Bubba #10-122
(Fostered in Robbinsdale, MN)
Bubba is a big happy senior boy who came to RAGOM yesterday. He is 9 years old and a golden retriever/lab mix. Even though Mr Bubba is a tall boy, he is carrying too much weight. He tips the scale at 125 pounds, but should be closer to 80. He has bad knees which would be MUCH happier with less of Bubba to carry around. He has a sweet and gentle disposition. Mr Bubba plans to win RAGOM’s prize for the Biggest Loser! He is going to start working out and cutting back on the dog treats.
06/15/2010:
Mr. Bubba took a trip to the nursing home on Sunday. He is learning how to walk nicely with the Gentle Leader. He is doing MUCH better than when I first saw him on a leash. He is a big boy, and he can PULL! The Gentle Leader has stopped the pulling. He even walked nicely next to my mom's wheelchair. He got many compliments for being a lovely dog and a BIG dog. He was very sweet and gentle to a little girl who came up to meet him. I was also watching to see how he reacted to being away from his sister Maggie. He did not seem to be bothered to leave her. While I would like to see them adopted together, I think he would do fine apart from her. He would need another dog for company.
When Bubba has been outside for too long he barks to let you know that he wants to come back in. He has a big deep bark which is impressive.
Bubba is sticking to his diet, but I have not figured how to weigh him at home. We will try to make regular trips to the vet's scale to track his progress. He likes carrots.
06/24/2010:
Bubba had his first weigh in today and he has lost 7 pounds! He now weighs 118. We have started doing "Bubba laps" around the house when we can't get to walk outside. He seems to enjoy them, but when my other dogs join in things get a bit too exciting.
Bubba likes to lick his legs and is close to getting a hot spot. I have introduced him to Bitter Apple and he is NOT fond of it. I guess that I can't blame him. Bubba must know that drinking water helps with weight loss. He is a big drinker, not tidy, but very enthusiastic.
One of my resident dogs Wiggins had knee surgery today. I need to keep him quiet while encouraging Bubba to be active. Talk about multi tasking!
I am working on a theme song for Bubba the Bold. It will encourage him during his workouts. It is set to the tune of Tiny Bubbles and is called Thinner Bubba. Stay tuned for the verses...
06/29/2010:
Thinner Bubba (to the tune of Tiny Bubbles)
Thinner Bubba
Doesn’t whine
He’s so happy
Lookin’ so fine
Thinner Bubba
Feels good all over
He can run and jump and fetch
And play until the end of time.
Bubba is up to 15+ minute walks each day. I can tell he is getting tired by the end of the walk, so we may have to stay at 15 minutes until he gets more fit.
Bubba is not too anxious during storms, but last Friday night, Come ON! That was more than a storm. That was a life changing event! Wiggins was next to me at one point with his bandaged leg stretched out to his side. Bubba came up looking for love and comfort. He looked like he was going to lay right on top of Wiggins’s recently operated on leg. I said BUBBA NO! He kept coming. I put both of my feet on his side and with my back to the wall was able to hold him off. At this point Wiggins decided he would rather be somewhere else. (Wiggins was still on pain killers, so he thought that the storm was COOOL! Bubba and two of my resident dogs then snuggled up against me. They were in a real dog pile which was a surprise. My resident Libby does not like to be crowded, but on Friday she wanted safety in numbers.
The vet thinks that Bubba may be licking his legs because he has big calluses on his ankles. This is caused by the pressure of his weight on them when he is lying down. Another example of the problems so much weight can cause.
07/11/2010:
I have been focusing on Bubba's weight loss so much, that I have neglected to mention what a SWEET BOY he is. We visited the nursing home again today. A little 1 year old girl was fascinated by him, but also a bit scared because he is so BIG. Bubba was patient and calm with her. He laid down and she "patted" the top of his head, and kept touching the end of his nose with her finger. He wagged his tail and was a perfect gentleman.
Bubba is really an easy dog to live with. He is happy to lay around quietly and just chill. He does not beg for food at the table. At his height he could just take food off of the table, but he does not. No counter surfing for him! If you are looking for a gentle senior boy, Bubba is the guy for you. If you are looking for someone to motivate you to regular morning jogs, Bubba is also the guy to do it. I have never been a jogger, but the look on Bubba's face as we jog in the morning has gotten me hooked. He looks so happy with his big old tongue hanging out trotting beside me. I can tell that he is getting more and more fit. When we slow to a walk to give him a rest he is the one to pick the pace back up to let me know that he is ready for more. I would love to get a video of him jogging with the music from Rocky playing in the background. He is serious about his road work. If you are not a jogger don't worry. Bubba walks nicely on a leash with a gentle leader and he enjoys walks too!
07/13/2010:
Bubba will be at the dog wash event this Saturday at noon.
07/26/2010:
Bubba has now lost 12 pounds, and the vet is VERY impressed. I think Bubba is getting in touch with his “inner greyhound”. He is sticking to his diet and morning jog.
He spent too much time licking his back left leg and created a hot spot. It was swollen and red so I took him to the vet. He is now on an antibiotic and wearing a cone to prevent further licking. Bubba is undaunted by the cone. The cone is large due to Bubba’s size and when he walks around the house he has become known as the “Bubba-dozer”. If furniture, doors, people or dogs are in his way, Bubba does not care. He and the cone are coming through! My other dogs are learned to dodge the Bubba-dozer. Luckily his hot spot is looking much better, so we hope that the cone will be gone soon.
Bubba is a great guy and very easy going. He will make loving addition to your home!
08/11/2010:
I have the pleasure of temporarily fostering Mr. Bubba. I have had him since Saturday night and I am in love! He’s such a great dog with a fantastic personality, I have nothing bad to say about him. He’s completely house-trained with no interest in marking and gets along with all dogs; big, small, male, female. My male is an alpha and Bubba respects him and listens to his behavioral cues. I have taken him to a dog park a couple times which he thoroughly loves! He’s not quite sure of the water, but I have gotten him to swim a few times with lots of encouragement. He’s content with just laying on the beach or following the other dogs. He has no resource-guarding and will allow my Bernese Mountain Dog adolescent to take his bones and toys from between his front legs. He is on a diet, but I stopped and got the dogs pup-cups from DQ today and Bubba loved it!
Bubba loves every person he has met! He is fantastic with kids; I have a 3-year old niece that he just turns to butter for and lets her rub his belly and ears while giving her kisses. He’s a complete love-bug and is happy to lay at your feet with an occasional scratch. But once you start, it’s hard to stop! Bubba will look at you with those big, brown eyes and then proceed to rest his head on your arm. He is on Rimadyl for his sore legs, but he takes his meds like a champ; chews them with no need to pill him. The couple days he has been here, he has only seemed to be a little sore one day, but otherwise seems to be fine with no problems on the stairs or jumping into my Explorer.
I will update again in a couple days, hopefully with some pictures from the dog park! Bubba is a sweet boy who deserves a home of his own!!
Enjoying my bone J |
Bubba loves kids! |
Bubba and his friends enjoying their ice cream! |
08/16/2010:
Bubba did so well at my house, I'm going to miss the big guy! He is such a gentle soul, it's impossible not to fall for this guy.
This past weekend, we went and visited my Aunt and two cousins, ages 13 & 6, and they too fell for this guy. He loves kids and does so well with them despite his size! He has excellent recall and wouldn't need a fence, he
stays close to you and listens well. While staying with them, my cousin's bed is quite a bit lower than mine so he decided it was the perfect height for him to get up on and slept with us both nights; now this is quite a sight my Aunt said for he is bigger than my cousin and is as long as I am! He's quite the snuggler.
I decided to go on a grooming spree this past week and cleaned all three dogs' ears, clipped their nails, and gave them all dentals. Now when I say dental, I mean I not only brush their teeth, but I also scrape the tartar
and such off. Bubba was great through all of this! He didn't like his teeth being scraped, but he tolerated it and now they look nice and pearly! His ears were already quite nice and his nails are now nice and short! He is truly a gem.
We continued going to the dog park and he is like a social butterfly. He wants to say hi to everyone; both two-leggers and four-leggers and I have yet to see him not like anyone! He wouldn't swim anymore and I didn't want
to force the issue, but he was content with laying on the beach, wading in the water, and chasing the other dogs in the sand. I didn't see any other signs of soreness and I think he lost a little more weight! After the dog park, I bring everyone back to my house and rinse them off; Bubba did well with this and stood there while I hosed the sand off. I generally give bones out at this time so the dogs can relax and dry off. Bubba enjoyed this and has no problem with the other dogs eating by him and displays no resource guarding.
08/29/2010:
Bubba had such a good time with his temp foster, that I think he finds things a bit slow back at my house. He had quite a busy vacation! The biggest news about Bubba is that he now weighs 109 pounds. I think all of the activity he had over his vacation really helped. He has lost a total of 18 pounds now. He will be at the picnic in September and we hope to collect lots of compliments on his slim, trim form!
Bubba is the sweetest, gentlest friendliest boy that you could ever want to meet. He doesn't require any special handling. He will make a WONDERFUL addition to any family. He has proved that he can fit into a quieter household like mine, or one that's full of activity. As long as he gets loving attention, he is happy.
Come to GOLDZILLA and meet Bubba! You will fall in love with this big sweet boy.
09/01/2010:
Photos from Bubba's temp foster!
Meeting new friends J |
Playing at the dog park! |
Bubba enjoying his bone and packmates! |
