What’s Your Size?
September 24, 2023
Golden Retriever Jogging Buddy
A while back I went for a jog with our Golden Retriever, Sherman. He’s close to 80 pounds, has an amiable personality and gentle disposition. He’s a good jogging buddy because he doesn’t pull on the leash, and he matches my pace stride for stride. I feel proud when I pass others and they comment on what a handsome Golden Retriever he is. He’s unflappable with bicycles, traffic, and skateboards. Jogging together we have a synchronized pace. I get lost in my thoughts and perhaps even experience what athletes call a sense of “flow.” I’ll even start to feel like I could continue for more miles. Then it happens. Lost in my thoughts and the rhythm of foot and paw steps, my right arm will jerk back and Sherman sits, then lies down. Sherman is done. And as if to tell me, “I’ll wait here and meet you when you get back,” he puts his head on the ground and sighs. Sherman is a great 5k runner and that is his max. Not because he can’t run more, he quits because he’s not a high energy dog. He’s more of a “weekend warrior” type who attends the gym once a week hoping it will make up for the six other days on the couch. His Olympic sport is Curling. Perhaps Croquet, if that were an Olympic sport.
Female Golden has energy to burn
Another Cream Golden of ours, Pearl, who is 75 pounds of love and affection, can go forever. She too is a steady companion that focuses on the road ahead and isn’t distracted by other dogs, bicycles, skateboards, or people. She’s got energy to burn. Pearl can keep going and gets lost in “flow.” I’m the one jerking the leash when I sit and need to rest. When I quit I can hear her quoting David Goggins, “Hey human, it may be satisfactory, but that’s another word for mediocrity. Get moving!” Pearl is competitive and driven. She’s my toughest coach. She’s an Olympic Marathon runner.
Why I love big dogs
Pearl and Sherman are my two best reasons for loving big dogs. Their energy in the house is very manageable. They spend their days with brief games of fetch and napping.
Big dogs seam to me to have longer attention spans and are easier to train
Our bigger dogs, the Golden Retrievers and the Standard Poodles have been easy to train. They seem to have attention spans commensurate with their sizes. They prefer to loaf about the house and nap when they’re bored. But when we all need some exercise, they’re always game. Sherman for my light exercise days. Pearl for my heavier days. Big dogs, simply by their presence, make me feel safe when I’m alone on the trail, camping, or jogging in the dark. We’ve never had an aggressive retriever or poodle. Their size is enough to make me feel protected. Our larger breed dogs are the best with children, and our grandchildren are adored by Jett, Sherman, Pearl and Willow.
I enjoy smaller dogs for different reasons
The smaller dogs are different. Take Ollie for instance. He’s a miniature poodle weighing about 16 pounds. I don’t run or jog with Ollie. A romp around the property and he’s happy to leap to the back of the couch like a cat and look out the window. I enjoy smaller dogs for different reasons. They’re transportable. They don’t take up as much space in bed. They’re easy to cuddle. And of course, they’re cute, and many small dogs look like puppies their entire life.
Can you fit Beanie in your purse?
Several years ago my mother was terminally ill in the hospital. We had a black chihuahua at the time named “Beanie.” She was only five pounds and she was defensive, aggressive, and protective. Since her jaw was a whopping inch and a half long, her snarling, bullying threats became laughably preposterous. My mother loved her for some reason. She was not a nice dog. Because seeing puppies gave my mother such joy, my sister asked, “Can you fit Beanie in your purse?” I could and I did. On the elevator to my mother’s hospital room, my sister and I shared many conspiratorial giggles. We were stoic when asking to be admitted to our mother’s room. When Beanie’s head popped out of my purse, my mother laughed and reached for Beanie. My sister and I relished our mom’s smile and delight at the sight of that silly, and often mean, chihuahua. That is the number one reason I love small dogs. They can be transported to very important places with stealth.
Let your personal preferences reign
I have come to realize that the size of a dog is a peculiar and personal decision. People love small dogs for their own reasons as much as those who love large dogs. There are pros and cons to both. I believe I am a big dog person. But I love my daughter’s miniature Poodle and miniature Goldendoodle. They’re funny, vivacious and entertaining. I love the bond they have with her.
Perhaps it’s my inability to make firm decisions, my ambivalence about settling on one thing, my fear of missing out (my fomo is in my DNA), or because I’ve loved both large and small dogs. Whatever the reason, we decided to breed Cream Golden Retrievers along with Goldendoodles, Aussiedoodles and the miniature version of both. I’m a kid in a candy store when I play with my dogs. I may have a favorite one day, but on a different day, I have a different favorite. Of course I don’t let them know. I’m every dog’s favorite, every day.
Anticipated litter – Great personality & big size is what Sherman and Pearl offer
We are waiting and watching for signs that our Cream Golden, Pearl, will be in season. It should be soon. I believe that Sherman and Pearl are the perfect couple. They already act like an old married couple, scrapping over silly things, and then affectionate. Sherman, the steady, calm, and reassuring male and Pearl, the expressive, energetic, enthusiastic female. They compliment each other.
Both Sherman and Pearl have been genetically tested (through Embark) and have OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certifications as well as CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) certifications. This pairing, we believe will produce healthy, emotionally balanced, well-structured, gorgeous pups! And they will be big dogs! My personal favorite! They will be started like all of our pups, with gentle and gradual exposure to objects, sights, sounds, and touch. Our goal is that our Golden Retrievers not only are able to serve as jogging buddies, but can also serve as therapy or service dogs in a way that can bring mobility, sight, comfort, and a better quality of life to their human companions.
Stay tuned for an announcement of a confirmed pregnancy!
