Willow is a sweet and people-oriented dog who will make a perfect companion for the right single person, couple, or family. She came to GRRA as a stray but she was definitely a loved pet at one time. Unfortunately we don’t know certain information about her, such as her exact age or why she was ever abandoned. Early on, GRRA helped her get through health issues (for instance heart worms) and behavioral issues (primarily anxiety, likely due to her being abandoned). Those issues are behind her and she is ready to step up and make her adopting person (or people) very happy.
Willow's appearance is remarkable. A retriever mix with many of the telltale physical attributes of a golden retriever (tail, muzzle, and ears), except having a deep brown colored coat with blond highlights on her back. She is truly gorgeous and possesses a rare-breed look. She is only 59 lbs making her petite for a golden or lab. But her smaller stature makes her especially manageable on the leash, particularly for an older person seeking a good walking dog. She has a long-haired coat which requires periodic attention, but she is perfectly calm and cooperative while being bathed, blow dried, and groomed (including her paws and nails).
Willow’s temperament is equally remarkable. First and foremost she thrives off of interaction and affection from her person (or people). She is very, very sweet, never resource guards her food, toys or bones, and wags her tail profusely whenever I return home after running errands. She’ll lay next to me while sitting on the couch watching tv or reading a book, and she’ll even purr (almost like a cat), if you scratch her ears or under her chin. She is always ready to go outside for exercise and adventure during the early part of the day but always settles down in the late afternoon and evening. Lastly, I had to teach her some house rules upon her arrival and I would describe her as eager to please, receptive to corrections, and a fast learner.
Willow does come with certain caveats. First she doesn’t like cats and I don’t think she is willing to budge on the issue, so no cats in her home. While she can get along very well with other dogs, she does exhibit dominance behavior which will make her a bad fit for certain other dogs. Also, she needs to warm up to even the most laid-back of dogs, over a period of days (or possibly weeks) before she can be fully trusted with unsupervised and unrestricted interaction, again due to her dominance. Therefore she is not a good candidate for dog parks or doggie dates with unfamiliar dogs. The last caveat on Willow is she can be very vocal if she is being confined to a single room of the house, such as the basement. Again she thrives off of interaction with her people and she simply doesn’t do well when forced into isolation. She will be best suited to a home where is allowed free rein and with this freedom she will likely follow you from room to room as you carry on your day. For similar reasons, I also wouldn’t recommend her for apartment or condo living, because during your absences she might become vocal when she hears your neighbors going about their day.
Willow is a great companion dog-in-waiting. She is super sweet, obedient and smart. She is house broken, calm in the car and cooperative in the bathtub. She will thrive in the freedom and spaciousness of a single-family home, especially one with a fenced-in backyard. She loves a good walk in the park but more than anything I think she wants to spend quality time with a person with whom she has a lasting bond.