Maple
Update 2/27/09:
Sweet Maple the Golden Retriever is
our new wonderful friend. We welcomed Maple to our household about six weeks
ago. She has truly charmed us and we feel as if she has been with us for a very
long time. This wonderful girl has many of the personality traits, behaviors and
looks of our previous dogs. She is like a blend of our previous four dogs (two
Goldens and two labs), sort of a “greatest hits” mix tape. She formed a close
and immediate bond with our six-year-old daughter. She loves to go for rides in
the car and walks in the neighborhood. She looks so pitiful when we have to
leave and can’t take her with us! She is ever the eager companion looking for an
adventure. She is happy and energetic, yet calms down easily when she needs to.
I apparently was in the minority with regard to the issue of having the dog on
our furniture. I gave up after it became obvious the other two humans had no
interest in enforcing the furniture ban, and now Maple happily lounges on the
sofa and frequently sleeps on the bed at night. She is a great sound sleeper who
does not wiggle, kick or move.
Our experience with Maple has been much the same as with our other four dogs.
For anyone who has misgivings about adopting an older dog, Goldens seem to be
very flexible and resilient. They follow the philosophy of “love the one you’re
with”!
It’s not hard to guess
how this beautiful girl got her name! She’s the color of maple syrup and just as
sweet, too. She came to GRR when her loving owners made the move to an apartment
that couldn’t accommodate a big Golden girl and her Springer spaniel brother
(he’s safely in foster care with Springer rescue). Her foster family says,
“Maple is doing well. She has really charmed us. She found our departed Lab
Elsie's collar in a basket full of leads and collars, gently pulled it out and
slept next to it. I think it smells ‘doggy’ and makes her feel secure. She
climbed right on the sofa, but got down when I told her ‘off’ and has not tried
to return yet. Seems to have bonded to our daughter very quickly.”