I’m a golden retriever mama. Am I biased? Of course! I am currently raising my “second born” golden. I remember my first golden, Bogey’s, puppy days. When going to puppy training class, the trainer said, “you have the easiest dog here. Give her the instructions in writing and she’ll do what is asked!” I did not feel that way in the beginning. We had many days of prying rocks, wood chips, frogs, and dead fish (yes, disgusting as it sounds) from her tight grips. We have a rug and a wall that are evidence of her puppy days still on display in our home. She would steal my then 3 year old’s crocs daily and gnaw on them to her delight, while we repeatedly took them and replaced the shoe with one of her dog chews.
But in retrospect, she really caught on quickly. She learned to leave their stuffed toys and only destroy her own toys. She knew when it was ok to eat something dropped on the floor and when she needed to wait until given permission, or to leave it alone altogether.
She was the one who told me when she had to go potty, needed exercise, was hungry, and when it was time to go to bed. She sat next to my father-in-law calmly, refusing to leave his side, when his blood sugar was low. She calmly sat on the floor next to my dad in the recliner when he was going through cancer, a calming and comforting friend.
She didn’t leave my side after he died, and she “hugged” me as long as I needed her to.
When it was her time to cross the rainbow bridge and we were on vacation last summer, she waited until we got home. Even then, she calmly told us it was her time to run in the sunshine again.
Just this morning while running along the shore in Long Beach, I saw a happy golden jogging along in front of her human off leash. We locked eyes for a second. I couldn’t help but wonder if those bright smiling eyes and fluffy helicopter tail belonged to my sweet golden girl, in a “dog’s purpose” moment, letting me know she’s ok and happy now. For today, I’m choosing to believe that not only do all dogs go to heaven, but those blessed to be golden are the extra special ones, sent to us to teach us to live life with joy, excitement, and gratitude for all opportunities to run, snuggle, and spend time with our pack. 💛
