Golden Retriever E-Book

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Smart Owner's Guide
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Seitenzahl: 234

Beschreibung

Celebrating the most friendly, talented, and affectionate dog on the planet, the Golden Retriever, this Smart Owner's Guide, created by the editors at Dog Fancy magazine, offers the most up-to-date and accurate information every dog owner needs to become a well-informed caregiver for his dog. Illustrated with color photographs of adorable puppies and handsome adults, this easy-to-read primer is designed in a modern, lively manner that readers will find user-friendly and entertaining.Each Smart Owner's Guide offers a description of the breed's character and physical conformation, historical overview, and its attributes as a companion dog. The reader will find informative chapters on everything he or she needs to know about acquiring, raising, and training this remarkable purebred dog, including: finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy; preparing for the puppy's homecoming, shopping for supplies, and puppy-proofing the home; house-training; veterinary and home health maintenance; feeding and nutrition; and grooming. Obedience training for basic cues (sit, stay, heel, come, etc.) and solving potential problem behaviors (barking, chewing, aggression, jumping up, etc.) are addressed in separate chapters, as are activities to enjoy with the dog, including showing, agility, therapy work, and more.Entertaining tidbits and smart advice fill up colorful sidebars in every chapter, which the editors call "It's a Fact," "Smart Tip," "Notable & Quotable," and "Did You Know?" Real-life heroes and rescue stories are retold in full-page features called "Pop Pups" and "True Tails." Recipes, training, and care tips are highlighted in the "Try This" feature pages.The Smart Owner's Guide series is the only series that offers readers an online component in which dog owners can join a breed-specific online club hosted by dogchannel.com. At Club Gold, owners of the breed can find forums, blogs, and profiles to connect with other breed owners, as well as charts and checklists that can be downloaded. More than just 20,000 pages of solid information, there's a host of fun to be had at the club in the form of downloadable breed-specific e-cards, screensavers, games, and quizzes.The Resources section of the book includes contact information for breed-related organizations and rescues, as well as practical guidance on traveling with dogs, identification, and locating qualified professionals to assist the dog owner, such as pet sitters, trainers, and boarding facilities. This information-packed Smart Owner's Guide is fully indexed.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Foreword

CHAPTER 1 - FOURTEEN KARAT

PERFECT PETS

A SIXTH SENSE

DRAWN TOWARD PEOPLE

HAPPY TO SERVE

CHAPTER 2 - OF GOLDEN TIMES

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION

NOT JUST FOR HUNTING ANYMORE

CHAPTER 3 - FINDING GOLD

EVALUATING BREEDERS

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PUP

CHECKING FOR GOLDEN QUALITIES

D-I-Y TEMPERAMENT TEST

PHYSICAL FEATURES

PUPPY PARTICULARS

BREEDER PAPERS

CHAPTER 4 - HOME ESSENTIALS

PUPPY-PROOFING

FAMILY INTRODUCTIONS

PUP’S FIRST NIGHT HOME

PET-SUPPLY STORE SHOPPING

BEYOND THE BASICS

CHAPTER 5 - SUCCESSFUL HOUSETRAINING

IN THE BEGINNING

LET’S START WITH THE CRATE

A PUP’S GOT NEEDS

HOUSING HELPS

IN CONTROL

SCHEDULE A SOLUTION

CHAPTER 6 - VET VISITS AND EVERYDAY CARE

FIRST STEP: SELECT THE RIGHT VET

FIRST VET VISIT

VACCINATION SCHEDULING

EVERYDAY HAPPENINGS

MORE HEALTH HINTS

CHAPTER 7 - ON THE TOPIC OF HEALTH

CHRONIC HIP DYSPLASIA

CATARACTS

SUBVALVULAR AORTIC STENOSIS

OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS

EXTERNAL PARASITES

INTERNAL PARASITES

CHAPTER 8 - RETRIEVING DINNER

BASIC TYPES

NUTRITION 101

CHECK OUT THE LABEL

STORE IT RIGHT

GASTRIC DILATATION-VOLVULUS

STAGES OF LIFE

CHAPTER 9 - GROOMING GOLDILOCKS

GET STARTED

NAILING THINGS DOWN

THE EARS HAVE IT

BEFORE GETTING WET

LATHER UP

IT’S THE TOOTH

REWARD A JOB WELL DONE

CHAPTER 10 - TIME TO TRAIN

CLICK THIS!

LEARNING SOCIAL GRACES

BASIC CUES

TRAINING TIPS

THE THREE-STEP PROGRAM

COUNTER-CONDITIONING

LEAVE IT ALONE

CHAPTER 11 - CHANGING BAD BEHAVIOR

NIP NIPPING

STOP THAT WHINING

CHEW ON THIS

NO MORE JUMPING

UNWANTED BARKING MUST GO

FOOD STEALING AND BEGGING

DIG THIS

POOP ALERT!

AGGRESSION

AGGRESSION TOWARD DOGS

DOMINANT AGGRESSION

SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

CHAPTER 12 - GOLDEN GAMES

EXERCISE OPTIONS

AGILITY TRIALS

OBEDIENCE TRIALS

RALLY BEHIND RALLY

HUNTING COMPANIONS

TRACKING TALES

SHOW DOGS

CANINE GOOD CITIZEN

THERAPY CHAMPS

CHAPTER 13 - RESOURCES

BOARDING

HOME STAFFING

SCHOOL’S IN SESSION

CAR TRAVEL

IDENTIFICATION

Copyright Page

FOREWORD

K9 EXPERT

Welcome to the wonderful world of Goldens! It’s no accident that they’re called Golden Retrievers, you know.

Of course, their gorgeous coats are rich and lustrous, whether they’re on the pale side or on the reddish end of gold. There’s no mistaking a Golden. That coat gives them away immediately.

What comes with striking beauty, though, is big grooming responsibility. Most Goldens need daily brushing. Fortunately, this is a task you can turn over to a child — most of the time. You’ll still need to brush at least weekly to do the longer hair — on the legs, around the neck and ears, under the body and on that graceful tail feathering.

But brushing shouldn’t be a chore. It’s a time for your children and you to connect with your dog, further building the bond you already share. And it offers a great opportunity to find little bumps that could grow into something more sinister if ignored.

Now on to the retriever part. It means just what it sounds like. Your dog wants — no needs — to retrieve. Whether you throw a ball in the yard or a disc at the park, he requires this activity — and thrives on it. Don’t be surprised if he likes to carry a stuffed animal around in his mouth. That’s what Goldens’ jobs were as hunting dogs. The urge to retrieve is still in them — even if they live the city, with no wild game around.

EDUCATION

You certainly know this breed’s reputation as the quintessential family dog. It’s very likely why you’re considering, or have already decided on, a Golden. However, you should know that these dogs aren’t born perfect. Your Golden will be a very busy dog for at least the first 18 months.

So, you need to get an immediate start on socializing and training your new pal, and giving him plenty of exercise. That threepronged effort will turn your rambunctious puppy and even busier adolescent into an amazing adult dog.

He’ll be friendly right away. That’s not a problem. He’ll play with anyone who knows what a tennis ball is really for or who will pay him a little attention.

But he won’t know how to sit or come or keep out of your kitchen wastebasket. He will entertain himself by chewing, digging and barking if he doesn’t learn his manners and get enough exercise.

If you teach him what’s OK and what’s not, and instill a willing, reliable response to your cues, your Golden will become a model canine citizen.

It will take a couple of good walks each day — and at least one long session of fetch — to keep him well exercised. If you love to jog or swim, you’ll find a ready partner once his bones are fully developed and he’s acclimated to water.

As they say, a tired Golden is a happy Golden. And a happy Golden Retriever makes for a very happy Golden Retriever owner. Soon, you’ll have the kind of family dog that everyone wants: loving, friendly and well behaved. Enjoy!

With this Smart Owner’s Guide™, you are well on your way to getting your Golden diploma. But your Golden Retriever education doesn’t end here.

You’re invited to join in Club Gold™ (DogChannel.com/Club-Gold), a FREE online site with lots of fun and instructive features such as:

• forums, blogs and profiles where you can connect with other Golden Retriever owners

• downloadable charts and checklists to help you be a smart and loving Golden owner

• access to Golden Retriever e-cards and wallpapers

• interactive games

• canine quizzes

The Smart Owner’s Guide series and Club Gold are backed by the experts at DOG FANCY® magazine and DogChannel.com — who have been providing trusted and up-to-date information about dogs and dog people for more than 40 years. Log on and join the club today!

Susan ChaneyEditor, DOG FANCY

CHAPTER 1

FOURTEEN KARAT

Gentle, kind and affectionate: The breed of dog that most often comes to mind at the sound of these adjectives is the Golden Retriever.

The Golden comes by this reputation with good reason. Of all the hundreds of dog breeds in the world, the Golden Retriever is one of the sweetest, most giving canines on earth. Goldens work as therapy dogs, service dogs and search-and-rescue dogs, and they provide loyalty and companionship to children and adults alike. And, as most people know, Golden Retrievers have a smile and a wagging tail for just about everyone they meet.

Of course, it’s no accident that Goldens are such wonderful dogs. Breeders have worked hard over the decades to develop and preserve this wonderful temperament.

In fact, the American Kennel Club Golden Retriever breed standard (a written description of what an ideal Golden should look and act like) has a section devoted exclusively to temperament. The section describes the breed as “friendly, reliable and trustworthy.” These qualities — and more — are what breeders of Golden Retrievers strive for today.

Thievery is common among Golden Retrievers, but unlike other breeds, these dogs are doing it mostly because of the retrieving instinct rather than out of sneakiness. When they’re not stealing your household items, Goldens will find other objects to carry; sometimes when they can’t figure out what to carry, they try to carry as much as they can.

Like any sporting breed, Goldens have energy to spare. Though they can be couch potatoes, that’s usually after a day of long walks and chasing balls. Even though other breeds are touted as “highly energetic,” the Golden truly does need more than just the average amount of play and activity to remain happy and healthy.

“Golden Retrievers have a pleasing nature and are very intelligent and trainable,” says breeder Amanda L. Dorner of Hyline Kennels in Palmyra, Wisc. “They actually smile by curling up the corners of their mouths and showing some teeth. Often, they are comical and entertaining, and they make up games. They are also very intuitive and sense many things. I truly believe they understand what you say to them. They try very hard to communicate with their owners, and the closer the bond, the more successful they are. They are also very observant and notice the strangest things.”

According to breeder Melissa Johnston of Clarkcreek Golden Retrievers in Clark, Penn., a Golden with an ideal temperament is one that is a willing worker, eager to please, lives to be with his people and has the think-it-through mentality of many great sporting dogs.

“He also has to possess the drive and athletic ability to hunt, play and fulfill the sporting dog role he was bred for,” Johnston says. “By and large, most Goldens are unflappable. They love people, kids and other animals, and will gladly run through fire if that is what you ask of them.”

The Golden Retriever is known for being a benevolent and softhearted dog; however, Johnston cautions against unrealistic expectations of the breed. “I disagree with the image of a Golden as a large, plush, sugarysweet, syrupy kind of dog that never shows any signs of being a dog,” Johnston says. “By this, I mean I do not believe a dog – any dog — is supposed to be a big blob willing to endure endless hours of torment from another dog, child and so on.”

Meet other Golden owners just like you. On our Golden forums, you can chat about your Golden Retriever and ask other owners for advice on training, health issues and anything else about your favorite dog breed. Log onto DogChannel.com/Club-Gold for details!

However, despite this truth, the Golden is considered one of the most tolerant dog breeds around. A trait which makes the breed uniquely suited to being an excellent companion while fulfilling some of the most challenging canine jobs around.

PERFECT PETS

The Golden Retriever’s distinctive temperament makes the breed incredibly popular as a friend and companion, and it’s easy to see why. Golden Retriever owners have a myriad of stories to tell about the wonders of living with a Golden.

“Goldens have a keen sense of smell and are determined to follow through to the end of a task that they believe will please their owner,” Dorner says. “For example, if our Goldens were out, our family could never clear our yard of sticks, fallen apples and other debris by tossing it in the woods — as the dogs would retrieve it all. They would just look and look until they found just the item that you threw. In fact, I once looked closely at a fallen apple for identifying marks before I tossed it in the woods. I threw it deep. It took some time, but one of my Goldens returned the exact apple to me.”

Goldens are just as tenacious about hunting. “Goldens love to hunt and do it quite naturally,” Dorner says. “One time, my dog April brought me a huge opossum that must have been in its den sleeping because it was daytime. The opossum was so big, April could barely carry it, but carry it she did, with the opossum snarling and hissing. I had my other dogs loose in the yard at the time, so it was difficult to deflect their excitement about April’s great find and get them all put away so the opossum could go back where it came from!”

Linda Giorgi has also lived with great Golden hunters, including one dog named Bo, whose intense retrieving instinct once got him into trouble. “Bo was up for anything, had great courage in the field and had an uncanny ability to open any door or kennel,” Giorgi says. “His insatiable curiosity got him into some problems in his life. He would fetch and deliver anything shot. On one occasion, a skunk was shot, and while trying to return the ‘catch’ to his panicked owner, Bo kept on coming with eyes tearing and his mouth foaming from the foul taste. He was determined to get that game back to his handler, who was running in the opposite direction at the time. Bo simply increased his pace to catch his now-sprinting owner.”

Show your artistic side. Share photos, videos and artwork of your favorite breed on Club Gold. You can also submit jokes, riddles and even poetry about Golden Retrievers. Browse through our various galleries and see the talent of fellow Golden owners. Go to DogChannel.com/Club-Gold and click on “Galleries” to get started.

Another distinctive facet of the Golden’s temperament is his versatility. Goldens can work hard in the field one hour and be a child’s perfect companion the next. Johnston tells of one of her female Goldens named Winter, who absolutely adores being around kids. “Winter is a wild child and full of as much energy as any dog I have ever owned, except when in the company of children,” Johnston says. “Then, she is calm, makes deliberate and slow movements and is never, ever even close to the activity level she resumes when in the company of adult family and friends. I have no idea why, except that maybe it’s her sixth doggie sense. She loves everyone and will pester you until you acknowledge she is the best dog alive. Maybe with children it is an unwritten rule; they know she is the best dog alive and are willing to show it the minute they meet her.”

A SIXTH SENSE

The Golden Retriever is friendly and forgiving, making him popular among those who provide pet-assisted therapy to patients in nursing homes, hospitals and other institutions. “For therapy work in particular, I don’t know of a better breed,” Johnston says. “Golden Retrievers seem to possess a sixth sense about when someone is in distress, needs help or just needs comforting. Many of our Goldens have become Therapy Dog International dogs used in hospitals around the country. Because Goldens have a natural love of people, many of them seem to thrive in this environment.”

Suited for home and work, Goldens are a versatile breed.

One example of that special Golden Retriever sixth sense is evident in Lana, owned by Helena Weil, a clinical psychologist and director of a pain center in Castro Valley, Calif. “Lana has been working with me at the pain center four days a week,” Weil says. “She has this amazing ability to sense people’s pain. I have never before met a dog with this uncanny ability to connect to people.”

Lana, who earned her AKC championship under the guidance of her breeder — Ann Chase of Honor Golden Retrievers in Mineral Springs, N.C., is invaluable in Weil’s practice. “When I counsel people, they tell me they feel better because Lana is in the room with them,” she says. “Petting Lana seems to stimulate the production of endorphins that block pain in these patients.”

Lana seems to understand her job at the pain center and works to help patients interact with her as much as they can. “I have one patient, a woman in her late 70s,” Weil says. “She’s on very heavy pain medication, yet the pain still doesn’t go away. She has problems with her feet and legs and uses a walker to get around. Every time this woman walks into my office, Lana positions herself so the woman can pet her without straining. This patient didn’t feel comfortable talking to anyone at first, but then she started talking to Lana.”

Another part of Lana’s job is to travel around the center with Weil, visiting patients and encouraging them in their attempts to overcome their pain. “We go to the pool where people are swimming, and she goes right up to the edge so people can pet her,” Weil says. “We go to the rehabilitation area where the physical therapists are working. We even go to the surgery center. Of course, Lana doesn’t only stick by the patients; she greets everyone. But with the patients, she has a specific way of greeting them: by lying by their feet and letting them show her what they need. She is very gentle with all of them.” According to Weil, Lana has made such an impression at her job that other psychologist want to get dogs like her and integrate them into hospital settings.

Positive experience is the key to building confidence. The more your pup safely discovers the world, the more confidence and social skills she’ll develop. A socialized pup is calmer and behaves more appropriately. She’s more able to respond when asked to do things because she doesn’t feel worried by nearby events. A well-socialized pup also tends to be easier to train because she isn’t overly distracted and can focus on lessons.

Another amazing Golden Retriever working hard at pet-assisted therapy is Cedar, owned by Carl Liepmann, a retired firefighter in Flushing, Mich. Cedar volunteers once a week at a closed-head-injury facility, where he helps patients overcome brain trauma. “Cedar is an excellent therapy dog,” Liepmann says. “He has learned to be around people with head injuries, which can be challenging for a dog. People with this kind of injury have little control over their arms, and they will want to pet him but will sometimes smack him on top of the head instead. Cedar doesn’t mind it, though, he is extremely tolerant.”

One of my Goldens constantly has two things in his mouth — two balls; a ball and a woobie [a beloved dog toy]; two woobies; a ball and a shoe; a woobie and a shoe; or two shoes. He doesn’t tear them up; he just carries them around with him.

— Kay Hepker of Center Point, Iowa

That famous Golden Retriever sixth sense is apparent in Cedar. “One fellow we see at the facility will suddenly scream for no apparent reason,” Liepmann says. “It used to scare me to death, but it never upset Cedar. I couldn’t figure out why until I noticed that Cedar starts to wag his tail just before the patient is going to scream. Cedar knows the patient is about to do this and is prepared. And now when I see Cedar wagging his tail, I know it’s coming.”

Cedar has another job that only comes once a year: playing Santa Dog to support Liepmann’s local humane society. “Cedar gets dressed up like Santa at Christmas time, and kids come and take pictures with him,” Liepmann says. “He sits calmly on the table for nine to 10 hours a day with everyone petting him. He’s amazing.”

As evidence of the Golden Retriever’s versatility, Liepmann points out that Cedar does a lot more than play Santa and provide pet-assisted therapy to patients at the trauma center. “He’s a champion and an excellent hunting dog on waterfowl and upland game,” Liepmann says. “We are also working on getting him obedience titles.”

You might love the Golden’s glittering personality, but as with most great things, there’s a downside.

In this case, it’s the shedding. Goldens shed consistently and they “blow” their coat (shed lots of fur all at once) about twice a year.

DRAWN TOWARD PEOPLE

Because Golden Retrievers are so people-oriented, they make excellent candidates for search-and-rescue dogs. SAR dogs are trained to locate lost people and victims of disasters, and are usually volunteers, as are their handlers.

Taylor is one such dog. A 7-year-old female Golden trained by her owner, Cheryl Gorewitz of Redding, Calif., Taylor started her basic training when she was only 7 weeks old. “By the age of 13 months, Taylor was certified as a search-ready, trailing SAR K9 for the Shasta County Sheriff’s SAR Dog Team,” Gorewitz says.

Taylor proved her worth as a SAR dog in when an inmate escaped from the Shasta County Jail. “After law enforcement personnel secured a perimeter around the area where the escapee was last seen, Taylor and I were called upon to attempt to locate the felon,” Gorewitz says. “Without benefit of a scent article, and no confirmed track, Taylor and I set out, accompanied by two armed officers.

“Utilizing trailing and air-scenting skills, Taylor initially tracked, then air scented the subject, who had secreted himself in a grove of cedar trees and brush, laying face down on the ground in an attempt to avoid detection. Unfortunately for him, the nose knows! In less than 10 minutes from the start of the trail, the escapee was once again in custody and secured in the back of a patrol vehicle.”

Tonka is a Golden Retriever currently studying to become a certified SAR dog like Taylor. Owned by Craig Pitcher of Dixon, Calif., Tonka is only 20 months old but is already showing considerable talent as a SAR dog. “Tonka loves to play and is eager to please, and these two traits make him easy to train for search-and-rescue,” Pitcher says.

Golden Retrievers work hard and play hard, perfect for today’s active family.

Tonka is currently learning to use air scenting to find any human in his general vicinity and will work at wilderness searches with volunteer groups in Northern California once he receives his certification. “I eventually hope to get into doing urban searching and disaster work,” Pitcher says. “Right now, though, we are learning to work as a team and communicate with each other.”

Unlike volunteers Gorewitz and Taylor and Pitcher and Tonka, some Golden Retriever SAR dogs are professionals. One such working dog is Riley, owned by a Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent in Washington, D.C., who prefers to be referred to only as Eileen. Riley came to Eileen as a puppy with the idea of turning the dog into an FBI SAR canine.

Riley started in obedience classes where she showed her worth as a potential SAR dog immediately. She was then certified as an official FBI SAR dog, and her job was to work at disaster sites to locate victims and also to track down criminals who were fleeing from the FBI. The Golden Retriever’s attraction to people makes him particularly valuable as a search-and-rescue dog, to lost people’s joy and criminals’ chagrin.

HAPPY TO SERVE

Golden Retrievers can do more than just provide companionship to the convalescing and search for the missing. They also make skilled assistants for the handicapped in the form of service dogs.

Carol Bowes of Tequesta, Fla., raises puppies for Canine Companions International, a California-based organization that breeds and trains dogs as mobility and hearing assistants. She says that Goldens are ideally suited to be service dogs, whether for the sight, hearing or mobility impaired, and excel as service dogs for many of the same reasons they do well as therapy dogs. “Most Goldens are sensitive and get upset if you are displeased with them,” Bowes says. “You don’t have to yell at them. They live to please you.”

Kevin Korobko of Cary, N.C., lives with a Golden service dog named Shamu. Korobko is wheelchair-bound. “Shamu is so eager to please,” Korobko says. “He gets so excited when I ask for anything. His tail goes crazy, and he’s very affectionate.”

When David Gordon of Lindon, Utah, first applied for a guide dog, he didn’t think he wanted a longhaired dog, such as a Golden. However, Gordon, who is sight-impaired, knew that Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, Calif., looks for the best match between dog and owner regardless of breed.

“I’d had five back surgeries, and I needed a dog that didn’t pull hard,” Gordon remembers. “That dog was Severin.”

Gordon and Severin worked together for four years until Severin developed brain cancer at the age of 6. Gordon knew he would eventually need another service dog, and soon Harding, another Golden, joined the family.

Golden people say that we brush an entire Pomeranian out of our dogs; that’s how much dog hair we can get when we brush them. Immediately after I’m done vacuuming or sweeping the floors, there are little golden tumbleweeds floating around. Golden people also say that dog hair is a condiment; we are constantly picking it out of our food and out of our mouths! It’s everywhere. I scoop out large golden dust bunnies from the bottom of the pool every day.

— Golden owner Tami Roleff of Yucca Valley, Calif.

Gordon recalls the day Severin “stepped down” and turned over his duties. “Severin knew when it was his time to give up the reins to Harding,” he says. “We were all going to a doctor’s appointment, and when we arrived, I picked up the harnesses. Instead of jumping up like he usually does, Severin just turned and looked at Harding. He never even stood up. It was a cool day, so I left him in the van. From then on, Harding was in charge.”

Despite his initial reluctance to get a dog with a long coat, Gordon is now committed to Golden Retrievers. “Goldens have a gentleness and a very, very strong desire to please,” he says. “When you praise them, their tails go 100 miles per hour. They’re just as proud as punch. They really bond quickly with people, especially if they can tell you really care about them.”

Before Severin, Gordon had navigated with a cane. Now that he’s been guided by Golden Retrievers, however, he’ll never go back. “I felt confident with the cane, but I’m even more confident with my Golden,” he says. “In dangerous situations, a service dog can keep you out of trouble. Now, I’ll even go on the New York City subway system to visit my daughter.”

With a temperament designed for hunting, retrieving, helping humans and just being an overall great companion, it’s no wonder the Golden Retriever has the reputation he does for being such a wonderful dog. “For me, there are no negative temperament issues with Goldens,” Dorner says. “They are very true to their retrieving instinct and have a sense of humor. And they love to help and entertain.”

True Tails

Addicted to Helping

Erin Renzelli and Nick met online. She had been searching the Internet, looking for just the right match — a canine partner. With his blond good looks and outgoing personality, Nick filled the bill.

“Nick’s kind of special to me because it took me forever to find him,” Renzelli says. “I searched and searched and searched and finally ran across on Internet.”

At first glance, Nick’s background might have made him seem like a dubious choice for a partner. He’d been evicted from several homes for unbecoming behavior. At Keystone Golden Retriever Rescue in Pennsylvania, they despaired of finding the right place for him. Then Renzelli came calling. Nick’s exuberance and energy were just what she was looking for — in a drug detection dog.

Cpl. Renzelli is employed by Pruntytown Correctional Center in Grafton, W.V. She and Nick check inmates and visitors to make sure they’re not bringing in drugs. In their spare time, they assist law enforcement officials by searching schools for drugs.

Nick, who was called “Snoopy” in his previous life, is named for one of Renzellis’ fellow officers, who died at age 26. “That makes him even more important to me,” she says.

Their job is in the way of being a preventive measure, so Nick doesn’t have any major drug busts to his credit. That’s OK. He still gets plenty of chances to show how good he is during regular training sessions.

“We train every week, and every six months we have to go through recertification,” Renzelli says. “He loves finding drugs. He just has that desire, which makes him a good dog.” makes him a

Nick indicates a find by sitting. If the drugs are within reach, he places his nose on them. Otherwise, he just sits as close to the odor as he can.

It looks as if Nick has finally found a lasting home. “I’ve had Labrador Retrievers all my life,” Renzelli says, “but I’ll tell you now that after having a Golden Retriever, I don’t think I could have another breed. He’s so smart and lovable.”

THE RETRIEVER REPORT

Lovable and loyal, these dogs are the perfect family companions.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Great Britain/Scotland WHAT HIS FRIENDS CALL HIM: Goldie, Goldilocks, Midas, Knox

SIZE: 22.5 to 24 inches tall; 55 to 75 pounds

COAT & COLOR: The Golden Retriever has a medium length coat with a dense undercoat and water-repellent outer coat. The coat can come in many shades of gold and can be wavy or straight.

PERSONALITY TRAITS: Goldens are outgoing, friendly, playful and even tempered; they get along with pretty much everyone.

WITH KIDS: These friendly dogs are great with children of all ages.

WITH OTHER PETS: good

ENERGY LEVEL: moderate to high

EXERCISE NEEDS: Exercise is key to keeping this dog happy, healthy and out of trouble.

GROOMING NEEDS: low maintenance, but sheds heavily two times a year

TRAINING NEEDS: These dogs are very easily trained. They excel in obedience work, as a guide dog and in activities such as hunting, search and rescue, and assistance work.

LIVING ENVIRONMENT: Golden Retrievers do best with a yard in a rural or suburban area.

LIFESPAN: 10 to 12 years