzu - and my 7# Shih Tzu foster. She was not at all overwhelmed and pretty much ignored them, too. They were obnoxiously doing what dogs do when they meet and she was fine with that, but did not participate in the sniffing. She did appropriately tell my GSD to back off one time. I was surprised she waited as long as she did. He was making ME nuts the way he was following her and behaving. She wanted to explore the house and dog yard. When she realized she was safe and was able to relax, she play bowed and tried to engage my 7# Shih Tzu in play (when in fact, the Shih Tzu was excited to come to me and not play - so that didn't happen).

Daisy loves to carry toys in her mouth and will fetch. She hasn't been at all mouthy with me and never picks up anything but dog toys. She knows sit and down (and will do it immediately) and when I tell her to stay so I can go into another room without the dogs, she does that, too - although it's more a "wait" because she isn't there when I come back through. I've taken her on two walks and she didn't pull - as soon as she feels the end of the lead she comes back to a heel position. She met two neighbor boys (6 & 7) who came running at her asking if they could pet the dog. She was happy and fine with them. Her previous owners had kids. She ignores my cockatiel and only sniffed the air near her and walked on. When my crew barks like crazy because someone is here, she doesn't bark, but runs to see what is going on. We've had three workmen come into the house and she wagged her tail and went up for pets. She does not jump on people.

I think she has ear infections and avoids my attempts to get close by turning her head when I try to smell her ears. She is reported by the previous owners not to like her toenails clipped and I would agree with that. She's leery of me touching her toenails with my hands. She pulls her foot away and hides it.

I'm truly amazed the owners turned this dog in (saying she liked to chew on the head of their older Golden) because she's so well mannered. The chewing had to be a play or interaction type thing. If it was naughty behavior she has ready access to my little dogs and I've seen nothing to indicate aggression. Last night she slept near my bed on the floor. She does not get up on furniture and does not beg at the table for food. She makes good eye contact and responds like she's had training, although previous owners say she hasn't had any. They must have been very consistent in their expectations. Daisy is so well behaved.

We need a vet visit before she can go to her forever home, but I am thinking she'd enjoy a home with another dog that likes to play, an active couple that likes to go for walks and maybe older kids (I don't have kids so this one's hard for me to judge). She has energy and likes to interact, although I wouldn't consider her hyper at all. She's very quiet in the house and is a typical Golden, laying under the desk or table or around me. The Humane Society said she was a runner. I'm not quite sure what they meant by this. She isn't a bolter. I think it means she likes to wander around and explore. They thought she just needed exercise. I guess what I'd say is that she can't be loose outside without a fence because she'll wander and explore and maybe get on a scent and not listen. Oh, and she is potty trained! How good does it get?! That's all for the first day. More later.