Kelsey

So, guess what? Miss Kelsey 14-075 was adopted by the most wonderful family! She went to her forever home last week and now enjoys the company of a human mom, a human dad, and a 14-month-old Golden Retriever sister named Applesauce. And Kelsey now goes by the name Corduroy – a name that she is responding to rather quickly. Congrats, darling girl!!

Kelsey 14-075 continues to grow and thrive, and she delights in being a pet dog after so many years of living in a breeding facility.  And, I’ll let you in on a little secret…Kelsey can be funny!

Since her last update, I’ve seen Kelsey’s confidence grow slowly, but surely.  It is not always a steady gain – some weeks she may have a few fearful days, followed by several days of being a happy, confident girl.  I have not been able to determine any pattern to her behavior, so I just keep my expectations in check, while not coddling her.  A consistent and steady approach seems to work best with Kelsey.

Kelsey has had the pleasure of joining the golden crew at Patty L’s house (another RAGOM volunteer) when family commitments have required me to travel overnight.  Each time I bring her to Aunt Patty’s, it feels like I’m delivering a slightly different dog.  While Kelsey’s sweetness and  gentle nature always remain intact, the literal and figurative spring in her step keeps growing more prominent.  Gone are the days when she would resist getting into (what was probably) the big, scary car, and then cower in the corner.  AT Aunt Patty’s, Kelsey plays in the yard with toys and pups alike, and demonstrates appropriate behaviors.

Kels appeared to be down in the dumps when resident dog Willow 13-137 left to visit grandma and grandpa earlier this week.  I was pleased to see her attitude improve when 3 other dogs arrived to visit us for a few weeks.  It is wonderful to see Kelsey join the lineup/competition for treats, scratches, and overall attention, and she peacefully lounges alongside our canine company (my house is less active than Aunt Patty’s).

When I am away and Kels is home alone, before leaving, I lead her to her crate and she walks right in.  Then she hangs out with the crate door secured until I return.  When I’m gone and both golden girls are here, they have earned free roam of the first floor.  Either way, Kelsey is amiable and respectful.

One other development of note, Miss Kelsey barks.  Of course most all dogs bark, but I did not hear Kelsey make a peep for many weeks after she arrived in June.  Now I hear Kelsey most often when she sees/hears me exit the detached garage and walk towards the house.  Sometimes she also follows Willow’s lead and barks when someone knocks on the door.

Finally, in recent months, Kelsey has participated in not one, not two, but three RAGOM Meet & Greet events.  Each time, Kelsey appears more comfortable with all the new and different things she encounters at these gatherings.  I am so proud of her!  And I am confident that Kelsey is ready to meet her forever family.  This environment will include a calm person/household who has a fenced-in yard and at least one confident resident dog for her to take cues from.    Be warned – Kelsey will melt your heart!!

Oh my goodness, I believe that I saw Kelsey 14-075 SMILE for the first time this evening!! It was so precious and especially warmed my heart because it happened when I walked into the room. Oh, darling girl, you know how to make a foster mom smile.

One might also think that Kelsey was smiling because she knew we were going to attend Goldzilla this weekend. Unfortunately, we have a previous commitment that day, but we strongly encourage everyone to check it out. Goldzilla is a blast!!

Kelsey WILL be attending the RAGOM Meet n Greet in Edina this Saturday, Sept. 13. If you’d like to see her smile in person, stop by to meet this sweet, sensitive gal.

It is a great day to be a RAGOM Golden Retriever! With the successful rummage sale in August and Goldzilla coming up on September 14, the dogs are blessed to have so many people come out and show their support for these beautiful creatures. Kelsey 14-075 hopes to meet you at an event soon!

Kelsey 14-075 continues to adjust to life as a happy-go-lucky pet dog. As you may recall, sweet Kelsey had a pretty rough start in life, with a rigorous full-time job having puppies at a facility in SD. From what I understand, Kelsey did not have the chance to bond with humans or enjoy the comforts of life as a doted-on dog until this summer (2014).

What difference a season makes! I am pleased to report that Kelsey continues to make progress adjusting to life as a RAGOM dog. You can see her confidence grow little by little and her fears subsiding since her rescue in June. For example, fixtures in my home (e.g. leaving a vacuum cleaner out) used to freak her out. Now, she might initially hesitate before cautiously walking around it; but then, after a few times walking past the vacuum, she appears oblivious and will trot right past it.

Kelsey has become a tail-wagging sweetie! I know, you may be thinking that all dogs wag their tails, right? But Kels didn’t have much to be happy about before becoming a RAGOM dog, and I’m not sure she ever did (wag her tail). Now it warms my heart to observe a little tail wag most every time I say her name.

Within the last month, Kelsey started accepting my nightly invitation to join Willow 13-137 and me to sleep on the bed. Once she relaxed, it was clear that she really liked it on the soft mattress. Kelsey may even enjoy this resting place better than the dog beds strewn around the house. I will often find her sprawled on top of the bed outside of normal sleeping hours. With this said, sometimes I close the bedroom door during the day and Kels seems fine with finding other places to “chillax.” She also still calmly lays down in her kennel, which is where she stays when she is home alone.

Like many dogs, it is not Kelsey’s favorite thing to have her paws touched. I make a point of gently caressing at least her front paws every day. And, I am pleased to report that Kelsey’s first home pedicure went extremely well. While I’ve never seen Kels exhibit the slightest bit of aggression in any context, I expected she might try hard to remove her paws from my grasp. But Kelsey was patient and gentle during this process.

Here is a reminder of things that Kelsey needs to help her develop into the best dog that she can be:

1. A fenced-in yard
2. A happy, confident dog in the household to take cues from
3. A relatively quiet and calm environment
4. Adult(s) only, or kids over age 10 (dog savvy) or 12 years old

Please contact your Placement Advisor if you would like to learn more about Kelsey 14-075.

There are so many wonderful updates to share about sweet Kelsey 14-075.  Where to start?  Well, I think we’ll just dive right in.

Spay Surgery & Overall Health

Kelsey’s spay procedure at the end of June, and subsequent recovery, was easy peasy.  The vet considered it a routine procedure, which is especially good with retired breeders like Kelsey.  In addition, the vet took the opportunity to repair an umbilical hernia that Kelsey was likely born with.  Eventually Kelsey would benefit from having her teeth cleaned due to normal wear and tear (no extractions necessary). 

Kelsey is on the thin side, was treated for a minor yeast infection in her left infection, and was/is parasite free.  You may recall reading that sometime before being rescued by RAGOM, Kelsey sustained an injury to her nose.  The vet examined her nose and determined it best to just leave it alone.   The wound healed well enough, and does not impede Kelsey’s breathing or cause her discomfort (not to our knowledge anyway). 

The SUV

Hurrah!  Kelsey’s initial fear of hopping into my SUV did not last long.  After a weekend of practice sessions with resident dog Willow showing her the ropes, Kelsey now hops in without hesitation – often before Willow, and even on her own.  Kelsey is calm in the car, and seems to prefer the floor section of the backseat.

Sweet and lovely Kelsey 14-075 had the very best start to learning to live the Golden Life. This lucky girl began her transition to becoming a happy-go-lucky pet dog in the home of RAGOM volunteer, Mary. Thank you, Mary, for showing Kelsey such love and kindness! Kelsey is well on her way.

Kelsey has made such strides since she arrived here about two weeks ago. Our household consists of resident dog, Willow, and me. This relatively quiet arrangement with a confident (and a little goofy) resident dog to take cues from is a good fit. We cheer for Kelsey’s victories and give her space and time when she needs it.

Kelsey received a solid health report during her wellness exam last week. The vet confirmed that this petite girl weighs about 60 pounds. She is up-to-date on all her vaccines and preventatives and is now microchipped as well. Now that her breeding days are over, eight-year-old Kelsey will be spayed on 6/26.

Miss Kelsey had a “spa day” on Tuesday. The appointment consisted of a bath, nail trim, minor haircut, and ear cleaning. While Kelsey agreed to hop in the tub at home, she was pretty nervous about the hand held sprayer. So I chose to leave the more thorough scrub-a-dub to the pros who have all the right equipment and more than one person to help. Kelsey looks, feels, and smells fantastic!

When Kelsey is scared, she tends to drop to the ground and freeze. Kelsey’s fear does not come out in the form of aggression or snapping. When we are outside and planes fly overhead (MSP airport is maybe 10 miles away), initially, Kelsey could have been part of a public service announcement featuring the “duck-and-cover” maneuver. Now, Kels takes this overhead noise in stride and barely looks up.

Kelsey did not seem to know what either toys or treats were when she first arrived. Now, she has taken an interest in both, which is super nice to see. Kelsey is content to wait her turn to be given a treat, and then sniffs it thorough before eating it. She is also happy to share toys with the resident dog. It makes me smile to see Kelsey toss a fleece toy in the air and hear her gnaw on a bone.

Time, patience, and confidence-building support are the three key components to Kelsey becoming the amazing pet dog that I know she can be. RAGOM volunteers who have met Kelsey say that she is a joy to be around...and she is. Kelsey is so darn sweet and loyal and loving in her own way. As she continues to experience life outside the barn, Kelsey 14-075 will continue to blossom.