Our first rescue experience

We've had Goldens forever and love them dearly. Sam was our first rescue though. We got him about a year ago when he was 4. He was used as a stud and he was/is gorgeous. He had been tied to a tree and was rescued with 2 bitches and 9 puppies as I understand it. He got along with our 11 year old golden, Chester, who made sure he knew who was boss. Chester definitely kept him in line...along with some behavior training with us. We'd never had such a strong minded Golden but he's definitely coming around. Chester died suddenly in Dec and Sam has missed him...and of course we miss him too but we're so glad we got Sam to fill the void. Sam has been snowshoeing and hiking with us and definitely loves the outdoors and the smells of the wild. We keep him close but he is learning to be off leash and come when called. This has taken a number of months but we are definitely more trusting of his behavior now.
Sam is definitely a part of our family and tolerates our little 2 year old granddaughter who loves to poke at him and take him for walks. I definitely recommend EGRR as they helped match us with Sam, a wonderful good natured golden!

Shelby

Shelby was the greatest dog ever. I am Rory and I am twelve years old. Shelby is a free spirit that can run really fast. I remember when we first got her she was kind of chubby so we called her the "little red sausage". She also would destroy every toy she got. She destroyed a little rubber dog toy tire and I think she might have ate some of it. Shelby even jumped on our counters to eat two frozen chicken patties. That was amazing. I am sure that you have seen those commercials for that "indestructible" dog toy. Well, Shelby ripped the squeakers right out of it. She loved to play tug of war. I would pretend to be a fisherman and the couch was my boat and I would "cast" the rope and wait till Shelby grabbed it. She was so strong she could pull me off the couch. We got Shelby in august of 2006. She died today, February, 22, 2011. She had a tumor in her spleen that caused cancer. We will always remember Shelby as she plays tug of war in heaven.

Update on Jazz (Formerly Jasmine) Who I Adopted Spring of 2009

Jazzy has blossomed into a beautiful Golden Retriever senior citizen.  Thinking back to the afternoon that I picked her up at the top of Stevens Pass makes me realize how lucky I am.  She was an unknown but must have had some training because she arrived with lots of good manners.  And she is such a quick study.  I remember one of our leash walks through the park early on -I ended up being dragged, for s short distance, on my belly, while Jazz took interest in a duck.   Jazz is still prey motivated but does really well on the leash.  She is such a dignified lady.   As I leave for work each morning she bounds upstairs to sleep on my bed until I get home.  We are still working on her “other dog” crankiness, but with a few tips from the Academy of Canine Behavior she is no longer reactive to other creatures that we encounter.

Jazz is truly a love machine.  Toys are still not her thing but she loves her walks and car rides. We are both at our best when we’re together.  From that first night she has relished her brushing time and always enjoys a good back scratch.  Did she ever love rolling in the snow!  Wonder if it reminded her of her years in Wenatchee. Jazz wears her nine plus years very well with a beautiful gray mask. 

Must admit that after Clovis died it took me a bit of time to get in tune with this Jazzy red lady but I’ve come to cherish this wonderful creature and can only hope that I’ve enriched her life a bit as much as she enriches mine every day.

Linda S.