Tucker

update 5/2/08

A family who’d fostered a series of goofy young things then took in a 10-year-old Golden. A couple days after he moved in, his foster mom called to say: “OK, in the future, this is the ONLY AGE of foster dog I want.” Those in the know know: there’s nothing like a “mature” Golden Retriever! Plenty of spunk for strolls & outings, but also happy just to settle down and keep you company. And they’re past the “engine of destruction” phase, too.

Just read Tucker’s March update, below. Now who could want a better dog than this? And his foster mom just sent another report, with some additional info to add:

* Tucker does fine in thunderstorms, although I might add that during the first one we experienced, he decided it was a good idea to jump on the bed to keep me protected. :)

* Tucker is respectful of cats.  He doesn’t react to them aggressively in any way.

* Tucker loves driving in the back seat of the car.

* Still a champion pool lounger! No active swimming for this fellow.  He is laidback and prefers to lie still in shallow water or float in place.

* Tucker has been really good about not stealing food or begging. However, if left unattended for too long in the presence of temptation, he will build courage. Just yesterday he decided to treat himself to a mouthful of popcorn that was sitting on the coffee table.  When I caught him in the act, he quickly spit out the evidence!  It was really funny. Also, he is a muffin monster.  If he sees someone eating muffins or cinnamon rolls, he wants some too. If you happen to have the muffin at the level of his nose, he has even been naughty enough to grab a bite without invitation. Some things are just too good to resist!

* Tucker is very brave. His ear cleaning sessions are a breeze.  He acually enjoys laying his head on my lap while I clean away.

* He does great at the vet’s.  The staff loves him.

* Tucker is just waiting for a relaxed family who will take him for walks and give him plenty of  tender love and care. :)

updated 04/29/08:

updated photos 4/4/08:

Tucker joined the GRR family on February 23, when his owners could no longer care for him and surrendered him to a local clinic. While at the vet’s, he had a full battery of tests (including an ultrasound) to check his overall condition—and the results were excellent. He’s a healthy senior! He was a bit shy and withdrawn at first, but now that he’s been in his foster home for a few weeks, he’s blossoming.

His foster mom says, “Here is Tucker's story. I hope it shows what a great boy he is. I had so much to say and couldn't find the perfect words to say it!”

Tucker officially turned 9 years old today, March 13^th. Happy birthday,  Tucker! He is a wonderful, wise, laidback fellow with all the characteristics a true Golden should have. He is gentle and gracious, easygoing and cheerful, always ready with a smile and a  tail wag.  He is eager to please and loves being around humans, large and small. He quickly befriends new canine acquaintances, too.

Tucker suffered a little culture shock on his first trip to the dog park—it seems that he didn’t go out and about much in his former life. His next two trips  built up his self confidence, though, and he’s now delighted to  walk up to every human in the park to say hello.  Then, after greeting as many people as he can, he runs off to socialize with other dogs.  When he has one of his “energy bursts,” he sure doesn’t seem like a senior! However, he is not really interested in playing rough or being an avid athlete, so he keeps his runs short, his swimming to floating serenely in place, and his fetching to a minimum.  He is such a joy at the park!— so friendly and happy that everybody notices him and showers him with compliments. He is a big, long, tall boy with a rich golden coat and a blond belly.   He was a bit thin when he first came to my home, but he’s a healthy eater and will soon hit the perfect weight (he’s slim at 66 pounds now). 

At home, he is a delight to have around. He loves to stay close and follow me around the entire apartment. Because of this, we both seem to klutz around tight areas and run into walls and furniture, so his ideal forever home will be one with room to turn around! He’s calm and reserved most of the time, but he does have the occasional energy spurt—he’ll play a bit of fetch with his toys or just entertain himself by chasing his tail (extremely funny!).  He also wrestles around with his doggie foster brother Duke, but only for a few minutes.  If he wants attention, he asks for it politely—no shoving his brother out of the way.

Tucker is equally happy going for a long, leisurely walk or just lounging around. He has good manners and is perfectly trustworthy alone loose in the apartment for a few hours—he doesn’t even jump on the furniture.  He will not beg for food or take tidbits from unattended plates (unless it's Duke's supper dish, of course!).  He rummaged in the trash once, but then decided to show me what he found—too funny! I told him “no”  and he has not done it since. 

Tucker is a smart guy. He knows his name and will immediately come when called, even at the dog park.  He knows a few commands (SIT, DOWN, and STAY) but he likes to take his time in responding to them. (:  I speak Spanish to Duke and Tucker is starting to respond as well.  This fellow will be bilingual in no time!!

Tucker is  a senior, so his potty breaks must be consistent; we’ve just had a very few accidents when he has had to hold it too long. Though he’s not a barker, he’s becoming a bit more vocal. My dog Duke  whines, howls, almost talks to grab my attention or just to be silly, and Tucker is quickly picking up on Duke’s tricks.  I’ve also noticed that Tucker is starting to howl when he needs to go out.  Hopefully, this will help eliminate the potty accidents entirely!

In a nutshell, Tucker is a wonder!  He is a special fellow and it’s so easy to fall in love with him.  He will be the perfect addition to any family who wants a mellow, classic Golden companion.  His ideal home will shower him with love and attention equal to  the love he’ll give in return. 

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