Adopting Pending due to Overflow of Applications

Josh, a good dog, but not what you would expect applying to adopt an adult golden retriever. He's pushy, has an edge to him, at the same time has incredible potential. Josh is learning to be 'a pet' and not a street dog, or not in a group of dogs, or not leading a group of dogs. That's it ... just "a pet", a pet that listens when he's told to do things, a pet that follows, a pet that is relaxed and happy. Each day, I see more of his edge go away, more of the typical retriever coming out. Still, he's not all the way there. Whoever adopts him -not like there isn't an endless supply of applications at this point- needs to realize he needs a whole lot of polishing.

On Josh's naughty list:
1) Guards toys quite badly from other dogs
2) Horrible on a leash without firm, assertive corrections followed by reward for correct behaviour
3) Leash reactivity with other dogs in a dog park environment. He is fine on the trails, it's the chaos of the dogs running every which way that gets him to overload. To be fair, he's never really been leashed until he's come to Canada.
4) Doesn't fully understand how to relax. We've accomplished great strides REALLY quickly with this, but it'll need to be maintained and reintroduce in a new environment. He came in a ping-pong ball. He's turned into a foot warmer.
5) Mouthy with the treats. Again, great strides. Needs to be maintained.

To be fair, Josh has really good qualities, and he's a good boy, but he's not even close to being one of the easiest dogs I've fostered here. But, because of his face, he gets all the apps. It is slightly annoying knowing it's pretty much just that face getting all the attention. Again, to be fair, he's a good looking dog. He's actually got a face a movie would love!

(Especially if they remade homeward bound and needed a Shadow!)

SEE PICTURES

So we'll see where Josh ends up. His first draft pick is a single lady who owns her own home in Vancouver and who has had three different retriever type dogs throughout her life. I really believe Josh would enjoy being an only dog with someone to really bond with, with no competition from anyone else. Unless it's with someone really dog-savvy, I can't see him doing his best in a multi-dog household. He is fine here, but I severely limit the toy play, and any and all toy play must be closely supervised with him and another dog even in the general area. He is learning he'd rather have the toy more and that means sharing, so there is definitely improvement. Just not to the point where I would feel comfortable sending him to someone who doesn't understanding guarding behaviours and has another dog around to bear the brunt of it. He's quite lucky he hasn't dared touch Beckett yet. Him and Lemon have had a good scrap about one kong.

NEVER count Lemon out of a scrap even if a dog can fit it's whole mouth around her head... she's a finisher she is!

Hoping Josh can head to his new home this week. The more work I can put into him is good, but it won't help him respect or perform for someone else. Very quickly I will become 'his' person, and to me, that isn't what it's about. I could work this dog through many things, in MY environment, but he's a dog that needs to be trained in whatever will become his forever home. I can just help take some of the edges off before he gets there.

Is Josh a bad boy ---most definitely not. But Josh isn't what that angel-face would have you believe. He's work! If his forever mum or dad or family puts the work in, he will be one AMAZING dog.