We’ve been traveling a lot this spring…and with being gone so much, I’ve been a little slow at posting myself.  I love having the blog visitors here too, but here’s an update from me!

Back in March, I posted about my elation over finding a golden retriever at the humane shelter (pictured here with one of the volunteers.)  Sage, 65# of pure muscle, exuberance, and unrestrained (uncontrollable!) joy had been turned in by his overwhelmed family.

When he came home with me, he hauled me around when on the leash–it was like being towed by a fourwheeler.  He jumped endlessly, mouthed, licked and gnawed every hand and arm he could reach, and also proved destructive.  While we were eating breakfast once morning, he chewed off the sleeve of my husband’s suit coat.  He also chewed the sleeve of a rain jacket, ate through several leashes, had a Very Bad Accident in the middle of our bed…well, you get the picture.

But…he is also the sweetest dog, laying at my feet when I’m at my computer, following me around the house, soaking up all of the hugs and attention he can get.

We are now about six weeks into our Sage experience.  And in fact, my husband and I have been traveling for the last two weeks, so our daughter Emily and her husband have been dealing with him (and our sweet border collie) alone.  And things are getting better!

Long walks on our country roads go better now, as Sage is used to his Haltie-collar (a restraint which involves a loose strap around his nose.)  He is jumping far, far less, and is no longer assuming humans are his chew toys.  Thanks to Emily’s husband, he and Elmo have been burning off extra energy at the dog park every day, when has really helped moderate Sage’s energy level at home (thank you, Matt!)  So after we get home from Jamaica tonight, I’m going to continue taking the boys to the dog park daily.  🙂

I know Sage is going to be different dog by the time he’s two (he’s ten months old now) and he is already becoming a better citizen.  He’s still a silly pup, though–he loves to sit on things (like the dining room table, so he can look outside through the bay window)  and here he is out on our deck this morning,  Emily sent me the photo, and it made me laugh.  We have been keeping the patio door open to the deck so the dogs go out and survey the back yard, but apparently Sage didn’t want to get his tootsie wet.  🙂

So..how about you?  Have you ever taken in a pet from a shelter, and how did that go?

Happy trails,

Roxanne