I've posted about this once before, quite a while ago: blind Goldie's habit of patiently waiting outside for one of us to come home. It doesn't matter whether it's Alayne or me who's away from the ranch -- she knows her "pack" isn't complete if one of us is missing, and she wants to stay outside, listening for the sound of the truck coming down the drive. And she knows where the gate by the road is, and that's the direction she faces. On Friday evening, I noticed her sitting by the front of the house, looking towards the gate, waiting for Alayne to get back home from New York. As usually happens, I had to insist she come in out of the cold, damp weather; when she's on "sentry duty" like this, she becomes oblivious to the weather.
Yes, she's still wearing her camouflage foam e-collar; when we removed it recently, she went right back to working on the surgery site on her leg. Oddly, she almost acted lost without her e-collar after we took it off her. She seems to actually like the confounded thing, and uses it as a personal pillow for napping whenever she chooses. Even better, it's great for blocking other dogs who may get in her way or impede her efforts to stay near Alayne (she's like Alayne's shadow). It's kind of like the shoulder pads that American football players wear, but instead of making a "crunching" sound on contact, it's more of a soft "whoosh" sound as she brushes away the other dogs.
But the only sound I heard when Goldie finally greeted Alayne that evening was "smooch!"
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Still No. 1!
Please keep voting for the ranch every day in The Animal Rescue Site/PetFinder's Shelter Challenge. Thanks to your votes, we came in third nationwide and won $3,000 for the animals in the previous contest. Now we have a shot at No. 1 and the $20,000 grand prize! Enter "Rolling Dog Ranch" and our state postal code, MT for Montana, and it will bring up our listing so you can cast your vote. Please ask your family and friends to vote, too. Thank you!
Goldie is really very sweet. Thanks for sharing such nice story about cute Goldie.
It is nice to visit this site.
Posted by: tee | November 05, 2009 at 04:00 AM
Miranda: I right there with ya about the contest. Same thing last time. I blamed it on the fact that I'm still on dial up (do I hear laughing????)
But I agree with you, RDR is worth it. I'll put up with it to get my vote in everyday; it's the least I can do. :-)
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | November 04, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Goldie is such a sweetheart!
Posted by: Mary | November 03, 2009 at 08:44 PM
Goldie, you are just the sweetest & I know that big smooch was welcomed after your Mom's quick, long trip. Way to go learning to navigate yourself closer to her too!
Cats are not known for giving wonderful greetings when their human has been gone but I am fortunate that I get a loving greeting even if I've been away for 5 min, 5 hours or 5 days. It's not all the jumping & smooching that a doggie might do but it's head butts, purring & taking careful steps while he wraps himself around my legs as I walk thru the house.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | November 03, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Has anyone noticed how difficult it can be on some days to vote? I've had to attempt 3, 4, and 5 times. The Thanks for voting screen doesn't come up so the vote doesn't count and you have to start again or I get a screen saying it can't find the server. Good thing I like RDR or I'd get disgusted and give up.
Posted by: Miranda | November 03, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Goldie has incredible fashion sense, as well as good taste in people. How incredibly sweet and dedicated she is.
Posted by: Ev | November 03, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Please tell us how things went with the trip to New York.
Posted by: Mike Marshall | November 03, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Such sweet devotion Goldie. Everyone should have that kind of welcome, :) Good girl!
Posted by: Margaret | November 03, 2009 at 11:04 AM
I have a dog named Goldie too! Goldie dogs are the best :)
Go Goldie Go, Go, Go, Go Goldie!
Didn't members of royalty at one time wear those Elizabethean collars? She's royality and she knows it. Where is that Lady in Waiting? She isn't WAITING on me!
Posted by: Amy A | November 03, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Being a Football coach, I would take Goldie on as a good right guard on the offensive line. She protects her Quaterback and you can ask nothing more of a good guard.
Welcome home Alayne.
Posted by: Eric | November 03, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Thanks for the interesting post Joan of BC - Goldie looks so adorable. I guess that is why we love animals so much - that they show their feelings directly. I am sure it was a very happy reunion upon Alayne's arriving home!
Posted by: Angela | November 03, 2009 at 10:08 AM
What a precious welcoming committee....making sure her humans are safe at home!
Posted by: Nina | November 03, 2009 at 09:52 AM
What a sweet, brave and focused dog Goldie is!
I'm glad she was rewarded with Alayne's arrival home.
Another add to Goldie's attributes: creative. She really knows how to use a head cone!
Welcome Back Home Alayne!
I'm sure you were missed by ALL
Posted by: boundforglory | November 03, 2009 at 09:06 AM
How sweet
Posted by: gayle | November 03, 2009 at 08:45 AM
Awww, Goldie is the sweetest little linebacker!
Posted by: Lynne Parker | November 03, 2009 at 07:37 AM
Very heartwarming. Nothing like coming home to a canine companion who is always happy to see you and thinks you have been gone an eternity even if it has only been for an errand. Also, congratula-tions on the award, it is well deserved.
Posted by: Dee, KY | November 03, 2009 at 05:41 AM
Nice collar Goldie!
Posted by: Lisa Brown | November 03, 2009 at 03:23 AM
She does look a bit like a satellite dish!! But I suspect the collar has the effect of collecting sound and helping her to sort out her surroundings. Many blind people use echolocation quite effectively so why not a blind dog? That could explain why she acts lost without her collar--she depends on it!
Posted by: Joan from BC | November 03, 2009 at 03:05 AM
Good baby, Goldie... for keeping watch over the ranch and your people.
Posted by: Penny Heirnich | November 02, 2009 at 10:47 PM
oh goldie, what a luv!
Posted by: Kate and Luke | November 02, 2009 at 09:54 PM