Hi, everybody! It’s me, Buddy!

I came to RAGOM when my dad started having a serious medical issue, and they have to move into a different place. They loved me beyond words, and when the nice man brought me to Foster Mom’s house, they sent along three bags of toys and stuff for me. More than that, though, they filled me up with so much love –they wanted to make sure I had plenty for the journey ahead.

My Foster Mom keeps checking me out to see what I know and don’t know, and do you know what I know for sure? I know how to make her laugh! 

Foster Mom here: Buddy is a big love. The word that comes to mind for him is abundant: He is full of joy and fun, and he is playful, cuddly, affectionate—he is just a very happy boy. His family did a fantastic job with him. We are so honored they turned to us to help him find his forever home.

Buddy is very much a youngster and acts like a wiggly puppy in a big-dog body. Underneath all that energy, though, he has an awesome foundation: He knows basic commands, has fantastic recall, is a rock solid in the potty training department, sleeps through the night, and is an excellent listener.

He is super treat-motivated, so it is fun to work with him, and he is smart! If I work on one command with him, the next time he has it down (and looks for his treat).

I don’t think I’ve had a foster dog who is so engaged with his surroundings—be that outside or being tuned into us. He is very much a “buddy” and constantly seeks me out to keep tabs on where I am. It isn’t a neurotic thing—he’s just a true companion.

We have his wellness vet check later this week, so I’ll update you about the results on the next update. He is a bigger boy—I’d guess about 80 lbs. I am on the shorter side and when he stands beside me, I can lay my hand on his back. He’s tall and kind of built like a tank.

The other day, I was laying on the couch watching TV, and he was playing with some squeaky toys next to the couch. All of a sudden, he jumped up on the couch on top of me, and it really did feel like a tank had landed on me. He started kissing me and licking my face—I couldn’t help but laugh; he is so silly and affectionate.

Some of the things we are working on: When Buddy first got here, he needed to polish up some of his doggy manners. He’d barrel into the other dogs and get into their space without warning. They corrected him a couple of times, and they are co-mingling much more comfortably now.

He can be a hard player, but is easily redirected. He is silly with Charlie (the resident 5-year-old Golden Retriever), and they play chase and like to wrestle.

I think Buddy would have a ball with kids because he is so silly and playful. He is curious about all people, young and old. However, due to his large size and puppy exuberance, older children (8+) would be best.

He would be fine with dog-savvy cats who will tell him off when he gets too rambunctious. I'm not seeing a strong prey drive, but just an interest in playing.

Buddy has busy energy around the house and is a maniac about retrieving the ball when outside. So if you are looking for a passive dog, he probably won’t be a good fit. If you are looking for a buddy to go on hikes with, explore smells and new places, and make you laugh every day—he’s your guy! He’s an incredible boy.