Monty first came into RAGOM when he was just over a year old. They had him since he was just 6 weeks old. He had lived with a kid and a cat in his first home, but hasn’t been around cats since. He was a young, strong, playful boy.
In his first foster home, Monty enjoyed the company of their young resident Golden, and they learned he is a great swimmer. The fosters discovered Monty grabbed things he shouldn’t as a way of getting attention. He wouldn’t willingly give them back. His first fosters began working with Monty on how to trade items for something of higher value.He did not like being groomed. He tried to bite the grooming tool or at your hands, and a second person was needed to distract him with treats. He was adopted by a retired couple. Monty didn’t adjust well and became unruly, jumping, scratching, taking inappropriate items. He jumped on the wife if she turned her back to him or tried to shut a door. Monty was said to have bitten, but the circumstances around the bite and the severity of it are unclear. He came back into RAGOM’s care after a couple of weeks
He next spent some time in boarding while the right foster home was found. A behavioral evaluation was done, and it was determined that with the right home, commitment to training, exercise, and routine, Monty had the potential to be a great, successful dog. He was next adopted by a young man who took him jogging twice daily. Monty was adapting well and doing awesomely. Unfortunately, his owner’s work schedule changed. Monty was kenneled for long days with no jogging. He began acting out again by stealing inappropriate items, including light bulbs. He resisted giving these items back. The owner tried to pry Monty’s mouth open twice and was bitten both times. They were not serious bites, but they scratched the surface of the skin and left bruises.
Monty was again brought back into RAGOM. He was lucky enough to spend two weeks with an awesome, experienced foster who immediately figured out what Monty needed: leadership, information, and structure. The foster began working with Monty on correct behavior. It was noted that he responded better to the firmer disposition of the male foster and acted out more with the softer energy of the female foster. After those two weeks, Monty came to stay with me and my three resident dogs. I decided to do a week-long decompression with Monty to help him settle in with as little stress as possible. The first couple of days, I kept him crated away from the main room and the resident dogs. He could still hear everything that went on. I then moved his crate so he could see me and the resident dogs and get a better feel for our routine. I have two Saint Bernards and a reactive German Shepherd. Some dogs are intimidated by the sheer size of the Saints and the crabbiness of the Shepherd. I think meeting initially through the crate and baby gates helped everyone to get to know each other. Initial introductions went really well. He was now one of the pack.
I thought I had a pretty dog-proof home--keeping things picked up, locking kitchen garbage, etc.--but Monty taught me to be even neater. He would empty the dog toy basket and go into my bedroom to take folded clothes off my dresser or a folder off the kitchen table. He would also get into the bathroom garbage while I was only 10 feet away from him.
On the second night at my house, I was outside with him in my fenced yard. I turned away from him to open the door leading back into the house, and he began jumping on my back while growling. When I turned back around, he was showing his teeth and barking. I calmly told him to knock it off and sit. The look on his face was one I won’t soon forget: a look of confusion, uncertainty, mistrust. I think because I was not scared and asked him to do something rather than walk away, he responded correctly and sat. This was our first milestone together.
A week later, he was chewing a toy on the couch, tearing a piece off into his mouth. I knew his history and didn’t want to reach into his mouth, but I also didn’t want him to swallow it. He willingly gave me the toy, but acted like he still had something in his mouth. I said his name and asked him to drop it, but he just clamped his mouth shut. I knelt on the floor and used one finger to try lifting his lip up to see if I could see any toy. Once my finger touched his mouth, he snapped and acted like a completely different dog. I told him to get down from the couch and he went and laid down on the floor. He made contact with my finger, only leaving red marks and showing that Monty has good bite inhibition and doesn’t want to cause harm.
The only other incident we’ve had was about a month after fostering Monty. I had an HVAC guy come to the house. When he arrived, I needed the dogs out of the way quickly, so I grabbed Monty’s collar to put him in his crate. He was fine until he saw his crate and then put the brakes on, turned his head, and snapped at my hand. Again, no broken skin, but there was bruising.
As Monty started settling into the routine, he began learning rules (sit/wait before meals and before going outside) and appropriate behavior from the resident dogs, while I began learning about Monty. He craved human attention, was insecure, and didn’t know proper dog manners.I think Monty’s bites and inappropriate behaviors have stemmed from his insecurity. He tries to play a game by stealing items not his own. He doesn’t want to give the items up, because if he does, he will no longer be getting attention. I found that ignoring him was best. When I don’t react, he drops the item and goes back to chewing a bone or playing with the other dogs. If it’s something necessary to take away, trading for another item works well.
When first settling in, Monty doesn’t want you to turn your back to him or shut a door on him. He feels you are walking away or leaving him behind. He jumps and vocalizes: more attention-seeking behavior. He doesn’t like having his collar grabbed and being led by it. To Monty, this means something fun is over or he’s missing out on something. We began to understand each other and have made much progress forward. There were no other negative incidents, only positive ones. Monty was coming out of his shell and was extremely sweet, loving, and happy; he is becoming a different dog.
Monty Currently:
Monty has been with me for about 6 months now and has come a long way. He’s been shuffled around too much for only recently celebrating his second birthday. Despite this, he continues to shine and loves pleasing his people. We have been working on appropriate behaviors and correct responses with the help of a veterinarian behaviorist. Monty hasn’t stolen anything in quite some time (will “leave it” if something interesting catches his attention); no longer gets in the bathroom garbage (knows “out” if I don’t want him in the kitchen, bathroom, or a certain room); doesn’t take things off the counter/table/dresser (“nose down” when sniffing at the counter); will drop things in his mouth on command (“drop”); “sit”/”wait” before eating or going out the door with his release command “break”; walks beautifully on a leash with a Gentle Leader; when roller blading or biking, “easy” if he starts getting ahead; and crates on command (“kennel”). Monty has become a more confident dog. Establishing trust, stability, and redirection has resulted in no more incidents of biting, growling, or jumping. I have been able to both brush and clip his nails by myself since the second month he was here. He still doesn’t like it, and I have to remind him to “leave it” sometimes (usually when brushing his tail!). When clipping his nails, I was using a muzzle and he does just fine. Last week when I clipped them, I didn’t use a muzzle, and he did curl his lip a couple of times, but I’d just tell him to knock it off and he stopped. Because he is only 2 years old, he’s still a big puppy sometimes. He gets excited when people come over to visit. I generally have him on a leash with a Gentle Leader and have been working on “sit” before he gets any attention. I use “calm” when anything gets him over-excited, such as when meeting new people or too rowdy during play with the other dogs. He generally responds well. We’ve also started working on “place” so he knows to lay down in his “place” during times I need him out of the way. This is a newer command and one we haven’t worked on as much, but with consistency, I know he’ll pick up on it fast. He does seem prone to ear infections, but weekly maintenance cleanings have been sufficient prevention. Monty is neutered, approximately 74 pounds, up to date on everything vet-related, housetrained, good with dogs of all sizes (#8-#170), and a fast learner that responds very well to redirection.
Some of his favorite things:
- getting petted
- laying on my lap in the recliner
- playing with my young St. Bernard
- chewing on bones, sticks, toys
- tug ropes (Monty gets very vocal during any type of play, but especially with tug ropes. He tends to thrash his head pretty violently and get over-excited, so I no longer have ropes out in my house. He is not aggressive, though, just very strong!)
- meal times (he loves eating and is highly treat motivated)
- going for car rides
- going for walks, roller-blading, or biking
- sleeping in his own recliner
- training as he aims to please and loves the treats
- being with people in general
What Monty needs to be successful:
- Patience: The first couple of weeks to a month may be rough while Monty again adjusts to a new home, a new routine, new people, etc. He hasn’t stolen anything inappropriate in a long time, but keeping your house picked up will be necessary so he doesn’t have the opportunity or feel the need to take what isn’t his. He can be vocal when you crate him, but Monty does know “quiet” which may be handy during his transition period. Once he settles in, he will be the most loyal, loving dog you could ask for, a true Golden Retriever.
- Training: His adopters will need to be committed to continue training Monty. He knows basic commands, but obedience class(es) will be crucial in forming and solidifying a bond between him and his new family. This will provide him with mental stimulation as well (which is as tiring, if not more so than physical activity) for dogs. Because he’s been in so many homes, Monty attaches himself quickly to people, particularly men. He enjoys women, too, but prefers men for guidance, reassurance, and love. This means any woman in the new home will have to be an active participant in his training and care so Monty views everyone as his guardian. He responds well to consistency, structure, and stability.
- Exercise (physical and mental): The saying “a tired dog is a good dog” could not be more true. Monty is a young, strong dog who needs a job. Exercise will help keep him out of trouble, in shape, and healthy. This will be even more important in the beginning as he’s transitioning. It will provide the opportunity for you and Monty to spend time together as well as tire him out. He is willing to try anything as long as you’re involved; he’s even been kayaking! Mental exercises could include a training session, interactive dog toys, tracking, anything that makes him think. Did I mention Monty is smart?
- Another confident dog to look to as a role model: My dogs have been very influential in Monty’s rehabilitation. When he gets too excited, they correct him. He follows their lead. If they are being lazy and laying on the couch, Monty follows suit. If they get excited about something outside, he gets excited. When he sees them calm down, he calms down. It would also be highly beneficial if the other dog in the household likes to play, whether that be wrestling or playing chase outside, as it’d be another outlet for energy release.
- Kids 12 & up: Monty has been around kids as young as 2 years old with strict supervision and enjoys them. Due to his size, excitability, and past, older kids are best so they don’t get knocked over, understand they can’t take things from his mouth or pull on his collar, and can be active in his training.
- Cats are unknown at this point as it’s been a long time since he’s lived with one. If need be, we could cat-test him.
Monty has lot of love to give and is an extremely loyal, handsome boy who wants nothing more than a family of his own.
If you think Monty would be a good fit in your home, please submit an "Inquiry for Application" form. If you have already filled out an "Inquiry for Application" form, please send an email to application
ragom [dot] org with the dog's name, RAGOM number, the name you submitted the Inquiry for Application form under, and a sentence or two why you feel you'd be a good match.
