Did you know that 20% of all dog bites occur when a family member reaches to grab a dog by the scruff or collar? One doesn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out why this happens.  Dogs have learned from experience that when a person grabs its collar, bad things often happen.

It only takes one incident of you reprimanding or punishing your dog with a raised voice to make your dog hate coming when called or hate having you reach for its collar. The dog will become hand shy or will run away from you, or worse, become defensive. So be absolutely sure to never ever grab the collar of a dog you do not know, particularly a newly adopted dog.  You don't know what the dog has endured in the past (nor do we) and whether or not it will let you grab its collar.

Please do not ignore this warning, so that you do not put yourself at the risk of getting bitten. What you need to do is teach the dog that having someone reach for his/her collar is not a bad thing and that this action only has positive consequences. We have posted a new article under the "Golden School" section on our website which tells you how to go about "collar desensitization".  Please read it.   

Lauren Genkinger

President & Founder  

Meet Clarence, our AGA September Orphan of the Month

Say hello to Clarence, our September Orphan of the Month! He is an 8-year old golden boy who was born to run.

Clarence is very well-behaved and in need of an active and loving family! He interacts well with other trained dogs, and is a big boy who needs lots of exercise.

He's ready to do the things other dogs love to do... swimming, enjoying a little ice cream and hanging out with his new forever family indoors.

Read Clarence's story on our website, and be sure to come meet Clarence and our other orphans at our next Adoption Day!

Mark your calendars! Goldenrama is scheduled Sunday, October 23, from 1-4 p.m. at The Field at Concourse Office Park. 

Bring your golden and the family for the afternoon. We'll have a pet psychic, Ask the Vet, games for dogs and kids, a bake sale, silent auction, DJ, food trucks for humans and dogs and more!

Beat the crowds - RSVP now and buy your tickets here!

Right now, we're looking for:

• Sponsors: Sponsor levels start at $500.
• Vendors: Booths are $100.
• Silent Auction: We need donations of sports and entertainment tickets, restaurant gift cards, dog items, etc.

If you're interested in being a sponsor or vendor, or have silent auction items to donate, contact Juliann Kaiser, juliann@adoptagoldenatlanta.com.

We will also need volunteers to work at the various booths, like dog games, kid games, calendar sales and more. If you are interested in volunteering for one of more shifts, please contact Carol Swenson at agaatlanta@aol.com.

Wednesday, October 8, from 4-8 pm:

Join us for the AGA Fundraiser at Woo Skincare & Cosmetics.

Saturday, December 3, 10:30 am to noon:     

The Children's Christmas Parade is taking place in downtown Atlanta. 300,000 spectators attend and it's televised live on WSB-TV.

Be part of the AGA delegation and walk with your golden in the parade. If you're interested, please email juliann@adoptagoldenatlanta.com.

We are proud to partner with Atlanta Dog Trainer to train our orphans who require some obedience and/or behavioral work before they go to their forever homes. Atlanta Dog Trainer was voted "Best of Atlanta Dog Training" by Atlanta Magazine taken from a poll of 5000 people. Atlanta Dog Trainer is the resident pet expert for multiple on line dog resource websites and media outlets. They have spacious farm like locations in both Alpharetta and in the Cumming/Canton area nine miles north of Alpharetta. Their northern location houses a luxurious pet resort on 4 beautiful acres of farmland. This country farm facility has heated and cooled indoor/outdoor runs 4 feet by 15 feet long. All the doggie guests are treated like VIPs and get to enjoy extra-large accommodations with pastoral views of the doggie play yard and other areas of the property.

ADT is owned by Susie Aga CPDT is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. She is also a Certified Canine Behavior & Training Specialist receiving her certification from Triple Crown Academy, a world leader in pet education. She has 20 years experience with dogs and is recommended by over 45 Veterinarians in the Metro Atlanta area.  With a last name of Aga, how could AGA not use her?

If you are looking for a trainer, contact Susie.  For every dog ADT trains who says AGA sent them, a percentage of what you spend goes to AGA for training our orphan dogs.

Chloe, our wonderful golden pup who had open heart surgery a few months ago, is totally healed and has been adopted. She now has three little girls who adore her and she them. They take good care of Chloe and often dress her in very pretty clothes. Chloe is so very lucky. She has a pool to swim in and the girls are slowly teaching her how to dog paddle..... (we think she may need some water wings). Thank you all for donating to the Chloe Fund. We collected all but $500 of her surgical costs and that is awesome. Not too many pups get the chance to have open heart surgery to repair a valve... but Chloe was one lucky pup. This literally saved her life and now she can look forward to raising her girls and living to a ripe old age. Home is where the heart is!

AGA's Dakota who has been in permanent foster with Kim Shahid for two years, is a finalist for the Best Self Atlanta Magazine 'Best Pets Cover Contest.'  We need your help voting for Dakota so she .can be on the cover of the magazine!  You can vote once a day from now until Sept. 15.  Vote on Facebook or by sending an email. Spread the word and let's get lots of votes!

There Are Two Ways To Vote:

Facebook:

• Visit www.facebook.com/BestSelfAtlanta to Like Us and cast a vote
• Make sure to click on the "Best Pets Cover Contest" tab on the left to vote (votes on their Facebook wall will not be counted) 
• Scroll down to KIM AND DAKOTA and vote
• Friends and family may vote once per day during the voting period

E-Mail:

Friends and family can also submit their vote for KIM AND DAKOTA (once per day during the voting period) via e-mailing BestSelfContest@gmail.com