Leo 12-357

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RAGOM would like to announce the arrival of Leo. Leo is a tall 83 lb. six year old platinum blonde purebred Golden Retriever (GR), complete with the “golden paw” and a heart of gold. His coat is gorgeous with long silky flowing fur on his chest and back legs. Leo is a fabulous dog who loves to be with people and older kids. He is a vocal dog who likes to “talk” to us with soft whines and groans. Sometimes, he sounds like Scooby Doo, which makes us laugh.

Thanks go to Leo’s surrendering owner (SO) for loving him so much that they made the heartfelt decision to re-home him, entrusting him to RAGOM. Leo was their “only child” until their baby arrived. Due to Leo’s size and his inability to share his toys, the SO felt it was better for everyone to find him a family where he is free to “just be himself”.

His favorite things to do are: go for car rides; lie outside in our fenced in yard; play tug-of-war, keep away and fetch (which sometimes resembles keep away); de-stuff soft toys; and, squeak his Air Dog ball. Leo will sit nicely for treats and takes them gently from our hands. He shows no reaction when we pet him or put our hands by his food bowl when he is eating. Chew toys and knuckle bones are enjoyed by this big sweetie. He lets us know that he wants to go outside by whining a little. Sometimes he even rings the bell that is hanging from the back door knob. He has had free roam in the house from the moment he arrived. Leo has not shown any desire to be on the furniture. He sleeps on the laminate floor, on a dog bed or on his blanket. Our grandson invited him up on the bed and Leo was pleased to oblige.

Leo enjoys going on walks as long as you follow his lead. He is one stubborn guy when foster mom (FM) or foster dad (FD) doesn’t go where he wants to go. The phrase “stubborn as a mule” probably would describe Leo on these occasions. He simply sits down, puts his paw over his leash and refuses to go any further. Needless to say, we are working on correcting this behavior. (We did learn that when our GRanddog, Bella, walks with us Leo follows her lead and doesn’t stop.)

Leo needs slow introductions to other dogs and seems to prefer to be an only dog. He does not like to share his toys or food with other dogs. However, when all toys and food are put away, Leo’s guarding behaviors are almost non-existent. Leo and Bella sit side by side to get their treats and ride together in the car without any problems. Sometimes Leo does give warning growls when we show affection to Bella. Leo initiates play with Bella but when she responds he is not sure what to do.

Each day that goes by we are learning more and more wonderful things about this big sweetie. Be aware, when this gentle giant looks you square in the eye with his big brown eyes, he will touch your heart. Stay tuned for more updates.

 

At a Glance #12-357

Golden Retriever Born: October 2006
Male 85 lbs

Status: Deceased

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RAGOM would like to announce the arrival of Leo. Leo is a tall 83 lb. six year old platinum blonde purebred Golden Retriever (GR), complete with the “golden paw” and a heart of gold. His coat is gorgeous with long silky flowing fur on his chest and back legs. Leo is a fabulous dog who loves to be with people and older kids. He is a vocal dog who likes to “talk” to us with soft whines and groans. Sometimes, he sounds like Scooby Doo, which makes us laugh.

Thanks go to Leo’s surrendering owner (SO) for loving him so much that they made the heartfelt decision to re-home him, entrusting him to RAGOM. Leo was their “only child” until their baby arrived. Due to Leo’s size and his inability to share his toys, the SO felt it was better for everyone to find him a family where he is free to “just be himself”.

His favorite things to do are: go for car rides; lie outside in our fenced in yard; play tug-of-war, keep away and fetch (which sometimes resembles keep away); de-stuff soft toys; and, squeak his Air Dog ball. Leo will sit nicely for treats and takes them gently from our hands. He shows no reaction when we pet him or put our hands by his food bowl when he is eating. Chew toys and knuckle bones are enjoyed by this big sweetie. He lets us know that he wants to go outside by whining a little. Sometimes he even rings the bell that is hanging from the back door knob. He has had free roam in the house from the moment he arrived. Leo has not shown any desire to be on the furniture. He sleeps on the laminate floor, on a dog bed or on his blanket. Our grandson invited him up on the bed and Leo was pleased to oblige.

Leo enjoys going on walks as long as you follow his lead. He is one stubborn guy when foster mom (FM) or foster dad (FD) doesn’t go where he wants to go. The phrase “stubborn as a mule” probably would describe Leo on these occasions. He simply sits down, puts his paw over his leash and refuses to go any further. Needless to say, we are working on correcting this behavior. (We did learn that when our GRanddog, Bella, walks with us Leo follows her lead and doesn’t stop.)

Leo needs slow introductions to other dogs and seems to prefer to be an only dog. He does not like to share his toys or food with other dogs. However, when all toys and food are put away, Leo’s guarding behaviors are almost non-existent. Leo and Bella sit side by side to get their treats and ride together in the car without any problems. Sometimes Leo does give warning growls when we show affection to Bella. Leo initiates play with Bella but when she responds he is not sure what to do.

Each day that goes by we are learning more and more wonderful things about this big sweetie. Be aware, when this gentle giant looks you square in the eye with his big brown eyes, he will touch your heart. Stay tuned for more updates.

 

Updates

Friday, June 14, 2013

The rest of the story is……Leo has been adopted! Lori and Rob travelled a total of 1150 miles, round-trip, to tell Leo that they want him to be part of their family. When Leo first met them, he enthusiastically ran back and forth between Lori and Rob, tail wagging and a smile on his face. It was amazing to watch them bond immediately. Leo seemed to be saying, “I’ve been waiting for you.” When it was time to go home, he climbed into their SUV, laid down on the back seat, turned to Rob with a look that seemed to say, “I am ready to go home.”


Rob, Lori and Leo. A family, forever!


"Let's go home!"

Foster Mom here: “I miss you, Big Guy. But, I am bursting with happiness for you. You are now where you are meant to be……with your forever family.”

Thursday, June 6, 2013

When Leo and I (Foster Mom) are walking by a lake or river, Leo asks if he can jump in. He enjoys swimming and retrieving sticks in the water. I have so much fun watching this big galoot swim like a pro.

Leo loves to be in the water, but he was not so sure he wants to be on the water. Foster Dad (FD) took Leo fishing. Apparently for Leo, it was his first time to ride in a boat. Leo looked at FD and said, “You want me to jump from the dock into the boat? I don’t think so.” After much useless persuading, FD just picked the Big Guy up and placed him in the boat. Leo’s fears of new experiences caused him to hunker down on the floor of the boat. But, eventually, he gained enough confidence to get up and venture to the bow of the boat. He relaxed and watched the water, the loons, and the setting sun.

Another first for Leo, he encountered a porcupine. Leo asked, “What is that? I’ll check it out.” Long story short….Leo ended up with twelve quills stuck on his nose. Luckily, FD is experienced with this sort of thing, and Leo let him pull them right out. Ouch! After FM (Foster Mom) washed Leo’s nose area with an antibacterial dog shampoo, Leo said, “It has been quite an evening, and I’m going to bed.” …..and he did. During the night, he howled in his sleep, probably dreaming about those nasty porcupines!

A special couple is travelling a great distance next week to meet Leo. Paws crossed. We’ll let you know the rest of the story.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Everyone needs a hobby. Leo’s hobby is collecting sticks. He collects sticks so large that he has to turn his head sidewise to go through the gate. Sticks so small you can hardly see them in his mouth. Silly sweet boy!

You will never guess what Leo and Foster Mom have been doing. They have been attending puppy class! You heard it right. A 93-pound, six-year-old Golden Retriever is attending puppy school. The dog trainer/evaluator thinks that Leo may have been attacked by another dog early on in his formative years. So, Leo’s best defense has been a good offense. Leo reacts to other dogs out of fear. The evaluator thought, by attending puppy class, Leo would learn that other dogs are not out to get him. She was right. Leo now runs the gauntlet (small and big puppies in two parallel lines) and does not react to the other dogs. Leo is such a smart, trainable dog. Because of his training, Leo is now much less reactive to other dogs.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Surprisingly, a few days ago, Leo had a seizure. He has never had one before. Leo fully recovered after a very short time. Dr. Dave is hopeful that this was a one-time event. We are hopeful too.

A snowstorm stopped us from attending the Coon Rapids meet-and-greet, but the snowstorm the following weekend did not stop us from going to the Duluth Petco. Leo enjoyed making new friends. Thanks to everyone for stopping by. Someone said, “Leo looks deep into my soul and touches my heart.”


"My new best friend."


Leo is very intuitive. Without saying a word to Leo, he seems to know when he can accompany foster mom (FM) on running errands and when he can’t. When he concludes he has to stay home, he quietly goes into the bedroom, lies on his bed, closes his eyes, and pretends not to hear FM say “good bye, Leo, watch the house.”


"I'll watch the house from here."

Thank you for following Leo’s RAGOM adventure. More updates to come….

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Leo has adapted well from living in the city for the first six years of his life to living in the country with his foster parents. In the few months that he has lived with us, he has developed confidence and has learned to trust “his people.” He has experienced, for the first time, what it is like to have a fur companion and to be a compatible companion in return. Leo has demonstrated that he would be comfortable in either the city or the country as long as he gets in his daily exercise.

Leo is looking forward to the seven-hour round-trip car ride to the Coon Rapids Petco Meet and Greet on Saturday, April 6 (weather permitting).

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Leo was in a full meet-and-greet mode at the Duluth Petco last Saturday. Everyone that met him said he is so handsome and sweet…..and they are right! He was so relaxed in the midst of all the activity that he even sprawled out on the floor to take a quick nap during some down time. Prior to this event, Leo did not allow dogs to come any closer to him than three feet. At this event, he allowed dogs to come as close as two feet! When he felt they were close enough, he did not lunge at them, but gave a non-threatening “grrrr” and that was that. Leo even managed to get a nose-to-nose look at puppy mill foster dog, Gypsy, without reacting to her. Leo is making progress and we are so proud of him!

Many people have shown an interest in adopting Leo. Unfortunately, these wonderful adopters have not quite met every one of his needs. So, what does Leo need in his forever home to keep him happy and as stress-free as possible? He needs a physical fenced-in yard; slow introductions to other dogs; a family that doesn’t work long hours or that can provide a break for him in the middle of the day; no kids under 10, unless very dog savvy (younger visiting kids are okay); and two to three walks per day, including off-leash exercise.

If you can fulfill Leo’s needs and are looking for a loyal companion, please contact your placement advisor.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

One of Leo’s favorite things to do during the day is to take short naps outside, lying in a snow bank. He lifts up his head, closes his eyes, and basks in the warmth of the sun. Leo is a very contented dog.

If you’d like to meet Leo, he and his foster parents will be at the Duluth Petco on Saturday, March 9, participating in a RAGOM Meet-and-Greet from 12 to 2 p.m. Leo is hopeful that he will meet the family that he has been dreaming about, his forever family!

Thursday, February 28, 2013

We miss you We miss you! Frank and Sue

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Foster Mom (FM) and Leo walk in the woods almost every day. Leo enjoys running down the snowmobile trails as fast as he can. He never ventures very far from me and continuously looks back to make sure he has not gone too far. If he goes around a bend in the path and I cannot see him, I say to him, “Leo, I can’t see you.” He immediately comes back around the bend to say, “Here I am.” Amazing! Leo usually does not pay any attention to squirrels. Yesterday was the first day that he actively responded to a squirrel in a tree.

Leo here, “I want to give a big kiss to Frank and Sue for donating to RAGOM in my name (they said they miss me!). They decorated my story page with valentine hearts which makes me feel very special.”

Leo is a very special dog who is patiently waiting for his forever family.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Leo is a blessing to our family. He just makes us feel good. He has become our friend and companion. Leo sends our 12-year-old grandson into peals of laughter when they play tug-of war-or hide-and-seek.

Leo is a smart dog who knows many commands: sit, down, give me five, heel, stay, and here. When he’s feeling playful, he’ll grab one of our gloves or socks and try to coax us into playing tug-of-war. So, guess which command we are currently working on? (Drop it….good boy!) We use his tug rope or something he values as a trade for the glove and the games begin.

Leo would like to share his love with you.

Please contact Placement if you would like to meet him.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Thanks to all who stopped by to say hello to Leo at the Duluth Petco Meet and Greet. He enjoyed meeting young and old alike. Apparently, Leo still needs very slow introductions to unfamiliar dogs. He wanted all passing dogs to stay at least three feet away. Many people thought Leo was older than six because of his handsome white face. Don’t let his light face mislead you; he is a fun-loving and playful dog.

Remember reading how Leo would stop and refuse to budge on our walks? Well, Leo has decided that walking, sniffing, and exploring are much more fun than stopping. Good boy! FD (Foster Dad) says that Leo not only likes to go for walks, but he is a wonderful jogging partner too!

Sharing toys does not come naturally for Leo, but he is learning. On occasion, Leo will growl and snarl while trying to take toys away from visiting granddog, Bella. FM (Foster Mom) verbally corrects Leo and redirects him to get his own toy.

For the first time, Leo and Bella were left home alone for more than an hour. All chew toys were put away. Leo wore his Thundershirt. When FM came home four hours later, both dogs were waiting by the door, with tails wagging and smiles on their faces. Fantastic!

If you are looking for a companion: who loves and trusts you unconditionally; who makes you smile with his goofy antics; and, who is a willing walking/jogging partner and playmate, Leo is the one for you. He is waiting to give you all of this and more. To learn more about Leo directly from FM, contact your placement advisor to initiate the conversation.


Leo fetching his Chuck a Duck Frisbee

Friday, January 18, 2013

Leo says: “I PLAYED with Bella for the first time today! Then, listen to this, I took a nap and CUDDLED with her. I found out having a fur friend can be fun.” (Foster Mom here: It touched my heart to see Leo play and cuddle with Bella. This is the same dog who, six weeks ago, growled, snarled, air snapped, and lunged at Bella when they first met.)


A couple of cuddle bugs - Leo is in the forefront. So sweet!


“I love to hike in the woods. I can run free on the trails because I run right back to FM (Foster Mom) when she calls or signals me. She gives me a treat every time I come back. So, why wouldn’t I listen?” (FM here: I’m pleased to see Leo’s progress during our walks. He runs free with a long trailing leash. Leo keeps looking back at me to make sure he has not gone too far. He enthusiastically returns to me when I call or when I pat my hand on my thigh. Even after hiking for an hour, he still has energy to retrieve his “Chuck a Duck” Frisbee. He’ll drop it on command but only if he gets a treat.)


"Leo, here! .... Good boy."


This is what Leo would need in his forever home:

  • A fenced in yard is preferred, especially in the city.
  • No resident kids under the age of 10. He likes being with younger ones for short periods of time. But, he starts feeling stressed out if he’s with them for too long.
  • Several daily walks on and off leash.
  • Free roam in the house, no crating.
  • Could be an only dog. However, seeing his progress with Bella indicates he can adjust to living with another dog. This adjustment will take time and patience, but will be well worth it

If you are interested in meeting this lovable, playful, comical, occasionally stubborn, gentle Golden Retriever, contact your placement advisor.

Friday, January 18, 2013

From Melissa J to Donis G From Melissa J to Donis G

We miss you, Leo! We read all of your updates and can tell your FPs are taking excellent care of you! We hope you find a forever home soon. We miss you, Leo! We read all of your updates and can tell your FPs are taking excellent care of you! We hope you find a forever home soon! -Katie and Neil

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Leo had been having a terrible case of the “itchies”. The prescribed antihistamines didn’t relieve it very much. FM (foster mom) called the Fromm Company (the brand of dog food used by FM) to see if they had any suggestions. The representative said the chicken in Leo’s food might be the culprit. I bought some chicken free Fromm kibble and chicken free treats. Within two days, Leo’s itching had decreased by 80%. How about that!

Leo has become a very confident and trusting dog. He meets new people with a wagging tail and an invitation to play with him. Today, he accompanied FM on a RAGOM home visit. He charmed everyone with his winning ways and handsome sweet face. Leo is exceptionally good at being a RAGOM ambassador.

To get ready for the home visit, FM decided that Leo needed a bath. Leo put the brakes on when FM almost got him into the walk-in shower. Notice his technique….paw leisurely draped over the leash, him leaning into the wall, refusing to budge. Well, FM proved to be even more stubborn than Leo. She did not take “no” for an answer. Okay, FM has to admit that it did help to use treats to coax him into the shower. With warm water streaming over him and FM giving him a luxurious soapy massage, Leo settled in and actually enjoyed his bath. Good boy!


"A bath? I don't think so."


"That wasn't so bad!"


A note from Leo: “Katie and Neil, my people who raised me from a pup, decorated my RAGOM page. Thanks, guys, for thinking of me!”

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Simply stated, Leo is a wonderfully pleasant dog to have around. He is such an easy keeper. This big guy can easily handle down time during the day. But, ask him if he wants to go for a ride or walk, and he is ready to go! Leo does not appear to have a strong prey drive. He shows very little interest in looking out the window at critters.

Leo has free roam when he is left home alone. He handles that just fine. Leo has not accepted our invitation to join us on the couch, so we assumed that he was not interested. One day when foster mom (FM) returned home to Leo, the television was on. Apparently, Leo had climbed up on the couch, laid down on the TV remote and turned on the TV. How cute is that? Too bad he didn’t know how to find Animal Planet!

This handsome Golden Retriever (GR) has a beautiful full coat of soft fur which will require grooming on a regular basis. Leo enjoys being groomed and has been known to fall asleep while being brushed, even when FM combs his tail!

This gentle giant does not pull on the leash when he’s walking but he has been known to slip out of his collar. We are now using a Martingale collar to ensure that he does not escape from his collar on our walks and it is working great. Leo usually gets two to three walks per day totaling about four miles. We are still working on curbing his habit of sitting down during these walks. Leo only stops on our way to our destination. On the way back home, he walks at a nice steady pace. Today, on our walk FM randomly treated Leo with salmon treats while walking forward. Pretty soon he forgot all about wanting to stop. Leo pranced along like a Palomino, without stopping at all. Good boy!

When a new foster arrives, it takes some time to get to know one another. Leo did not have any dog socialization skills when he arrived. He had been an only dog for his entire life. Leo growled and maintained a defensive posture with GRanddog, Bella. Fast forward to today: Bella was chewing on a knuckle bone and Leo didn’t care! They touched nose to nose with tails wagging. Leo has stopped growling at her and likes to be with her. His toy possessiveness has decreased. Leo is beginning to understand the concept of having a fur friend. So, maybe, just maybe, Leo could adapt to a fur sibling in his furever home. (It would take time and patience for his adopter to help him with the transition.) FM is cautiously optimistic.

If you think this sweet Golden Retriever is the right one for you, please contact your Placement Advisor.

Friday, December 7, 2012

It is obvious that Leo came from a very loving home. He arrived complete with an A+ rated dog food, toys, grain-free treats, various collars, toys, his blanket, an inflatable sleep pad, and a Thundershirt. We used the Thundershirt within the first few hours he was in our home to help relieve his stress. Leo stands patiently while FM puts it on him. He likes his Thundershirt and it works wonders. According to the SO, he is afraid of thunderstorms and fireworks too. He also likes to find “safe spots” in the house when he feels stressed. Leo is not a Velcro dog but likes to be in the same room as his people.


Leo feeling good in his Thundershirt.

Leo’s surrendering owners (SO) had him neutered and up to date on his vaccines when he arrived. At Leo’s wellness exam, he greeted Dr. Dave with a smile. Leo does have a history of hot spots and his SO provided a prescription topical spray to be used when necessary. He shows signs of mild skin allergies. So, Dr. Dave prescribed an antihistamine to help with Leo’s itchy skin (which has helped). When Dr. Dave manipulated Leo’s back hips he found a slight stiffness. This stiffness is so mild that it does not affect Leo at all. Thanks to Dr. Dave for taking such good care of our RAGOM fosters! FM gives Leo Omega 3 and Glucosamine Sulfate supplements twice a day (Omega 3 for his dry skin and the Glucosamine Sulfate for his joints.) Leo develops “lock jaw” when FM comes close to him with these supplements. Don’t tell Leo, but FM hides the supplements in a little bit of canned dog food and Leo swallows them down without a problem. Several of Leo’s teeth have tartar on them. He may need them cleaned in the future.


Leo is all smiles for Dr. Dave.

Surrendered dogs come into RAGOM with unique personalities and habits. Some habits we try to correct, others we just accept. Little did we know that Leo loves to “wash the dishes.” After dinner, he is quick to lend a helping hand (or should I say helping tongue).


Leo is "washing" the dishes.

When Logan, our 12-year-old grandson, is visiting, Leo brings him pull toys for a nice game of tug. For some reason Leo “needs” a lot of grain-free treats when Logan is over. Imagine that! Because of Leo’s size and playfulness, he would do better in a home with older children. Evenings are Leo’s most playful time of day. He is insistent when it comes to evening sessions of tug-of-war or fetching the tennis ball and will not be deterred from it. We enjoy these playtimes as much as Leo does.


A car ride and being with Logan. The ultimate!

FM and FD continue to learn more about this amazing GR each day. One thing is for sure, Leo is a very special dog. More updates to follow...