Comments on: My golden retriever

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:53:34 +0000

Awww. Thanks for sharing a bit about each of your goldens. They are all so special in their unique ways. I’m so sorry to hear about Sundance. But what a great story about her time in Europe! What a lucky dog! Give Riley a pat on the head and a hug from me!

By: Patti Balhorn

Patti Balhorn — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:18:39 +0000

We are currently on our third golden retriever and could not imagine life without them. They have been so loving and provide such unconditional love. Our first dog, tolerated three young girls spaced two years apart. She was great with them no matter what they did – dress her up like a granny or crawl over to her peaceful space. Our first golden, Kahlua, acted like a puppy always being playful and lived to 12 years old and died of cancer. Our second golden, Sundance, was a very anxious dog. I think she could predict a storm coming before the weatherman as she wouldn’t let me leave the house without her. She was scared of everything from a vacuum cord to a balloon. She would have a quiet “roof” that she would do if she was afraid to walk over the vacuum cord and would repeat it patiently until someone would move the cord or balloon for her. Thunderstorms and fireworks were a nightmare. We moved to London when they still had the quarantine law. We did not want to give up our golden retriever. An organization called Passport for Pets eventually worked out a law with England that if a dog lived in a country that did not have rabies, such as France, for six months they could be brought into England. My husband flew to France with Sundance and sh lived in the north of France with a wonderful English couple who had a golden of their own. They never left the house without taking the two dogs. We would travel to France from England through the chunnel in our SUV spending weekends visiting our dog. Eventually she made it into England and lived with us. When we came back to the U.S. for six weeks in the summer, she would go back to live with her friends in France. We eventually moved back to the U.S., and after one year Sundance didn’t seem herself and she lost her appetite. After a few days of this behavior, we took her to the vet who told us she was loaded with cancer and we should put her down that same day. Boy, can I relate to losing a dog unexpectedly way too early. It was horrible. We now have our third golden, Riley, who has another unique personality and is just as lovable and kind as the previous two dogs. I’m sure my husband and I will continue to have goldens until the day we die. They bring so much pleasure and company for us.

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:49:51 +0000

You should get a dog! There are plenty of older dogs and dogs with less energy.

By: scurrans

scurrans — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:31:19 +0000

What amazes me is how Dogs and Humans as so attached to each other. I no longer have a dog. Mine died when I was 17…but now I am thinking about getting a dog again. I am in my middle years now and a little afraid that I will not keep up with a dog…but I just want one so bad!

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:40:59 +0000

I’m so sorry to hear about BONZO. It is so hard to put a pet to sleep. I’m glad you got to spend 15 years with him. Thanks for sharing a bit about your golden. I still miss mine.

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:35:11 +0000

Hi,just reading your story about Brittni. We are waiting for the vet to come and put our BONZO to sleep.
BONZO is fifteen and we had him from a puppy. A beautiful, loving and loyal friend. He has rapidly gone down hill over the last few months. We know he is going to doggy heaven.

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:57:30 +0000

I’m so sorry to hear about Sam. She sounds like she was one of those once in a lifetime dogs. Thanks for sharing a bit about her. My mom’s springer loves to run too!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:38:55 +0000

I just lost my Springer Sam two weeks ago. She was 15 and he hips were giving out on her. It took a lot to realize that she was tired and ready to “go home.” I got Sam when I was 10 years old. She was a great dog from the start. It took her 4 days to potty train and 2 weeks to pick up sign language, although she was not deaf it came in handy when I wanted her to do something form across the room or the yard. She went rollerblading and running with me and was there for all the growing pains I had while becoming an adult. She was so full of life and energy up untill the end which is why it was so hard to let her go. Her mind was there but physically she couldn’t do it any more. I will always remeber that little girl and she will always hold a special place in my heart.

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:54:42 +0000

Chelsea sounds like such a sweet dog. I love German shepherds. I hope to have one someday when one will fit better into my lifestyle.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:37:45 +0000

The first dog that Scott and I had together as a married couple was a four year old GSD named Chelsea. She had been surrendered to a veterinary ER clinic as her owners could not pay for her treatment for myasthenia gravis. We met her at the clinic and when we saw that big doggie smile and those warm brown eyes, we knew she was coming home with us. She was our constant companion and was (mostly!) very patient with us as we learned daily about what it was like to live with such a beautiful, loyal and intelligent dog. We lost Chelsea very suddenly to cancer at age 9, but she will always live on in our hearts as our “special”.