Madden

Gentle, Playful, and Smart!

Yes, those words describe me! Foster mom says I’m so mild mannered and obedient that I seem like a 5-year old, but I’m only 8-months old!

Housebreaking brought out the cleverness in me. I had a plan: when foster mom would take me outside, and I realized I’d get a treat when I peed—the game was on! So, I’d pee a little, get a treat; pee some more, get a treat, and on, and on. When mom realized what I was doing, she put her hands behind her back. I found her hands and licked until all the crumbs were gone!

I devised a plan to get a toy I want when my furry foster brother is playing with it. I get him interested in a new toy, he drops what he’s got, and we’ve made a trade!

As with most Goldens, I love meeting people!  I’ve met people at family parties who’ve said they’d love to take me home with them! I happily greet people during our walks, and it’s thrilling when my foster sister comes home from work – – yay!

I’m such a happy boy that most of the time I don’t even realize that I have some physical challenges.  I get too busy running in the yard and taking walks to remember that my left hip isn’t perfect, it has no femoral head. The orthopedic specialist highly suggests I stay slim to keep my current full range of motion. I have some blind spot issues because of an underdeveloped optic nerve. Sometimes the blind spot gets in the way and I don’t realize a chair has been moved or that someone accidentally shut the bedroom door. I must admit that if I’m in a store or a different house and someone approaches, I might back away at first because I don’t expect them. But when I realize they are kind and want to meet me – – I’m all wags and hugs!

Apparently, I have a mild case of hydrocephalus, i.e. water on the brain. My forehead looks a little wider because of this, but that’s the only indication of its presence. The nice vet gave me some medicine to decrease the cerebral fluid, but it caused some tummy problems for me. She said that since it’s such a mild case I can skip the medicine for now and she will reevaluate as I get older.

But, ‘eh, life’s too exhilarating to let these things stop me from snuggling with my loving foster family, inhaling the fantastic smells in the air, and enjoying delicious treats and meals.

My foster family thinks I’m a sweetheart and a joy to be around. They are so happy that I was not one of those puppies who chews on things that aren’t for dogs. Foster mom lets me have free run of the house for four or five hours at a time. There’s a crate available to me, but she says I don’t require it any longer.

I follow my family around the house and am so thrilled when we all sit down together, and I get petted.

If they get distracted, I remind them to touch me by putting my legs on their lap.

Are you looking for a boy like me to share in the gentle joy of life?

Male, 8 Months Old