Goldie story with pics...

[Glacier]

Goldie is one of my non-sled dogs. She'd love to pull, it drives her nuts that she can't, but her front legs are deformed. She's doomed to early arthritis as it is and pulling will only hasten the process. She gets to run and play lots though. Goldie is a shelter dog who spent two years there before we got her. As you can imagine, that has led to some issues--prolonged confinement does that to a dog and Goldie had issues when she was found.......anyway to my point..

Last Saturday I had a woman come out to the house and show me some Tellington Touch techniques. I want to try some of that stuff on my real timid boys. Turns out this lady is the woman who surrendered Goldie. She breeds Canadian Inuit dogs and Goldie was in heat and hanging around her kennel. This lead to some fights so she had Goldie spayed and then took her to the shelter. Now I know how she got her name--she was found in the Golden Horn area of the Yukon so she called her Goldie. She was impressed with how well Goldie is doing now. She also mentioned I should get her thyroid checked.

One of Goldie's issues is unpredicable dog aggression. She's not always aggressive and not to all dogs. I have never found a pattern to her behavior. Sometimes it's food, sometimes it's over toys, sometimes it's just because she's cranky and she just hates Preacher for no apparent reason. The trainer mentioned that could be from her thyroid, plus she apparently has "buldgy" eyes--I never noticed that but her eyes have always been exactly like they are now since I've owned her. She has always been a little heavy too, but her energy level has never been low and her coat is amazing. Those are the two things that tipped me off to Preacher's low thyroid. Since Goldie never showed those signs, I never thought of thyroid issues at all!

So next week Goldie is off to the vet for a thyroid panel, she's due for a check-up anyway. I know that even if her thyroid is low, treating it won't cure all her problems. But maybe she'll be a little happier and wouldn't that be wonderful!?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/Glacier1998/Dogs/goldie_truck.jpg
On our way home from a run last weekend (another issue is she refuses to leave the yard on a leash so we have to drive to the trailhead!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/Glacier1998/Dogs/goldie.jpg
Running about...

[Tonya]

That is really neat that you bumped into that woman! I always wonder about the story behind my dogs. Goldie is beautiful and I wish her luck at the vets next week.

[Logan]

What a sweet girl, even if she does have her moments. I'm glad she's with you. Hope everything will go well with her check up next week. :)

[kingrattus]

Hope shes gets a bit better :) She looks & sounds like a nice people doggie.

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another issue is she refuses to leave the yard on a leash so we have to drive to the trailhead!
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Really? wow. Never heard of a dong not wanting to go for a walk. Is the leash the problem, or is she scared to "walk" of the property away from her home. Maybe shes scared of going back to the pound?

[Glacier]

Originally posted by kingrattus

Really? wow. Never heard of a dong not wanting to go for a walk. Is the leash the problem, or is she scared to "walk" of the property away from her home. Maybe shes scared of going back to the pound?

Not sure what the problem is. She walks on a leash everywhere else so I don't think that's it. I've walked her down main street on a leash with no problems. She loves going for her runs, but we can't start from the yard. Silly dog! She does have some fears of going back to the shelter. Anyone who thinks dogs can't remember on a long term basis, should watch Goldie shake when we drive by the shelter (we have to pass it to get to the vet clinic). She prefers the vet to that place!

[kingrattus]

RB Max's memory was too good. It was a pro & con at the same time.

When he was a puppy; we only had him for 2 days & he was as young as u can get a puppy & I was 11 & he was my first doggy. So ya, I was playing in the snow with him & he saw a lady & wanted to say hi. SO he ran up to her & did a puppy whine & was wiggling all over & she BOOTED HIM!!!! He flew about 2-3 feet, he screamed & ran back to me shaking like a leaf. & as I was swearing at her (she kept walking), Max started to snarl at her.

A few months went by & Max was chained to the front tree while I played in the snow & he saw her (I didn't at first). I heard Max snarling & snapping in the air. I just assumed it was a guy, he HATED MEN (not kids or teen, just adults). He sounded worse then normal, so I came out of the snow bank & I saw the lady walking by. I couldn't believe he remembered her her. Years went By & he did the same thing to her. She was the opnly female he snarled & snapped at air at.

Then the guy tried to break into our house when he was maybe 3-4yrs old. He was never trained to be agressive or anything. Hes all self taught. We tried to tell the guy to get away & we said we know ur not from Burger King, then he tried to open the locked porch door, he started pussing hard & its only a cheap door with a cheap latch ment to keep the door closed & not open in the wind. Well after he did that, Max heard the door giggling & came over to me. I told him to kill loudly (Max had no idea what that was), but Max was a big black dog & when he saw the MAN he went ape-S&!T. He charged the door, with a thud (he jumped from the main door to the the cheap door Jumped up & put his big paws on the window & started barking, snapping, snarling & started to claw the hell out of the window frame. The guy ran back to his car & sped away.

We called the cops right after & we spoild the heck out of Max & always encourged him to bark at the door after that.

Over the years Max still knew the guy. We met up with him one other time, about 4 years later. There were only 2 brown cars with white tops in my home town. Both were different modles so I knew his. I was walking Max downtown & then he put on the breaks & forced me to stop by getting in my way & stepping on me. He started to bark & snarl & was really angry at something. I started to drag him & kept pushing him outta my way. after about 5-10 feet I saw the car & I saw the guy look at me (I didn't get to see the guy that night, but I knew it was him. my neck & back hairs went up. Max senced that & went totaly insane. I yelled my dog remembers u. Do u remember him? The guy ran away!!! His buddy stayed shocked. Max calmed down & oddly greated the buddy. he asked what did my buddy do? I told him he tried to break into my house 4 years ago & Max was there. He thought it was cool Max remembered.

talk about good memery eh???

[K9soul]

Fascinating story Glacier, what a small world! It must have been really neat finding out Goldie's history after all this time. Good luck with the vet checkup Goldie!

[Kater]

Thanks for introducing us to Goldie! She is a very beautiful dog. I hope everything goes well at her upcoming vet visit.

I continue to be amazed by all the wonderful work you do with your rescues! You are such an inspiration! :D

[Corinna]

Wow small world . What was the ladies reaction to seeing Goldie? Neat that you got some of her history, glad the lady had her spay at least before leaving her at your shelter.
Great story about max, Mom had a boxer that we had a simular thing happen only she chased him down and had him but the seat of the pants at the end of the block . Just then Dad was turning the corner coming home from his job at the sheriffs office.

[LorraineO]

Isnt it amazing what the body can do if its not in tune!? I hope things can be explained,,,

goldie is a very pretty girl too..... Keep us posted!