Sam

Sam’s personality has blossomed over the last month we’ve had him. He is very snuggly and thinks he is a 60-pound lap dog if you sit on the floor with him. He makes us laugh when he carries his toys around, grumbles when he gets excited, and climbs on top of you for pets. He loves car rides; however he will demand that the window gets rolled down for him so he can stick his head out if you’re going under 45 mph - he knows every time I slow down and starts to whine.

We have discovered that he loves stuffed toys, however he will destroy them very quickly so chewy toys with no stuffing is the way to go. Outside he loves playing fetch and rolling in the grass. 

In the house Sam likes following us around and laying down near us while we do our tasks (he’s lying below my chair as I write this). Sam has free roam of our house now and is always sleeping in my bedroom when I come home, he has not gotten into anything or destroyed anything while left home alone!

Sam has become a popular guy at the vet as well and have been a few times to manage infections and allergies. His infections are 100% gone now!! Sam will need continued care for his allergies as he gets very uncomfortable when they are left untreated. 

Sam is an 8-year-old Golden Retriever who came to RAGOM as an owner surrender due to changing life circumstances. He is a sweet, easygoing guy who is happiest simply being around his people. Sam is relatively independent, he likes to be near you, but he is also perfectly content to wander into another room and relax on his own. He is a low-energy guy who enjoys his walks, especially stopping to put his big nose to work! He has typically been taking two 20–30-minute walks each day, but he has also been perfectly happy with just one evening walk. He isn’t much of a player; what Sam really enjoys is being with his people and getting some affection. 

Sam is completely house trained and lets you know he needs to go out by whining and walking toward the door. He knows his basic commands, although he can be a little stubborn and is much more motivated to listen when treats are involved! Sam crates very well and is comfortable spending the day in his crate while his foster is at work. Even when his foster is home, he will sometimes choose to go into his crate on his own to relax. Sam has done well with unfamiliar people coming into his foster home and was also completely unfazed by workers coming in and out of the house, choosing to lie down and sleep. At the vet, he was a champ—friendly with everyone and content to lie at his foster’s feet while the vet and foster talked.

Sam does have one important food-related boundary that his future family should understand. He is comfortable with people being near him while he eats, but he will growl if he is touched while eating. His foster has not experienced other resource guarding while he has been in RAGOM’s care, but his eating space should be respected, and he should be allowed to enjoy his meals without being touched or disturbed. Sam has done well with cats and simply ignores them, even when they are nearby. He previously lived with toddlers and reportedly had no issues with them, although he has not been around children while in RAGOM’s care.

With dogs, Sam does have a preference about personal space. He does not like dogs his size or larger getting into his space, so his future family will need to be mindful of his boundaries around other larger dogs. On leash Sam barks at other dogs and wants to go say hi to them, but he can be redirected with treats. 

Sam’s first veterinary visit revealed allergies that have resulted in secondary infections of his skin, eyes, and ears when left untreated. When his allergies flare, he can become extremely red and inflamed and develop infections. If his allergies persist, he may need continued medication to keep them under control, so his future family should be prepared to continue working with their veterinarian on his allergy management.

Despite these considerations, Sam has been a wonderful foster and is showing us what a loving, laid-back companion he can be. His ideal home will be one that appreciates a calm, low-energy dog who enjoys leisurely walks, sniffing adventures, car rides, and simply hanging out with his people. His family will need to respect his boundaries around food and larger dogs and be prepared to stay on top of his allergy care. In return, Sam will give you his companionship, plenty of cuddles, and a wonderfully relaxed presence in your home.