Chester

Update 10/01/09

Chester’s accomplishments continue! He has now been certified as a therapy dog at two establishments.  He loves to go to the Golden Oldie Room to see the seriously older residents.  He stands in front of each person and lets them love and pet him for as long as they want.

When he’s not on the job, Chester is always ready to go for a car ride with his Golden brother Mason or head out for some playtime with GRR girl Maggie, a young lady who lives down the street.  He loves to chase the ball and sometimes he will even bring it back!

Chester would love a home with another dog to keep him company, and a family who will continue to support him in his therapy work, at which he excels. It’s rewarding for everyone! 

Update 8/3/09:

Time flies when you are having fun—and Chester is having fun for sure! Hard to believe it’s been 3+ months since his last update. Since then Chester has shed a few pounds and gained a favorite new activity: going to school! His foster mom says:

Chester would make a great therapy service dog.  With the teacher’s permission, I took Chester with me to a self-improvement class.  He behaved like he was born to be there and strolled around to each student to get love and pets.  When I told him to lie down and stay, he did exactly as I asked. I then took Chester into another class of students with learning disabilities.  Some of them were in wheelchairs.  Chester went from person to person. He seemed to sense who did not care for dogs—and just treated those people to a big grin and moved on. One lady was severely depressed.  Chester went up to her wheelchair and put his muzzle on her knee.  She started to cry and then loved all over Chester.  He was the “hit of the day” and was invited for another visit—and, once again, he was fabulous. He loved everyone, young and old, male and female, able and disabled.  Wheelchairs don’t spook him a bit. He is so patient and loving.

You’d never know that sweet  Chester is 10 1/2.  He has the energy of a younger dog & loves living with his GRR brother; I think he needs a family who has another dog to be his buddy. On the health front, he has had a couple of small seizures over the past several months, so he does need to go to a home who is willing to monitor this. So far the vet just says to watch & keep track. After each episode Chester has bounced right back.

Chester has not been destructive with anything in the house. He has been VERY well behaved. (Well, confession: he does love to tear stuffies  apart, especially if there is a squeaky inside. But what dog could resist?!)

Photo update 4/23/09, Story update 4/21/09

Chester is ready for stardom on the adoption scene! He’s been settling into his foster home very well: socializing with his doggie friends, doing a spot of dieting to prepare for his close-ups, getting exercise and perfecting his leash-walking skills (he is doing great). His foster mom says:

For a dog who spent most of his life outside, Chester has taken to indoor life like a duck to water.  He’s reliably house-trained. He is not destructive and hasn’t tried to counter-surf or get on the furniture. He is very good at alerting me to anyone coming in the yard or driveway. He gets along great with his Golden foster brother Mason and plays well with my roommate’s  Cocker Spaniel:  Chester will let T-Rex tug on him,  pester him, and get him into a good game of tug-o-war.

With kids, Chester is really laidback and gentle. He’s calm during grooming sessions, too, and just as calm at night: sleeps right through, snoring gently. Chester likes car rides (although he IS a bit too interested in helping you steer!) He’d do well with any family who wants a gentle Golden friend—and another easygoing dog would be great, as Chester really loves the company of other dogs. He’s a happy guy and a joy to foster, and will be a wonderful companion.

Famous Chesters of America
* Chester A. Arthur, 21^st president of the United States

* Chester B. Goode,  Marshall Dillon’s handsome sidekick on the TV Western “Gunsmoke”

* Chester Barnard, business executive, public administrator, and the author of pioneering work in management theory

* Chester Hoist Co., an industry leader in producing premium-quality manual chain hoists in 500-lb thru 25-ton capacity. (Perhaps smaller models will soon be available for lifting heavy dogs who need a boost?)

And of course:
Chester the Golden, who  combines the best of all Chesters!

Let’s just take a closer look at this handsome paragon. First, he’s definitely presidential! Calm, thoughtful, and quite dignified. Accepting of new surroundings (important for those foreign-relations junkets abroad). Second, like the famous Chester of old Dodge City, who was famous for his nonviolent approach to life in tumultuous Dodge City, THIS Chester does not believe in aggression toward anyone. Fine with other dogs & great with all people, too. (And unlike Chester B Goode, he doesn’t have a limp.)

Third, Chester the Golden certainly believes in Chester Barnard’s basic principles for ensuring effectiveness of communications, namely: Everyone should know what the channels of communication are; everyone should have access to a formal channel of communication; and lines of communication should be as short and direct as possible. Of  course, given his former life as a mostly-outside-alone yard dog, he needs some help in opening  up those lines of communication. He hasn’t had much chance till now! He looks forward to mastering some of those short, direct communications, like SIT, STAY, and DOWN, in the near future.

Luckily, GRR Chester does not need a chain Chester Hoist to get off the ground yet, although he could stand to drop ten pounds or so. However, he does seem to have some experience in heavy equipment & demolitions, as witness the fact that he swiftly disassembled a wire crate in his first foster home! He just doesn’t like to be alone and he is worried about confinement, too… but in a few days of short crate periods (in a new, Chester Hoist-worthy crate) accompanied by excellent treats, he was already doing better.

Watch for more of Chester’s accomplishments as we get to know him better!

Adoption Procedures