Tanner rode great crated in the Suburban and didn't bark once until we stopped.  When he heard the other dogs, he started barking and wagging his tail and wanted to get out.  That's all on him so far...

After three weeks in a boarding kennel, a drive from the kennel to inside the Iowa border (thanks to Theresa), another trip from Iowa to Mankato (thanks to Michelle and Robert, who also took Molly from the Iowa kennel, and another trip from Mankato to Eden Prairie, Tanner is here!  A lovable, young (1-1/2 years), friendly, neutered male.  He was always an outside dog, chained up :( I will never understand why people get a puppy and chain it up outside. Anyway as soon as he learns some house manners, he will make some family a wonderful friend.

Tanner is a friendly, energetic, young, large male who needs someone to love him and work with him to teach him what a golden's life should be.  His story is the perfect example of why RAGOM does not adopt to people who keep their dogs outside.  This poor boy was purchased by his previous family as a puppy.  He was left outside on a farm with a doghouse.  He was given very little attention, no training on general manners, and when he would see people, he would get so excited, and jump up on them.  At the tender age of 18 months the family got rid of him because they couldn't handle him and he would knock over the kids.

Tanner has only been with us now for two days and at this point he is a bit of a handful.  Never having been in a house before this is all a new experience for him.  Luckily, outside does seem to be his preferred bathroom place. :) He doesn't know how to tell us he has to go outside yet, but outside is a natural bathroom place for him.  He kennels quietly after a few minutes and sleeps quietly throughout the night.  He respects our chain link fence and doesn't try to jump it, in fact he even respects the baby gates in the kitchen, which he could easily get over if he wanted to.  He is getting used to the gentle leader, but still paws at it, though this will get better.

If this boy was a female, I would name him Eliza Doolittle.  He is a little rough around the edges right now, but with consistent training, love and attention, will turn into a gem of a dog.  He has a very golden temperament. I have not seen one snarl or growl.  I can take away food, toys, I even took a rock out of his mouth today.  He loves to play with my two dogs and enjoys people attention and petting.  His intake papers say that he has no fears, they shot guns off around him and he wasn't scared.  This dog may be a wonderful dog for someone who wants to train an energetic young dog to be a pet and hunting companion.  This boy deserves a new chance at a golden life full of attention and love.

Tanner is a real lovebug and still a puppy at heart.  He is energetic, playful and loves to be petted.  We have been going on daily walks and have stopped to visit kids along the way.  He loves the attention and being petted.  He walks very nicely on the leash even without the gentle leader.  He still paws at the gentle leader so I tried walking without it and was very pleasantly surprised at how nicely he walked without pulling.  If he does get out ahead of me, I stop and he turns around, walks back to me and we start going again.  He loves playing with my dogs, though he is a bit bigger and stronger than they are (mine are only about 55 pounds).  Tanner went to the vet this week and is very healthy.  He shows absolutely no aggression, respects my baby gates in the house and lays quietly in the kennel at night.  We are still working on the housebreaking.  He goes outside almost all the time, but we have had a couple of accidents.  Since he was always an outside dog, he is learning that outside is the right place and inside is not.

Tanner is looking for a family that will give him lots of attention and love.  He would do best with a family that has time to give him some obedience training and lots of exercise.  I haven't had him around cats yet so don't know how he would do with a cat.  I do know when he sees a rabbit or squirrel outside he is ready for the chase.  Probably chased a lot of rabbits and squirrels on the farm.  We started some clicker training this week.  Now when he hears the clicker he comes running, he knows it is training and treat time.  He is starting to sit to be petted instead of jumping.  All in all a very positive week.  If you are looking for a young, energetic, happy, friendly, lovebug, who would love to be a member of your family, this guy's for you.

Tanner is an 18-month old puppy who loves attention and doggy playing with my 18-month old female.  This week we went to the RAGOM meeting where he got to meet everybody and get lots of attention.  He was a very happy camper.  We go for 3-mile walks every morning and he sleeps in his kennel while I am at work.  He is friendly and affectionate with absolutely no aggression.  He doesn't realize that he is 75 pounds and thinks he is a lap dog.  He also likes to jump up to be petted, though we make him sit before he can be petted, so he is improving there too.  We are still working on the housebreaking.  He usually makes it 3 - 4 days and then we might have an accident.  He hasn't figured out that he is supposed to tell us if he has to go to outside.  He sleeps in the kitchen at night with no accidents and in his kennel all day with no accidents.  Tanner is looking for a family that will give him lots of love and attention and have the time for some consistent positive training.  He will give back much more in his total devotion to you.

Tanner went to his new home today.  He came a long way in the three weeks we had him.  He is a smart, lovable, velcro golden who should thrive in his new environment.  His new family will have lots of time to devote to continuing Tanner's training.  They have already bought clickers and are checking out Cloud Nine for his obedience training.  After he becomes well settled into their home, they may want to get a second dog from RAGOM so he can have a playmate.  Way to go Tanner!

Hi!

It was so good to hear that someone is still thinking about 'Tanner'. I just cannot tell you enough how great he is. He is the most loving creature you can imagine. He was the biggest challenge I've ever had, but he was so eager to please, that  training him was not a chore. He even learned to jump through a hula hoop and loves to play hide and seek.

The picture of Uber trying to climb my son's bookcase, was early on in his time with us, I think. He loved my son's old stuffed dog toy, and would do anything to get at it. (Please excuse the look of my then teen-age son's room!)

I forgot to tell you how much Uber loved fresh fruits & vegetables! I had to fence in my garden because he would steal the ripest tomatoes, green beans, raspberries, beets, etc.

Well, I could go on and on, but I hope the pictures help.

Thank you so much for all the work you and the rest of RAGOM do with these dogs. They mean so much to those of us who get to adopt them.

With sincerest appreciation,

Carol