Bess 14-068

Profile

 

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Entered Foster Care Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
4/1/2014 Required Unknown Required Unknown
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Hi there! My name is Bess 14-068. I am a 7 year old former breeding dog who retired from the farm less than two weeks ago. Let me tell you, I love my new life of leisure. I live in the Twin Cities now, with my foster mom and my foster golden retriever sister. Just 9 months ago, my foster dog sister came from the same farm that I did, when it was her turn to retire.

Foster mom marvels at my quiet, can-do attitude. Many things about living in a house are new to me, but I take it all in stride. My favorite part about my new house is that there are dog beds in every room. I have my choice of which comfy bed to relax in, and believe me, I take full advantage of this. Since I used to live in an outdoor kennel, foster mom was fully prepared to spend time potty training me. But I already had this figured out, and have had zero accidents since I arrived. I don’t really have a signal yet; I just follow my foster dog sister’s routine and it works out great.

I received a favorable report at the vet this week. My ears looked good, my teeth, looked very good, and my organs all appear to be functioning well. On the down, but manageable side, I am being treated for a common intestinal parasite, and, horrors, I need to go on a diet and slim down from my current 85 pound weight. Foster mom said that she and I will work on trimming our waistlines together. I have an appointment to be spayed the first week of May. 

My foster dog sister, Willow, and I get along really well. I liked her from the start, and appreciate how she is showing me the ropes. I also met a small Maltese who came to visit. She was nice too, but kind of loud. I have a feeling the dogs I meet sense my gentle & amiable disposition. I will let you know what I think of cats when I meet one.

At a Glance #14-068

Golden Retriever Born: December 2006
Female 80 lbs

Status: Adopted

Profile

 

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Entered Foster Care Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
4/1/2014 Required Unknown Required Unknown
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

Hi there! My name is Bess 14-068. I am a 7 year old former breeding dog who retired from the farm less than two weeks ago. Let me tell you, I love my new life of leisure. I live in the Twin Cities now, with my foster mom and my foster golden retriever sister. Just 9 months ago, my foster dog sister came from the same farm that I did, when it was her turn to retire.

Foster mom marvels at my quiet, can-do attitude. Many things about living in a house are new to me, but I take it all in stride. My favorite part about my new house is that there are dog beds in every room. I have my choice of which comfy bed to relax in, and believe me, I take full advantage of this. Since I used to live in an outdoor kennel, foster mom was fully prepared to spend time potty training me. But I already had this figured out, and have had zero accidents since I arrived. I don’t really have a signal yet; I just follow my foster dog sister’s routine and it works out great.

I received a favorable report at the vet this week. My ears looked good, my teeth, looked very good, and my organs all appear to be functioning well. On the down, but manageable side, I am being treated for a common intestinal parasite, and, horrors, I need to go on a diet and slim down from my current 85 pound weight. Foster mom said that she and I will work on trimming our waistlines together. I have an appointment to be spayed the first week of May. 

My foster dog sister, Willow, and I get along really well. I liked her from the start, and appreciate how she is showing me the ropes. I also met a small Maltese who came to visit. She was nice too, but kind of loud. I have a feeling the dogs I meet sense my gentle & amiable disposition. I will let you know what I think of cats when I meet one.

Updates

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Happy Mother’s Day from me, Bess 14-068!

So much has happened since I last submitted an update. Here are some highlights:

- Although it is not required, I am happy to say that I like my crate, and will go in it on my own when asked to do so.

- I am fine being on my own for 6-8 hours. 

- I was spayed last week, and did wonderfully. My recovery has been easy so far, just a little itchy.

- I am being treated for an ear infection. No bigs.

- I like toys, and almost always greet foster mom with one in my mouth. I will also gently release the toy when foster mom catches me trying to take it outside.

- While I still resist getting into my foster mom’s Honda Pilot, I easily hopped into and out of another RAGOM volunteer’s Subaru wagon. It might have something to do with the height of the vehicle. Once I’m inside, I rest comfortably on the seat or the floor.

One week ago I met the person who is well on her way to being the love of my life – my forever mom! Oh man, have I hit the jackpot!! She took me for a short walk earlier today, and I did okay. To be honest, it was a little weird being away from my security zone aka foster mom’s home, and I was pretty nervous. But I hope we do it again soon so I can build up some stamina and bond with my new BFF. I look forward to joining her household soon.

Based on the stormy weather the last few weeks, foster mom is confident that I am not stressed during thunderstorms. This is not the case with the resident dog here; she gets downright neurotic during storms. This update includes a photo of me hopping in the tub to comfort Willow, the resident dog. You see, one of the resident dog’s safe spots during storms is the bathtub. When I found her there, I jumped in too. Believe me, I’ve never been anxious to hop in the tub, until I saw my nervous doggy friend in need of support.

That’s all for now. This is former momma dog Bess 14-068 signing off, and saying Happy Mother’s Day to all.

Monday, April 28, 2014

 

Top Ten of Things I Love About Bess 14-068

10. I appreciate the way that Bess eats her kibble – not too fast, not too slow, just steady (and neatly, a definite plus).

9. Bess is a big fan of toys – bones, plush, balls, Kongs – she loves them all. More often than not, Bess can be found with a toy in her mouth, and so far, she is super gentle with them.

8. I love how Bess responds to hearing her name – it started with a small tail wag when I said her name, then a bigger tail wag, and has developed into coming when she is called. Well, most of the time anyway. Such a good girl!

7. Zero accidents for this former outdoor living gal. Nope, not one.

6. Bess earns a blue ribbon for her patience – whether it is sitting nicely to be groomed, waiting for me to open the door to go outside, or waiting her turn to receive a treat, Bess is calm and polite.

5. Bess has learned to like hanging out in her crate. At first, the crate seemed pretty weird to Bess. Now when I say that it is time to “kennel up and go in your house”, she trip traps right in. Sometimes I find her chilling in her crate when it is not required.

4. The few small episodes of mischief actually make me smile, because I think they are a result of Bess’ confidence growing. The episodes? Stealing shoes and slippers, and taking them to her pillow. Although she always graciously surrenders the items, the easier fix is to keep them out of Bess’ reach.

3. Bess is learning to like treats! While she never begs for them, she is joining the other pups when they all earn a treat. At first Bess would retreat to the other room when treats were being distributed. Now she is learning that treats are pretty yummy, and receiving one is not scary at all.

2. Confidence, confidence, confidence!

1. The number one thing I love about Bess is observing how her heart has opened up. Bess is learning to be a typical Golden who just wants to be with her people and show them gentle affection. An appreciative lick on the hand from Bess is huge from this formerly quite reticent lady. Bess is going to be an awesome addition to a relatively calm household with an older dog confident dog to take cues from.