Success Story: Midas (#1008)

Adopted April 2004

Midas (#1008)

I want to take a few minutes away from playing with my new family to tell everyone just what true happiness can be.

When Linda and Gene met me, I somehow knew this was the forever home I was waiting for. When I came to my new rural home in Cottage Grove, I just couldn't believe this wasn't a dream. Not only do I have a border collie pal named Ally, but I get to share my world with a cat and two horses. Molly (the cat) loves Goldens and has told me about all the fun and happy things we will do together.

We'll all have a wonderful life together and have many adventures.

Love,
Midas

Update: October 6, 2004

Ah, Midas. Do you have an hour?

Midas is still (and will probably always be) a big, hairy, doofus puppy. He lives for love and play, in that order. He is quick to learn when he understands what it is you are trying to teach him. His first round of school went well. He was the star performer and responds instantly to the clicker and a treat. Take him out of those controlled circumstances and we have a different story. Sigh.

Midas has allergies to corn, wheat and our carpet. We have him on a new food (Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul) and that has made a huge difference. We will replace the carpet — which is old — after Christmas. He is prone to ear infections, which we believe are a side effect from allergies. We use odicleanse (sp?) on a weekly basis and he is now responding well without an antibiotic.

Midas gets along well with the other animals. Ally (the border collie) is pregnant. He finds her behavior confusing, but he is learning to back off when she tells him to. Soon they will be able to resume their normal games. Molly Cat adores him. He likes her too, but doesn't understand why she won't play like a dog. Instead, she insists on rubbing against him and rolling in his fur. "What's up with that?"

He is extremely expressive and vocal, but rarely barks. Only another retriever owner will understand that. He expresses his opinion and gives verbal requests for everything from play to food. He growls in play, then found his real growl about a week ago. I never did figure out what he was looking at, but his growl made my hair stand on end!

Midas has a glove fetish and will take the glove right off your hand unless we give him an old one to carry. Quite a sight. He also insists on carrying the horses lead rope. I'm quite sure he could take himself for a walk. Ally has a shoe fetish. Between the two of them, we spend a lot of time hunting down boots, work shoes, gardening and work gloves. The cost of gloves: a couple of dollars. Doggy fun: priceless. He shreds cloth, paper and sticks of wood, but not his vinyl or rubber toys.

Midas is funny, adorable, and loving. He is a gentle giant that wants to be a lap dog. He sleeps next to our bed at night and gets on it only when invited. He takes himself to bed around 10:00 and sleeps soundly until the alarm goes off at 5:30. He has bonded with my husband like peanut butter (which he loves) to bread. When Gene and I hug, he pushes between us like our lab used to do.

Midas has become a well loved family member. Even though he is high-maintenance, he is definitely a keeper.

You asked. [Grin]

Linda

Contact Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon, Inc.
Contact Webmaster