A year ago, while talking with my friend, Jill, at Saturday Night Golden Retrievers, I found out she was placing a male dog named Sailor.

Sailor was 17 months old and had a bit of a rough history. His first home was not prepared for his level of energy and their life circumstances prevented Sailor from receiving the most basic of training. When the breeder found out that Sailor’s home was not turning out as planned, she worked diligently to have the dog returned.

Sailor’s early days with his littermates at Saturday Night Goldens. Images courtesy Jill Flament.

In his first home, when he had typical naughty puppy behavior, he was isolated in a crate. He wasn’t taught. He was just locked up. Sailor spent a lot of his time with everyone mad at him. They didn’t know what to do with him. When Sailor returned to the breeder…