Paul and Michelle’s fondest memories of the day they adopted Scout were seeing how well he got along with their 8-year-old female golden retriever, and knowing they could provide the right environment for his issues.
Barely past the playfulness of puppyhood, Scout is obsessed with paper towels, gleefully taking them from the hands of whoever’s holding them. He loves stealing pillows from the couch, playing fetch with tennis balls, and chasing birds and squirrels in the backyard. He also loves his beef cheek chews, especially at night when he still sizzles with energy. They keep him busy – and help tire him out — by providing him with supremely satisfying and delightfully deep chews.
Scout makes his parents laugh because he’s such a big, lovable goofball. Being a typical 1-year-old golden, he likes getting into trouble! Not to mention the fact that whenever he plays with his tennis balls, he puts them in between the couch cushions and then tries digging them out.
Especially endearing to his parents is how faithfully Scout follows his golden sister’s lead. She’s been “teaching him the ropes” in dog language, and while she’s very gentle and patient, she’ll put him in his place whenever necessary. They love that he makes eye contact with them all of the time now, considering that when he first arrived, he wouldn’t look at them. He’s also becoming more confident and more protective of their household. Although he’ll bark at strangers outside, he’s friendly once people come inside.
Progressing paw step by paw step, Scout has gotten more comfortable when accompanying his parents on walks. While still somewhat wary of traffic and passersby, he’ll walk down the street from their home and sniff and explore awhile before “asking” to go back home. His parents are also slowly working to reduce his fear of swimming in their pool with his golden sister. According to Paul,
“It took her 1 1/2 years to go swimming and now she loves it. In time, we know that Scout will probably love it too.”
