Please, meet Teddy

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StrawHat

StrawHat

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Ashtabula County, Ohio
Yesterday, Herself and I drove to a suburb of Columbus, Ohio to adopt a 1 1/2 year old Golden Retriever male. He came with the name Teddy Bear and he shall keep it, yet I will shorten it to Teddy.

Teddy was at a shelter. His previous owner brought him in to be put down. The previous owner was an elderly female who wanted a Golden Retriever so she went to a breeder and got an 8 week old puppy. After two weeks, she could not understand why this puppy did not behave like all the senior GR she had seen, laying peacefully in front of the fireplace, going for long walks, etc., etc.. Instead this 10 WEEK old GR was running around, peeing in the house, chewing, in other words acting like a puppy! So, the old biddy took him to a veterinarian and got the poor boy put on tranquilizers! When the one did not help she had a second one prescribed! And then a third one! And then the old girl heard a shock collar might help! No audible, no vibrate, straight to max. I hope I NEVER meet that old .

At 1 1/2 years, she was told “if you have him neutered he will calm down”. So she did. And two weeks later, she brought him in to be euthanized. The shelter found out and brought him. A rescue we work with in Galion, Ohio found out and did a Facebook entry looking for fosters. Herself read the story to me while we were in Chicago on business. We agreed we could find space in the house for him and help him. So, today we picked him up. John, the owner of Rescue Rollers (an animal rescue that deals mainly with invalid dogs that have mobility problems so he build wheel carts for them) officially took the dog and fostered him to us. While we were there, I told Herself this was going to be a foster fail so go ahead and sign the adoption papers.

Teddy is now home. Quinn and Seamus have met him and all is hectic! Teddy is full of energy and runs everywhere. Seamus tries to keep up and Quinn tries to stay out of the way.

We will do some research and we will wean the poor boy off the drugs as quickly as is safe. But, he is home and he has a home as long as he stays.

Here is Teddy, riding shotgun in the parking lot at the shelter. Herself is inside signing papers.

strawhat-albums-strawhat-ii-picture25747-07ba01d1-7900-4864-8730-4013bf0681aa.jpeg


Seamus (on left) and Teddy,

strawhat-albums-strawhat-ii-picture25748-ea5779af-a1a2-4669-9543-6d5dc6c1c996.jpeg


Teddy and Seamus are about 6 years apart. They play and Seamus is allowing some behavior but has put the pup down a couple of times. Teddy will learn. Quinn, the eldest, put the poor boy in his place immediately. No fooling from her. He is a puppy and she is the queen of the house, yard, vehicle, wherever, and don’t forget it. Even when he gets the zooms and starts tearing around, he gives her wide berth.

So, Teddy makes three, one past my limit. But, it was necessary and worthwhile.

Kevin
 
I've trained a few dogs and I've had it with people getting a pedigree dog and they don't grasp the very basic fact that a dog has to be exercised and socialized.

A dog owner has to have a place to run the dog. They are bred for a high energy level and they want to focus on their "job." So, get up early and get outside.

I take dogs out at daybreak. Run them the equivalent of two-miles, get them tired. Then we have a twenty-minute training session.

They learn quickly the difference between play time and work (training) time. The young pup will soon mimic the attitude of an older trained dog.

There is no punishment for mistakes only rewards for obedience. If the pup doesn't want to listen and participate he gets put back on the porch (or locked in the truck). He soon becomes jealous of the other dogs getting all my attention and whines to join in.

The dogs are pack animals and they see the trainer as the pack-leader. It's in their nature. A tired pup is a good pup. They are ready to listen and focus after they have exhausted some of their energy.

The sad thing about Teddy's story is the Golden's are one of the easiest breeds to train. When I say train here, I'm talking about basic obedience. I don't go into specialized training until 18 (average) months.

Golden's are bred to follow commands. They are super intelligent. They are a hunting machine. They love to work.

Sorry about the rant but it gripes my arse to hear a story like this.

I should add, thanks for saving Teddy. I wish you many, many happy and rewarding times ahead!
 
Last edited:
Nice job sir, and that is a lucky dog for sure...a sad start in that dogs life, but he will get over that thanks to you.
And WardernRoss, you said it all with this:
"I've trained a few dogs and I've had it with people getting a pedigree dog and they don't grasp the very basic fact that a dog has to be exercised and socialized."
I'm going through this now with my pup, an American Water Spaniel that will be my duck hunting partner. We started with some doggie daycare and exposure other people and kids to get him socialized. I have never had a dog that enjoys snow as much as this one. He'll jump, run, roll in it and bark at it for hours, and my training right now is limited to basic obedience and manners. At 8 months he will stop whatever he is doing and run to me when called as long as he's within the sound of my voice, and I am reinforcing that every time I take him out. And all it took is a treat the size on my thumb nail to instill that desire. In the spring when the ice goes off the lake, that's where we will be every chance I get water training. I expect to have a pretty good duck dog next season. And nothing is as rewarding as having an exhausted pup collapse at your feet instead of tearing up the house because he is never exercised.
 
Beautiful dog, beautiful story, you sound like fantastic people.

I cannot quite wrap my head around referring to your wife as "herself."

That's okay, I realized long ago that I simply won't understand everything.
 
It breaks my heart to think about how very many dogs and cats have such a horrible and miserable life, often caused by people.

The number always has and always will out number those that have a good life/situation/or were rescued and got to live out their lives being loved and cared for.

Stories like this one fill me up. I love to read them over and over. Still it only under score the tragic situation for which there seems to be no adequate solution.

I'd love to see a substantial increase in penalties for animal abuse and more stringent prosecution of those who need it.
 
dockmurgw said:
Nice job sir, and that is a lucky dog for sure...a sad start in that dogs life, but he will get over that thanks to you.
And WardernRoss, you said it all with this:
"I've trained a few dogs and I've had it with people getting a pedigree dog and they don't grasp the very basic fact that a dog has to be exercised and socialized."
I'm going through this now with my pup, an American Water Spaniel that will be my duck hunting partner. We started with some doggie daycare and exposure other people and kids to get him socialized. I have never had a dog that enjoys snow as much as this one. He'll jump, run, roll in it and bark at it for hours, and my training right now is limited to basic obedience and manners. At 8 months he will stop whatever he is doing and run to me when called as long as he's within the sound of my voice, and I am reinforcing that every time I take him out. And all it took is a treat the size on my thumb nail to instill that desire. In the spring when the ice goes off the lake, that's where we will be every chance I get water training. I expect to have a pretty good duck dog next season. And nothing is as rewarding as having an exhausted pup collapse at your feet instead of tearing up the house because he is never exercised.
Click to expand...

Your post made my day!

It ain't rocket science. It's just time, love and focused patience.

Eight-months is where most dogs start to mature enough to recognize and remember their training.

Your investment will pay super dividends!
 
Good for you, I am proud of you and your wife. We have had a Golden since 1975. Our current, Tiffany, we got 8 years ago and she was a rescue from Puerto Rico. We got her through an organization known as Good As Gold. She is a wonderful dog and we really enjoy each other's company. At the time, we didn't think we wanted a pup at our age and she was about 1 or so when we got her.

It has all turned out well for all concerned. I have tried to talk my wife into multiple Goldens, but no luck. When we are gone, our daughter will get our house and we figure she will have a herd of them.

Again, thanks for what you did for Teddy.
 
Thank you all, for your kind words and good wishes. I have read all the responses to Herself, we are humbled by your thoughts and words.

We have always been a multi dog family, starting the first summer after we were married. Dogs would adopt us and they were welcomed to stay as long as they wanted.

You may remember me mentioning Quinn in a previous posting,

Senior Golden Finds a Home

She is doing quite well and is down to about 85 pounds. Much more active and much healthier.

Herself is active with 4 or 5 rescues. But when we found out that the food pantries in this county did not supply dog or cat food, she mentioned it to me. So, I tell her to start one. The last quarter of 2022 we were able to give 1 ton of food to people who needed help for themselves and their pets. All we ask in return is a picture of their pet to be posted with the bag of food on some social media and to make mention of the Animal Welfare Center of Ashtabula County.

Again, for your thanks and good wishes, we thank you.

Kevin
 
Beautiful dogs you have there! Goldens are great family dogs, and very smart. As you know, he'll give you all the love you give him in return. Enjoy!
Coincidentally, Columbus was where I picked up my Angel back in June. The last pup from his dog's last batch.
Everyone should get the chance to raise and spoil a dog, cat, bird, whatever. A good pet will cure any depression from loneliness; I know.
 
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