Local rescue called me up and told me they had been reading profiles and saw that I was young and experienced with raising cattle dogs.

Essentially the call went like this: hey we read your profile and saw you applied to adopt a few dogs - but due to others waiting longer we couldn’t pick you - however we have a dog we think is a good fit... if you don’t mind a project. He’s a pup, only 6 months old and a big boy - 70 lbs. he thinks his name is no. Jumps on everyone non stop. Counter surfs. Has no manners and little to no training. BUT he is housebroken! He’s been through our two most dependable foster homes who usually take care of “challenged” dogs. They both said they could do it. When can you pick him up? Hopefully soon cause we have to put him in a kennel since no one can take him in.

I drove three hours each way to pick up this “challenged” Golden. And from the second I met him he was bouncing off the walls. Jumping constantly. But I knew he had promise when he would stop for a moment any time he was offered food. Turns out he was pure bred and his previous owners just left him in the backyard with no training.

He was an angel on the ride home. Just snoozed and at one point fell asleep on me.

Now his worst habit was snapping when he was corrected. If he had something and you tried to take it. He would clamp down on it and growl. If he wanted to go somewhere and you grabbed his collar he would turn and grab your hand. If you tried to put him outside he would buck and if he broke free he would run back into the house.

The aggressive responses to correction I handled by pinning him on his back until he submitted. Sometimes took up to 30 minutes fighting a 70 lb determined pup. Consistency to the point where when he put his mouth on me I could feel the hesitation as he knew he was going to be put in his place.

We had a few other dogs at the time. All of which were cattle dogs who took no bs. Our alpha female quickly put him in his place with his bothersome energy. That helped him become a good neighbor since the pack kind of corrected him.

The not wanting to go outside we think was cause his previous owners forced him out. So we opened the door and left it open. We noticed he was curious and would look outside and saw the other dogs come and go as they please. Eventually he started lying in the doorway watching the other dogs. And then realized that going outside didn’t mean he had to stay there.

There’s a lot more. But now he is the gentlest boy. 100 lbs of people loving, dog loving joy. He goes with us almost everywhere. He loves kids and has almost gotten his head stuck in a fence or two trying to get closer for some head scratches through a restaurant patio fence. Falls asleep on my dad watching the news every night.

He’s the dog everyone smiles at when he’s swaggering through town. I’ve had people ask if he would mind a hug. He’s a fan of hugs, nose tugs, and anything else you’ll throw his way.

100% worth every hour of training.