Phoenix 10-063 [1]

October 29, 2010

Phoenix is one of our black lab, coon hound, golden retriever mixes that was brought into RAGOM last spring (see photos below from the March 2010 updates). Phoenix was adopted out by a loving family but unfortunately Phoenix and one of the little boys did not have a mutual understanding of what was playing and what was not. He did very well with their younger son and would do well with kids.

Phoenix has done a great job getting adjusted to our family. Our resident golden, Nova, and Phoenix have now figured out how to play with each other. We have a fenced in yard and Phoenix loves to be able to go in and out of the house when he wants. His favorite place is to sit out on the deck looking out to the field and just feel the cool breeze blow through his fur. Phoenix has not had any accidents since arriving to our house and is well crate trained. We started off crating him when we leave and at night. He has already earned free roam at night and during the day when we are away about 8 hours and does terrific. We have had him less than a week so we are very impressed with how well he does.

We have taken Phoenix for a few walks and already he has improved. He is a big boy for being 8 months old and I think he will continue to get bigger, so pulling us down the street won't work so well :) We are also working on excited barking- when we get home Phoenix barks at Nova to tell her to settle down, but then continues to bark so that is probably the toughest training piece right now.

Phoenix is not aggressive at all and has shown only love towards anyone and everyone he meets- dog or human. He met a few neighbor kids on our walk and sat down and cried happily-(very vocal dog)- while they petted him...he LOVED it! We will continue working on the puppy basics and would ask that his furever home be willing to do some obedience training with him!