Jake

Hi Joyce,

Here is our story about Jake. Feel free to edit if it's too long but there just seemed to be so much to say about Jake.

We got Jake or should I say Jake's foster Mom found us for Jake around Labor Day of last year. I certainly wasn't looking for a Senior citizen but... we got an email about a well mannered, fun loving 11 years young Golden named Jake. Thought about it and after several emails decided we'd go check him out.. although we already had a new bed and leash in the car just in case :) It was love at first sight for us but maybe not our resident dog - a 15 lb little brat named Bear. He had been alone for over 2 years since our other dog passed and had gotten used to all our attention. Jake, always the gentleman was very patient and tolerant of Bear. We took him home and I couldn't believe how well he fit into our family. He was our first Golden and truly represented the breed well. He enjoyed going out and helping me with my barn chores. Sometimes a little more than I would have liked. My husband said that Jake thought the small manure spreader was just the right height and that it was a buffet set out for him :) I could have done without some of his help! After a couple of weeks he even won over the little brat Bear. Imagine my surprise one morning to find them rolling on the floor together with almost all of Bear's head in Jake's mouth! Play growling, Bear taking off and running circles around Jake and then laying down in front of Jake so he could slobber him some more. I laughed until I cried. For the next 10 months life was good. Jake was always a great dog, although Bear did teach him a few bad habits like barking at the birds, cats or absolutely nothing at times! His last 3 weeks were difficult for all of us. He started having seizures one day and ended up not being able to walk for awhile. He was started on medicine and started doing better walking and even played with Bear a couple of times. We carried him in and out on his bed to go outside and for his vet appointments when he was having a bad day walking. Everyone laughed and said that he looked like a king being carried on his throne! Since he was close to 90 lbs it was a good thing my husband and I had strong backs!After talking to multiple vets it was determined that the seizures were brought on by a brain tumor. Even though we were controlling the seizures we couldn't control the tumor. We struggled with the decision of when it was best for Jake to cross the Rainbow Bridge. As always, Jake took care of me and let me know when he was ready. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge peacefully on July 31st with all of his family by his head letting him know how much we loved him and how grateful we were to have had him in our lives. He will forever be missed.

Hi, Jake here. Well, someone finally decided a gentleman aged 11 going on about 7 was the one they needed to join their family of Mom, Dad, human sister Liz, furrbutt brother Bear, a couple horses, a goat and 4 cats!!! So, after a few phone calls and emails with my foster mom the family came with Bear and it was mutual love at first sight.....well not so much with Bear...but it's getting better.

After a few hours of playing, going for a walk, talking, showing them how well I played with my foster sister, and how I was trying to get along with Bear, it was decided I should go home with them. Here I am with my new family, Jamie holding Bear, Don and Liz.

I've made friends with the cats at my new home and I love to go out to the barn. There is so much space and new smells - well, I'm just so busy and so happy to have found my Forever Family and Home. See, another example of thinking you want a younger guy, but in the end, the charm, manners and sweet disposition won them over:) Thanks Kris, Bob and RAGOM!

Love, Jake

Hi, Gentleman Jake here. Well, I enjoyed my mini vacation at another foster mom/dad's house and was told I was a good boy. Probably a good thing my foster mom didn't have access to internet while in TX or she'd have been on it daily for updates on how I was doing. Anyway, was good to get back and see Reba (resident Golden) and the cats...yep even the cats :) But since we are approaching fall I would guess there are more prospective families out there now seriously looking for a new family member. Therefore, I felt perhaps since there are only so many ways to tell you how wonderful I am (according to my mom) I would have my qualifications listed so you can do a quick sweep, and hopefully it will help my forever family out there realize I'm the man for the job.

Loving, loving and loving...Friendly...Gets along with all people of all ages...Enjoys dog and feline company...Will initiate play with dog/cat, but if not interested will leave them alone...Will referee cat tussles...Very, very undemanding...Enjoys walks - day or night, walks very nicely on flat leash, does not pull...Will come when called (99% of time)...Likes car/van rides...Great table manners and does not drool water all over...Takes treats very nicely (all fingers are safe)...Good about grooming - brushing, nail clipping, ear cleaning - baths are ok once in a great while...Not a ball chaser, but will bat a ball around to play a bit...Loves chew toys, but never chews things that are not appropriate...Does not "flip your hand" to get you to pet...Loves to rough house a bit...Would be good in pretty much any home enviroment: older person(s), family w/children, single person, with or without other dogs or cats...Will sit, down, & shake...Can hear very well...Does NOT act like an 11 year old (what's in a number, am young at heart and have many years left to love and bring joy to whomever would give me a forever home)...Not a big barker, but if someone else barks will join in or if someone comes to door - barks with tail wagging and waits for them to come in...Does NOT jump or counter surf...Does NOT jump on furniture...Will come up on bed IF invited, but is not a bed hog, does not snore and shares space with other dog and cats...Still is Velcro dog in sense if mom leaves the room, has to go with...Does NOT care for lawn mower...Is good overall with storms...Does not beg for food (well most of the time)...Has oodles of love and companionship left to share with forever family...Would like to share my Golden years with someone to love me and know I'll always be there for you...And of course, last but not least......I am totally house trained, no accidents and really just kinda "bug" you til you ask me to go out:) And finally, my one and only little less than perfect thing is this.....if a truck whips by, I like to run along the grass and bark at him, and if someone stops in the street, I'd like to go out and see them, so we're working on understanding that is not acceptable. Hey, I'm not perfect...just real close :)

So, if you are looking for a gentleman with the above qualifications, I'd say you found him......ME!! I am undemanding, but that doesn't mean I don't want or need attention....we all do. So feel free to contact Placement@ragom.org for a visit.

I look forward to hearing from you. Gentleman Jake

Jake has been visiting here for the past week while his foster family is on vacation. When his foster mom dropped him off she was a little stressed out and Jake (the sensitive guy that he is) was also showing a little stress (drooling a little). However, when his foster mom left he decided that he didn't have a problem staying after all. He took note that my three dogs, GSD/Golden, Shih Tzu/Lhasa and Shih Tzu, were settling in for their afternoon nap and joined them. It was all downhill from there. I wasn't around when we finally got a storm, so all I can say is that I know he's not destructive and doesn't have lasting physical signs after storms are over. He was loose in my house with my other dogs during the storm.

Jake adapted to the house like he'd lived here his entire life. My furkids eat only once a day here and Jake hasn't minded that routine. He potties when the rest of them do (and squats almost always) and hasn't had any accidents. He loves to play with my husband in the evenings when we are all sitting around. Jake loves to be talked to and scruffed around his neck and chest. It's pretty cute the way he interacts and comes up when you want to have fun with him. He's fun to walk with and does this cute bounce to tell you how excited he is. He is fine meeting other dogs while on walks, in fact he lets my 7# Shih Tzu have her way all the time. No competition from him, he's a true lover.

Jake is not at all demanding and waits for you to make suggestions about what to do, then he jumps in and is all for doing what you want. My dogs don't initiate play and he hasn't initiated play with them. They all just hang out together. Jake's foster mom will be home in a couple days and it will be hard to give him up. Of course, I am not adverse to helping him find his forever home and saving his foster mom from having to cry a bucket of tears when he leaves. He's just that kind of dog, he really gets to you. My home is just out of the metro area if you want to visit him while he's still here.

Hi Everyone,

Jake here. Wow it's been busy around here and I'm feeling comfortable enough to finally show a little giddy up and go. The 5 year old from next door came over and I passed the "kid test"...no matter what is done to me I am good.

I actually like to "mess around" with a tennis ball a bit now. If you throw it up I'll try to catch it, but forget chasing or bringing it back...too much work :) I'm trying to play with the resident (Reba) but guess she's a bit miffed since I rejected her overtures to play when I first got here. I love sleeping on the bed and sometimes when my human foster sister comes home late, I go down and sleep with her, so now they know if I'm not around that's where I am.

We were supposed to get thunderstorms, but none appeared so we still don't know how I will react to them. My foster family is going on vacation and so I get to go stay with a really neat foster family that doesn't live too far from here. She knows lots about storm anxiety, so I'll be in good paws :)

I have found if the cat is out by the field and I go run after him, all he does is sit there and look at me...kinda takes the fun outta anything that could've been a good run :) Not sure what I'd do if he did run, anyway. I am feeling good enough to get out and kick up my heels. I'm very friendly, so as the kids go by to go out and ride bikes in the field I want to go with them for a good run. I did find out I am not supposed to try and go into the street to greet the milk man's truck :( So we are working on the boundary thing. But I am really good about coming when called. I still like to follow my foster mom around and if she's not home then I follow whoever's here, but I don't pester them for a lot of attention. I am a happy-go-lucky kinda guy, eat well, run a bit, go for walks...oh, the scents out there....and I'm good on my leash, I've never had an accident in the house, not a big barker, but now that I feel at home here, if I see someone or some dog go by, I'll tell them I know they're out there.

My mom is worried about me going to another foster home for about 9 days because I am finally comfortable here and feeling safe and secure and she's worried I may feel abandoned again. But I'll be strong and a good boy. But in case you are still thinking about bringing a new family member in, think about me. I may be older, but I am great company, I love to walk (and boy do I need the exercise) and I'm good with kids, cats, heck I'm an all around good guy with lots more years left to enjoy life. Oh yeah, my blood work came back normal....see, I'm pretty healthy. We'll send in new pictures as soon as someone, no names please, can find the camera. I'll be waiting to hear from you.

Jake

Hello everyone, Jake here.

Well, I've been in St Cloud now for 2 1/2 days. I am finally feeling comfortable enough to try and get the resident old girl to play a bit. Feeling a bit frisky. I love to be out, so if anyone's heading out, I'm there.

I went to the vet yesterday and my lyme, heartworm and fecal tests came back Negative!!! Hooray. I'm in pretty good shape for an older gentleman, and still have some kick left in me. I'm fine with the cats.....just ignore 'em! Will see what my bloodwork says about me in a couple of days.

Since no one really knows anything about me, my foster mom called and found out that I am not good with thunderstorms. So today we were to get storms, so I spent half the day in a bathroom with no windows and music playing. My foster Dad came home after lunch and a little rain (so much for the forecast) and found I had done Nothing Bad!!! Messed up the rug to make it more comfortable, that's all.

I am eating good, like to be out and play but being I'm a bit, ok a lot over weight, my stamina isn't up to snuff. I weighed in at 89 lbs. Yikes!! Am eating low fat food, whatever that means, and walking a little, running after Reba (resident Golden) a little, and bascially just hanging out.

I've decided I could go to a home with or without another furrbutt resident (dog), cats are ok, kids seem to be ok, but I really haven't been around any little ones here (these people are too old for little kids) so not sure - about like 5 and under. Guess I'll need to spend more time with the 5 year old next door.....she's the dog manners tester.

I love to be petted, scratched etc., but I'm not demanding, I stay in the yard, I come when called, I sit for my food, I don't jump, I love to lie out in the grass and just listen to nature. I am guessing I wouldn't make a good hunting dog, but I'd love to be part of your family, a companion, someone to walk with, someone you can talk to and know I'll keep it all between us. Please don't let the number 11 (my age) scare you away....I've still got a lot of life to live yet. I have already had 2 homes/owners and as much as I'm ok here with my foster family, I'm at the point in my life where I just want my forever, Forever home - no more a few years here and a few more there. So if you would like to share my Golden years with a gentleman, I'm your guy - sweet, quiet, not a barker, but a lover. Email Placement@ragom.org. I'll wait for the right family....... Jake