Too Dog Gone Special!

October 30, 2012

We just had to say goodbye to a dear, furry family member after almost 13 years of constant companionship. Not just any dog, but a Golden Retriever named Skipper. I remember driving through a blizzard to pick him out 13 years ago. He was the slightly older puppy that followed my shoestring and sat in my lap. He stole my heart, and I think he knew he was meant for us. He helped me raise 4 little children. He listened to books while the kids sat on him, he followed the kids to friends' homes and sat on the porch and waited, and he even found my two year old—who escaped out the back door to explore the woods. He knew everyone’s schedule and would give us plenty of notice before a storm even arrived. He took every boat ride and every family vacation. He was special! 

Now, enter the new puppy...a beautiful Golden Retriever named Louie. So smart, so sweet, and so different! He also has a unique relationship with each of us, and we love him dearly. But, I’m pretty sure the breeder saw us coming and said, "Take him." We are all in training! Even walking on a leash has been a challenge. He loves to just do a "dead drop" when he is done walking or if he wants to keep walking and we don’t. Yep, all 80 pounds of him just lying there, and he can’t be budged. He loves chasing apples more than balls, claims every stuffed animal as his, and certainly has a mind of his own. No, Louie isn’t Skipper, but we are already building memories and having lots of fun!

We went to pick out a puppy, oh so long ago, and ended up falling in love with a breed! What is your favorite breed? MCPL has so many books on pets and dogs, from picking the perfect breed for your family and pet care, to true animal stories and movies. Here are just a few...

What Dog? by Amanda O’Neill
Choosing a Dog by Diane Morgan
Training Your Puppy by Jack Diamond
Old Dogs are the Best Dogs by Gene Weingarten
The Dog Next Door by Callie Smith Grant
The Angel by My Side by Mike Lingenfelter and David Frie
Marley & Me (book and Movie) by John Grogan

Billie M.
Camden Point Branch