Katie 16-109

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In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:Date PostedFenceKid FriendlyAnother DogCat Friendly6/3/2016 Preferred Age 10+ Optional Yes This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

My husband and I have been very fortunate to currently be fostering a lovely senior golden girl named Katie.  She is 10 years young and will turn 11 years 7/26.  She is 60#.  Blond with frosting. We have 3 cats (older) and 2 other dogs (corgi and a border collie/eskie mix) and a fenced in yard.  Katie came into our care very recently and has adjusted beautifully.  Katie does have typical golden allergies (we are thinking seasonal but do not know for sure).  She is not horribly itchy but does have a granuloma on her rear paw right at the ankle. (use a topical ointment on that). She is on meds (Apoquil) which is 1X a day in her food (she loves to eat and not fussy) and we supplement in the evening right before bed with 2 Benadryl.   [Apoquil works quite well with many dogs with allergies but it does come at a cost .]  She does well all night and is quiet. This seems to be working well for her. 

She responds very well to directions, sits, stays, walks very well on a leash and does fine in a crate and rides in a vehicle fine.  Katie would be fine as an only dog or with another, either I believe would be just fine.  She does really enjoy outside in our fenced yard (she would not do well on tie out at all). 

**She has met 2 of our grandchildren and was fine and no issues at all, however, I do think a family would need to be ‘safe-smart-dog savvy’ with child(ren)/grandchildren around a hot items(treats/bones) and/or food with her.  True for many dogs. She does prefer a quieter home.  She eats fast tho!

Katie is a total delight and love to foster.  She is beautiful, blond and a perfect size J .  We have that lovely ‘aged’ frosting on our face and throughout our light blond feathering.  She really enjoys to play fetch (amazing) and follow you where you go, but not clingy.  Katie is a typical golden where she wants to be where you are and lay near/next to you.  She has really gotten our schedule down even though she has not been with us long.  She respects and does fine with our pack. [Someone who is around more would be better for her-keeping her from licking too much, and she would not do well in a home with someone gone a long time.]  We have currently left her about 4 hours.  We have let her have free roam for short times and all is well. ONE HICCUP:  she LOVES rocks!  For some unknown reason, she is very passionate about rocks, which we have landscaped everywhere.  We are a work in progress on that.  I can take them away, but she likes to go ‘pick them out’ and try to chew them, and sometimes, hauls a couple to a spot so she can get another.  This happens very quickly as she is watched closely outside due to this little feddish!  She will ‘trade’ for a squeaky or cheese, etc. but a family has to be aware of this odd love of big rocks!  She will not grumble when you try to take it away but she does not want to give it up either—just something special about rocks I guess!  Have not found that ‘perfect’ toy yet.  She does enjoy taking toys out of the doggie basket, and seems to be a gentle ‘chewer’ so far.  She has enjoyed some nyla bones as well.

Katie is just beautiful and is going to make someone an outstanding senior companion .  She acts about 6 tops.  Steps are no problem--nothing noted or seen in hips or anything.  We have both hard floors and carpet, either fine. She is plenty active and can do at least a couple walks a day.  She loves kisses and pet and pet and pet.  Really enjoys being brushed/combed.  An all-around LOVELY golden girl!  Cannot say enough about her.  She is One SPECIAL golden girl J

 

 

 

At a Glance #16-109

Golden Retriever Born: July 2005
Female 60 lbs

Status: Deceased

Profile

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:Date PostedFenceKid FriendlyAnother DogCat Friendly6/3/2016 Preferred Age 10+ Optional Yes This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

My husband and I have been very fortunate to currently be fostering a lovely senior golden girl named Katie.  She is 10 years young and will turn 11 years 7/26.  She is 60#.  Blond with frosting. We have 3 cats (older) and 2 other dogs (corgi and a border collie/eskie mix) and a fenced in yard.  Katie came into our care very recently and has adjusted beautifully.  Katie does have typical golden allergies (we are thinking seasonal but do not know for sure).  She is not horribly itchy but does have a granuloma on her rear paw right at the ankle. (use a topical ointment on that). She is on meds (Apoquil) which is 1X a day in her food (she loves to eat and not fussy) and we supplement in the evening right before bed with 2 Benadryl.   [Apoquil works quite well with many dogs with allergies but it does come at a cost .]  She does well all night and is quiet. This seems to be working well for her. 

She responds very well to directions, sits, stays, walks very well on a leash and does fine in a crate and rides in a vehicle fine.  Katie would be fine as an only dog or with another, either I believe would be just fine.  She does really enjoy outside in our fenced yard (she would not do well on tie out at all). 

**She has met 2 of our grandchildren and was fine and no issues at all, however, I do think a family would need to be ‘safe-smart-dog savvy’ with child(ren)/grandchildren around a hot items(treats/bones) and/or food with her.  True for many dogs. She does prefer a quieter home.  She eats fast tho!

Katie is a total delight and love to foster.  She is beautiful, blond and a perfect size J .  We have that lovely ‘aged’ frosting on our face and throughout our light blond feathering.  She really enjoys to play fetch (amazing) and follow you where you go, but not clingy.  Katie is a typical golden where she wants to be where you are and lay near/next to you.  She has really gotten our schedule down even though she has not been with us long.  She respects and does fine with our pack. [Someone who is around more would be better for her-keeping her from licking too much, and she would not do well in a home with someone gone a long time.]  We have currently left her about 4 hours.  We have let her have free roam for short times and all is well. ONE HICCUP:  she LOVES rocks!  For some unknown reason, she is very passionate about rocks, which we have landscaped everywhere.  We are a work in progress on that.  I can take them away, but she likes to go ‘pick them out’ and try to chew them, and sometimes, hauls a couple to a spot so she can get another.  This happens very quickly as she is watched closely outside due to this little feddish!  She will ‘trade’ for a squeaky or cheese, etc. but a family has to be aware of this odd love of big rocks!  She will not grumble when you try to take it away but she does not want to give it up either—just something special about rocks I guess!  Have not found that ‘perfect’ toy yet.  She does enjoy taking toys out of the doggie basket, and seems to be a gentle ‘chewer’ so far.  She has enjoyed some nyla bones as well.

Katie is just beautiful and is going to make someone an outstanding senior companion .  She acts about 6 tops.  Steps are no problem--nothing noted or seen in hips or anything.  We have both hard floors and carpet, either fine. She is plenty active and can do at least a couple walks a day.  She loves kisses and pet and pet and pet.  Really enjoys being brushed/combed.  An all-around LOVELY golden girl!  Cannot say enough about her.  She is One SPECIAL golden girl J

 

 

 

Updates

Monday, July 25, 2016

Oh my gosh, our lovely “rock star” Katie, went to her forever home today, and gosh we miss her.  An outstanding family drove 260+ miles on Friday, spent the night nearby Sioux Falls, and left early this morning (Saturday). With them were Katie’s new brothers, a lovely senior sheltie Rob,(9 yrs), and a beautiful Ragom golden boy Ray (11 yrs).  Very well behaved, mellow boys and lovely Katie, makes a beautiful trio!  Katie has enjoyed our pack very much and this will be very similar for her and she will remain the ‘queen’ of the pack!  This is a prior Ragom adoptee family [which is always a bonus if it  happens], educated on dogs and came very prepared.  She will have a large house, nice big fenced in yard (and the few rocks that there are going someplace else to take any rock worries away! Ha!).  She will only be alone at the most, 3 hours.  Katie will, along with her brothers Rob & Ray, be able to go to new family’s work which is close by.  Lots of walks, play and even a nice big lake not far away to hang out and try her hand at swimming. 

Katie did VERY well at her first meeting and really likes her new mom!!  This new family is also very familiar with allergies from their current golden boy, Ray, and is educated on how to handle it.  Katie’s allergies however, are much under control now (we are blessed on that!).  A very dog-savvy family.  Coming prepared, asking many good questions, sharing ideas and processes is so welcome and really makes things go so smoothly and the new transition so nice for a newly adopted rescue golden (and us as fosters).  There are steps and processes to take and go through and they are all so worth in the end.  Makes things so much better and easier for the rescue dog and the new family.  We really miss her….just adored her! 


Miss Katie and Foster Mom-sure love her!

On the flip side however, there is always another lovely golden retriever who needs Ragom and a foster.  Love and so enjoy what we do and yes, they all take a little bit of our hearts with them.  LOVE you Katie girl, my little ‘rock star!”  You are really gonna be missed baby girl….. hugs to you always…… XOXO

 

HERE IS MY NEW MOM!!  :

Here she is at NEW HOME with her new mom and brothers! 

 

Yeah Katie girl!  :-)

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Here are the 3 regulars!

They all are doing fine.  Katie acts about 6.  She is doing very very well.

She will be due again for another nice grooming at my outstanding place with Ronita, who so generous donates her services for Ragom dogs!  She enjoys being groomed, brushed and loves her walks.  Plays fetch and a lot of the time, brings it back!  Such a golden doll!


Maggie, Eddie, and Katie

Thursday, June 23, 2016

SENIOR LOVERS:  wow, are we fostering a great senior golden!  Katie is just a dream babe. She is doing so well.  She has adapted beautifully, is very confident, curious, polite and sweet & happy! She tolerates this horrid heat quite well… better than our own two dogs.  Katie is just a gem – Her allergies are very much under control, [we do have occasional licking the paw or rear end (all 3 dog do that)].  She has the typical senior ‘bumps’ here and there (small), that gorgeous frosted white face, her coat is very nice with that lovely white-gold. She listens so well (except when we don’t want to repress that ‘wanting’ of a rock thing) and knows sit, stay, etc.  We have come to the conclusion that this “rock fetish-behavior” was something perhaps ‘learned/taught/rewarded’ and a ‘funny-good’ thing.  This ‘urge’ will take time and redirection to conquer but we are sure getting there.

Katie, bless her golden heart , is about as great as you can get in a golden retriever.  She enjoys her car rides (*see photo of her and her buddy Maggie, our RD who is 15 looking out the truck window).  How she lays nice next to our Maggie on the floor where it’s cool; stands in ‘line’ and waits for a hopeful handout(s) with the our 2 resident dogs, (Maggie and Eddie, corgi). So beautiful, so sweet.

We took Katie last weekend (the 18th) to a ‘meet and greet’ event here in Sioux Falls. 

Katie, true to being the wonderful golden she is, did very well.  She seemed to handle things (being in a store, meeting new dogs/people) very well.  She did discover a great bucket of treats on the floor too, sigh!!  We were unable to stay for a very long time (maybe an hour or less) but Katie was a trooper and she did so well. What’s not to love about a senior, beautiful golden??  Katie is showing us more and more wonderful qualities and she is just amazing.  We are loving our daily walks (weather/heat permitting).  She will follow me/us around in the house, but not in the way or annoying at all.  She shares nyla bones and toys fine (might like to tear up softies if not supervised); is totally fine with the cats (3) and great with our grandkids!! Our granddaughters (10 and 11), and daughter were here all last weekend and she ate up the attention and sure enjoyed it as did the kiddos.  Katie is a happy girl and really loves to wag that tail!!!!  She has the typical golden ‘waddle’ when she walks…. So cute! Katie will make an outstanding companion/addition to that right family.  She is such a joy……………

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Well, looking forward to writing this update.  Our lovely golden girl came to us on May 29th.  It is amazing how well she has settled in like she has always been here.  And too, how well the ‘others’ (2 dogs 3 cats) have accepted her and seem to think she just part of the family.  Katie has made incredible recovery (if you will), from having quite difficult and serious allergies, and the ‘scars’ from having chronic allergies long-term, when she first came in.  Many different ‘recipes’, trials and experiments are part of helping and aiding these goldens with allergies.  Not a quick fix and each is very different.  We generally do not know just ‘what’ they are allergic to but can attempt to try to narrow it down to seasonal, environmental, food, stress, many many different things.  Thank goodness these dogs are so incredibly patient with us trying to figure this out for them.  So accepting… amazes me.  Different recipes take time, and a new understanding by the dog when we try to change things up, add or take away things, yet they are such willing patients!  So while attempting to lessen the use of some meds,  slowly trying to change/add new, better food, more baths, always wiping feet off in the mornings, and seeing where some stressors may lie, they (Katie) is oh so patient.  So now, to this point and time that we have had the honor to foster her, this is medically/allergy-wise, what we have discovered which we feel is working very well at this point:

Apoquel just in the AM with food; Chlor-tabs (2 of 4mg) in evening before bed (She loves the pill pocket for these!) [To get things really calmed down she was put on doxycycline…. Really gave her the boost she needed to get a big handle on this. Just about done with this treatment]

She is on a much different food now that what she came in {Earthborn Fish (Costal Catch)} grain free holistic formula with and on a schedule for feeding like the others, 5am and 6pm.  Don’t have to worry about her cleaning up her dish!  She enjoys cut green beans, pineapple, apple….ground deer meat, cooked chicken, cooked black beans with a little brown rice.  Sure not interested in carrots tho … LOVES ice cubes too.

Katie is a dream to walk.  As most of us know the weather has not been the best to do these walks, so on the weekends, when we do not work, we head out about 6-6:30 am -- ahead of the heat.  Some days when it is just too hot, she and the troops just understand going to have a nice day on the cool tile in the cool house. When it is not too bad, off we go, and she sure looks forward to them. I walk her with a harness.  Just lovely to go with.

As far as allergies, as with all of them, I keep a close eye on her, do correct when once in a while wants to lick a pad or foot. Those horrible scars and wound openings have since healed well and are dissipating more and more.  Her coat is very nice.

Katie enjoys being groomed/brushed. She enjoys going in the car/truck.  She really likes to play, butt up, and off we go! She takes treats very nicely.  We do raise her food dish to help her swallow better—she loves her food, so want to make sure it goes down the hatch better, as we do for senior babes.  She is a quiet drinker, very neat (bonus!). She is quite active for her age and like to keep challenged with things to do, play, follow, etc.  Have not really heard her bark but maybe a couple times with the other 2, wanting to come back inside from potty and I wasn’t right there! (mine are worst!)  She goes right outside with the others to go potty.  Our schedules are early mornings and earlier to bed.  So up by 4:50 – 5 am and to bed about 9-10 pm.  She has the routine down pat.  She has a big blanket/type comforter at the end of our bed and the other two are on each side of us.  She is quiet all night.  Now no stirring when a cat comes in anymore (that started her in the beginning--- makes perfect sense).  Everyone gets along just fine.  This is one super golden.  Please let Ragom know if you would like to “SPONSOR” her or donate to Ragom in her name!  It is always a little heartbreaking to try to understand after so many years in the same home a great dog just cannot be afforded to keep anymore- but that is life sometimes and this is just one reason RESCUE - fostering is so wonderful.  Perhaps a little confusing in the beginning (cannot imagine and rightfully so) however, these dogs look forward and not back…….we can learn so much from them, such acceptance.  If you think you are the RIGHT home, please email your placement advisor.  She deserves SO MUCH, for the rest of her “golden” life.

{in some of these recent photos, just to show off how beautiful she is, waiting at the door for some action? And playing with a doggie toy—what a babe!}

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Katie continues to thrive and do great.  She has ‘graduated” to FREE roam with no issues.

She is getting some better with the rock fetish—she is listening better.  Work in progress. Sort of funny.

Her allergies seem to be under control.  We have switched to the Apoquel 2X day for a short time versus the Benadryl. ( think the Benadryl made her a little hyper/nervous).  I think with a little booster and good food she will be great. The new picture is of a NEW toy (rubber bone) from a wonderful volunteer Sheila, thank you!  Sure beats a rock! J She is a love to walk and really enjoys them.  If you would like to SPONSOR Katie or donate to Ragom or choose a Spring icon, please go to our website www.ragom.org

We are very lucky to have this wonderful senior in our care.