Ben and Heidi came to Gold Ribbon Rescue from an owner who had to travel frequently with his job.  He no longer was able to give them the attention they deserve.  Ben is a big, blond 7-year-old boy who loves to swim, fetch and play Frisbee.  He is adjusting well to his new foster home and foster brother & sister. Ben came in quite healthy but at 165 pounds, he has some weight to lose!  We think he'll do great with his new diet and exercise program.  Ben is active, happy and is just a big, fun-lovin' kind of guy!  His foster Dad says he’s great, “Have you ever seen an elephant jump high into the air to catch a Frisbee before?”

An update from his foster family:

My first impressions of Ben are that he is a quiet dog who sleeps a lot but who will play fetch or walk for twenty or thirty minutes at a time.  He is very smart and inquisitive and learns rapidly.   He gets along very well with the other dogs, is completely trustworthy in the house and stays put when he lays down for his 12 hour beauty rest each evening.  He absolutely loves combing and bathing and hair dryers and he loves to be rubbed and hugged.   Although he can reach all the counters in the house he doesn't seem to be a food snitcher.  

He clearly had never seen stairs before but he's getting the hang of them quickly.  He would not eat dry dog food at first unless hand fed.  Judging by his girth, (and his habit of laying underneath the table) I suspect he may have been fed either table scraps or large items of furniture.  He is now eating 1 cup twice daily and is walking about a mile and a half and playing in the yard.   

He loves to play fetch with his soft Frisbee.  I can't describe this activity adequately - just imagine an elephant stalking and leaping on a Frisbee and you've probably got the picture.   

His health is generally good.  Given his size we will do a thyroid test.  We are treating his right ear for an infection and it seems to be clearing slowly.  He has an unusual wear pattern on his teeth that I don't understand but could be from carrying a toy, perhaps his Frisbee.    He is slightly arthritic, especially on waking but warms up well during the day. He has extraordinary hearing and vision.   No snoring noted.  He easily holds about two gallons in his bladder.

Right now my gut feeling says he is a good candidate for someone who wants a very sedate lay-by-the-fireplace weekday dog with occasional weekend romp potential.  He likes everyone but his large size would make me nervous with little children.   He is an indoor dog and resists being sent out by himself, preferring to wait till one of the people accompanies him.  He will always respond to a request to play Frisbee.   Noises do not bother him and he tolerates hairdryers and vacuums well.   He responds well to voice commands and walks loosely when on a leash.  He likes to ride in cars and prefers the driver's seat to all others.   He has quickly grown attached to our other two dogs and I suspect he will do better in a multi-dog home.  Although I haven't left him for more than an hour or two, I think he will have no trouble remaining unattended in the house all day.  

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