Hi! I’m Marty, and I’m finally learning that life is supposed to be fun. For the first two years of my life, I spent most of my time in a crate, which wasn’t much of a doghood at all. Then a wonderful Good Samaritan scooped me up and helped me find my way to Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue — and wow, my world is getting a whole lot better.

These days I’m blossoming into a spirited, enthusiastic young guy who LOVES his people. Seriously… if you’re outside and I’m inside, I may just let myself out because clearly we belong together. (I’m very good at opening doors!) Don’t worry — I’m not trying to run away. I just love my humans too much to be left out of the action.

I’m recently neutered, and my former hobby of enthusiastic humping is slowly becoming more of a “remember when Marty did that?” situation. Growth! Personal development! Character arc!

I love playing ball, although I’m still negotiating the “returning the ball” portion of fetch. Right now I specialize in the “you throw it, I find it and proudly parade around with it” version. I also know all my basic commands… and sometimes I even do them on the first try.

I enjoy walks and adventures, though I can pull pretty hard on leash because the world is exciting and I have places to sniff. I’ll need a patient person to help guide me as I continue learning my manners.

I’m also a pretty vocal guy. Not in an excessive barking kind of way — I just like to use my voice to communicate. I’ll let you know when I want to play with another dog, when I’d really appreciate another ball throw, or when I’m especially excited about life in general. I can also give low little growls or lip curls if I’m enjoying a very high-value treat or Kong and don’t want to be bothered. That’s simply my way of communicating my boundaries..

Because I’m still learning impulse control and can get very excited around my people, I would probably do best in a home without young children. I sometimes jump up for attention because I’m just so happy to see my humans. My fosters are working hard with me on this, and I’m making progress every day.

I also come with a few quirks that need understanding and management: I hate crates, I can be protective of my car, and vets make me extremely nervous (I require pre-visit medication and sedation for exams). So I need people who will help me feel safe and supported while I continue building confidence.

The good news? Underneath all this enthusiasm is a deeply loving guy who wants nothing more than to belong to his forever family. I’m not perfect — but I’m trying really hard, and every day I get a little better.

If you’re looking for a beautiful, funny, loyal companion with a huge heart and an even bigger personality, I just might be your guy.

Love,
Marty