Bessie 20-173
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Updates
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Bessie is continuing to learn how to relax and enjoy the Golden life after living a long and restrictive life in a commercial breeding facility. Bessie is now in the Twin Cities area and getting to know and understand a second RAGOM home with two resident dogs and a resident cat.
Bessie is very gentle. She is bashful, but is so interested in everything going on around her which increases daily. She is very quiet until you go to bed, and then she gives out a little bark, as if to say, "Hey, where did everybody go?" Then she chews on her antler for a while before she goes to sleep and waits patiently until the next morning to go outside and run with the resident dogs.
Bessie has full roam of the house, even while I'm at work which can be eight hours, and there has been absolutely no problem. She does look for confidence from my resident boys, but will go outside and come back in without them. Bessie also is a good leash walker and does enjoy car rides.
Bessie would do well with an adopter that has a calm home - not necessarily quiet, but a calmer environment so she can continue to grow and be comfortable. Bessie will not be a burden to the family or to your resident dogs or cats. She doesn't guard her food or her toys. She is as sweet as you can imagine and just needs a chance to be a part of a forever home.
Sunday, January 24, 2021
A new year for our Bessie, breeding-free -- forever. Nothing but a real Golden life from this time forward. It will only get better now. I am sure she is thankful the holidays are over! But she got through it okay.
She is getting nice and trim now from a better diet and walks. I discovered with her that the faster you walk, the less she has time to be concerned about anything else. So, we walk at a fairly fast pace, and it goes great.
Yet, there are things like when we walked by a parked vehicle and a bunch of birds underneath flew up that definitely got her attention. She flattened, but I got her right back on course immediately, and she was fine. What this does actually is teach her to be more and more trusting of me. She is learning I will keep her safe.
She is taking more steps out of her safe area, checking things out and seeing what’s going on. She is always anxious to see if one or both of our boys want outside! Boy, she is ready and zooms right past me, runs out, then stands there looking at me, as if to say, “See, I made it again! I can do this!”
We still try to take her in the truck with Big Brother Bridger. She does pretty well. She leaves as many wet nose prints as Bridger does! All in all, the rides go pretty well.
Of course, when I change and clean her bedding, she sure notices right away and really checks it out. Boy, anything different gets her attention!
We have a wicker basket of toys with mostly Nylabones, balls, and a couple of soft toys. What I think is interesting is the way Bessie chooses the bones. I will spread them all around, and she will choose a knuckle bone, a Nylabone, a hollow bone, or a large rubber one (she really likes the long, orange one in the photo). Nothing really with any of the soft babies. She just hoards her different bones.
Kneeling by her on the floor and loving her up is such a great feeling. She now likes that and is not nervous much at all anymore. I truly enjoy it! She also does well with my hubby, Tim. He is the only who takes her for the rides in the truck and feeds the gang in the early morning, so she is accustomed to him as well. Such a dolly.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Our Bessie girl is growing more with each passing day. A little more confident all the time.
When weather allows, we go on our walks. She does walk fine by me and has that Golden wiggle butt! There are many new things “out there” to explore and experience. Some things are quite odd, like Christmas yard art. She has been real brave walking by those.
Having other people around is still intimidating, but her courage will come with time, practice, and repetition. I use a harness along with her martingale collar for safety, and it works great. Bessie seems comfortable with it.
I think we can see she has lost some weight. We will know for sure when she goes into the vet this Friday for her spay. Be a blessing when that part of her journey is behind her. Bessie remains very healthy, and her coat is so soft.
She and her buddy, Bridger, remain very good pals. Having a social, happy canine partner does wonders with these girls. Seeing her run and play around in the yard is so heartwarming.
She is such a beautiful delight to foster! RAGOM does so much for these Goldens, and we can really use donations! Would you like to sponsor Bessie? Makes a wonderful holiday gift!
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Bessie came into RAGOM as a retired breeder dog. Her date of birth is 3/23/13. She is currently 70 pounds, and the ideal weight for her would be more like 60 pounds or so.
Bessie has had her initial vet visit and a bath and grooming as well. She did well with both, considering all that she has been through. She is due for her spay on December 18, after which she will be available to adopt.
Bessie does well with our two resident dogs and our cat. She remains shy yet, but is really trying. All in good time.
Bessie will need a calmer home and another medium to large, confident dog. She gets along great with our 2-year-old Doodle and totally ignores our 12-year-old Corgi and our senior kitty. She is a quiet girl and totally OK without a crate now. She needs a family who is very patient and familiar with retired breeder Goldens.
As you can see from her photos, she is one beautiful, auburn-colored Golden girl! Her health is good, and she does not act nor look like 7 years old. She is quick!
She is learning new things each day, from walking around on grass and tiled flooring to doors and new sounds. A very new world to learn. She has adapted to going on car (pickup) rides, too.
As it is common with these girls, she did not eat during her first few days in a new environment. We did find a mixture of food she likes. She has a very soft mouth.
In the short time she has been here, Bessie has already learned to go in and out through the patio door by herself! She and our young Doodle, Bridger, love to chase each other around the yard! There are times, however, when we need to keep the 30-foot leash on her, as she can be stubborn about coming in! Not much, but sometimes.
Are you the right family for this beautiful girl? Willing to put in the work and patience?
Adopt Me: If you think Bessie would be a good fit in your home, please review our adoption process. If you have already submitted an Inquiry for Application, email [email protected] with Bessie's name, RAGOM number (20-173), the name you submitted under, and a sentence or two explaining why you feel your home would be a good match.