Connie

Introducing Connie!! Constance if you’re feeling fancy… 

Connie is a sweet and sensitive 7-year-old Golden Retriever! She’s a healthy 54 pounds, and that is the perfect weight for her stature, regular walks/exercise will keep her in shape!   Connie spent the first 7 years of her life as a breeding dog at a puppy mill.  The environment of a puppy mill has left Connie sensitive to loud noises and the sounds of day-to-day suburban life. She has come a long way since coming into PDR care, but she is still adjusting to her new life. Connie came in afraid to explore, but with each day she gets more curious and brave!

This sweet girl is a joy to foster.  She is smart, somewhat food motivated and is developing a love for tennis balls!  She loves everyone she’s ever met and most of the dogs she meets, she can be timid around high-energy dogs; so continued socialization and training will be important for her so she can thrive and be the dog she wants to be.  She will absolutely not enjoy a dog park environment but could go for walks with, and socialize well with, other low energy, calm dogs. 

Play time is new to Connie, but she has shown great interest in playing with the toys around her, especially a ball. She will play fetch for a few minutes at a time but doesn’t seem interested just yet in playing for long periods of time. Connie doesn’t touch anything that isn’t hers and isn’t interested in stealing food, shoes, or anything else that is “off-limits”. Her love of chasing a ball tells us that she will be a great fetch partner in time!

Connie is learning to love walks, some days she will walk for a long time, some days she would rather not! She loves to be close to her foster mum and can be demanding of attention at times; so, will need clear boundaries set and some work to build her confidence. When on a walk, she will stop when people walk past her to get pets and enjoys sniffing the new surroundings. She has been known to fear benches and big rocks, but when shown what they are, she will jump up and explore them; and sometimes go under them! Connie really wants to enjoy her new world, so pushes through her fears, she’s a brave girl with a big heart!

Due to her experience in the puppy mill, Connie does not love her crate. Her crate training is going well, and she has made great strides, she still needs help getting into the crate, but will go in willingly with that help – she has adjusted much better in a wire crate, so its suggested her forever family use one.  She is not a very vocal dog, she sometimes grumbles, but doesn’t express her dislikes vocally. Connie is sometimes fed in her crate, so she is learning that good things happen in her crate too! Connie is left for short time frames (1-3 hours), 5 days a week and is left in her crate for 8 hours, twice a week. 

Connie is slowly being introduced to walking, exercise, and training. She does enjoy treats and food, but she is still apprehensive from taking it from a hand, unless its chicken, she LOVES chicken!! We have been working on sit and down, with great success when chicken is involved. When walking,  she is easily distracted by the noises such as car doors closing, car horns and people outside and around her but with encouraging words and a gentle pull, she is back on way. She is a smart but timid girl and training will help this her flourish and engage her mind so her new family needs to be committed to ensuring that she can get these chances and be set up for success.  Connie is not suited for big city living as the hustle and bustle of a city center would be too much for her and traffic noises will scare her.  She needs a low key, relaxed and quiet home environment in which to thrive; rural, small town, or quiet subdivision living will suit her just fine.  Apartment living might be challenging for Connie, as she will not be comfortable in an elevator, due to her sensitivities a walk up or house (any type) would be best for her. 

Connie has been on some car rides, while they aren’t her favourite, she will lay on the backseat and take in the journey. She does need some coaxing to get her out of the car, but this will change the more she goes out with her forever family.

Her house training has gone very well, she hasn’t had any accidents in the house.  It is expected that she will have some regression when she goes to a new home, but will quickly catch on to the new schedule and do her business outside.  Her current foster home has a backyard and Connie is  used to using that and her walks for her bathroom duties. Connie would do best with children 12 years of age or older, who can be sensitive to her fears and be patient as she comes out of her shell; she would also do well with an older/calmer dog sibling. While she hasn’t been exposed to cats, due to her personality, we believe she would also do well with cats. 

Connie is spayed and recovered well, she has also had some dental work done due to an abscess. She had a tooth pulled and her teeth cleaned, so that she is ready with her pearly white smile to greet her new family. 

Connie is learning who she is and is slowly sharing her funny and quirky personality with those around her, in time, she will let everyone see that; and make someone or a family very happy!