Ginger 13-079 [1]

March 29, 2013

It is truly our pleasure to introduce you to Ginger 13-079. Ginger is a beautiful 1 year old Golden Retriever/Lab cross who comes to us from Service Dogs for America, an organization that trains dogs for service work. She is being fostered in Mazeppa, Minnesota. Ginger came into RAGOM with her sibling, Dutchess 13-078, after they were dropped from the service dog training program because of hip dysplasia. She came to RAGOM weighing 66 pounds – Ginger is a big girl. She had her wellness visit with the vet this week. She is in perfect health with the exception of those hips. All the staff at the vet’s office were impressed with how beautiful, calm, and well behaved she was. RAGOM will have a top-notch orthopedic vet evaluate her and take whatever steps are needed to help with her hips before she is adopted.

What gem she is! In the first year of training, Ginger has mastered all the basic commands sit, stay, down, heel, etc. – and many more! The first time her Foster Mom put in a down and sit, FM soon realized she needed to figure out the release command – Ginger was going to stay until released! It turns out the command is “release” – imagine that. Not bad for a 1 year old puppy! We received a long list of commands the service dogs are taught and found out she knows several more. Foster Mom took Ginger to the school where she works to show her off – at the front door, FM gave her a “paws up” command and pointed her to the handicap button beside the door. Bingo! Ginger hit the handicap button and opened the door!

Ginger moved right in with our resident pack that includes our four dogs – she was very respectful and had no issues with any of them. Even the resident grouch dog warmed up to her in about 3 days which is a record for the grouch. So, we are happy to report she is good with other dogs! Last night she got the ultimate test when our Daughter, 20 month-old Granddaughter, and their crew of 3 little dogs came over. Ginger survived the snarls and teeth barring insults from the little dogs with great dignity and discretion. She also endured being bonked on the head, poked, and prodded by a toddler – she answered all that with kisses!

Ginger and her foster siblings Riley and Lily

We are finding Ginger to be a very sweet, laid-back lady. She is totally house trained, crate trained, likes car rides. She has no resource guarding issues. She is quiet – haven’t heard her bark once in the first 5 days. And, she absolutely craves human attention! She loves to chew (on appropriate things so far) – just don’t give her any wimpy things to chew on. Cow leg bones with tasty filling work great!

Who is that doggie in the window?