| In July 2007 my wonderful senior golden retriever, | | | | the fact that adding a young dog at the right time |
| Red Sun Rising CD, died. My husband and I mourned | | | | can give a senior dog extra years of happy life.) |
| as well as my pack of five dogs, especially his best | | | | ...so my search to get a dog intensified. |
| golden retriever friend, Logan. We all missed Red and | | | | I talked with two golden retriever breeders, but |
| this spring I started thinking about adding another | | | | nothing developed. |
| golden retriever. | | | | Then, my luck changed! |
| A golden retriever breeder I know called me this | | | | I got a call from a golden retriever breeder who |
| spring to have me look at her puppies... although they | | | | heard that I was looking for a dog. She's lived in |
| were sweet puppies, they lacked that special spark | | | | Phoenix, Arizona, not that far from me. She knew |
| that said pick me. So I didn't take one home. | | | | that I love to show and train dogs (especially in |
| If you're currently looking to buy a puppy, that might | | | | agility) and she said she had an 11 month old golden |
| sound strange to you. Most people visit a litter and | | | | retriever puppy (female) that she'd like me to see. |
| feel they have to choose from the puppies that are | | | | I went to her house on Labor Day and met the |
| in front of them. | | | | puppy. |
| It's understandable. | | | | And you can probably guess what happened. That |
| You know you want a new puppy, and you feel that | | | | funny, happy, sweet golden girl came to live at my |
| these puppies are the ones you can choose from, so | | | | house for a "test period" on Sunday, September 7. |
| you make a snap decision. And then you have to live | | | | Within three hours of being at our house, she fit in |
| it. | | | | like she always lived there (In my Your Best Dog |
| Unfortunately, this is NOT the right way to go about | | | | Ever online dog training course, I also talk about how |
| choosing a new family member. | | | | to introduce a new dog to the pack. And my pack |
| My private clients have actually been known to fly | | | | was very lively! I have three border collies, one |
| me across the country to accompany them on their | | | | Doberman, and one golden retriever.) |
| "puppy-choosing" adventures, knowing that the | | | | So how do you get a dog that fits with you, your |
| choice they make now will affect every aspect of | | | | family, and pack? |
| their daily their lives for the next 10 to 15 years. | | | | Here are my suggestions: |
| What I want when I look for a puppy, personally, is | | | | 1. Pay attention to the personalities in your pack. If |
| that special heart connection that happens when you | | | | you have a lot of alpha wannabes, maybe you should |
| and the puppy choose each other and "magic | | | | think about bringing in a confident beta that won't be |
| happens." | | | | afraid, but won't be so assertive that you have dog |
| Now, before we continue I want to tell you that in | | | | fights. |
| just a minute I'm going to share with you a source | | | | 2. Think about the type of breed that you want to |
| where you can get the EXACT same "Perfect Puppy | | | | add. For example, I was looking for a golden retriever |
| System" I share with my private clients when they | | | | because I knew that dogs often relate better to |
| hire me to help them choose their new dog. | | | | their own breeds. (However, I must also admit it |
| I promise you that you're going to want to stay | | | | really depends on personalities - my Doberman is |
| tuned for this. It literally can make the difference | | | | best friends with one of my border collies!) |
| between bringing your new best friend into your | | | | 3. Know your pack. I knew that Logan related best |
| home, or adding a source of stress and heartache | | | | to other golden retrievers. I knew that my pack was |
| that will "dog" you for years to come. | | | | "full of life." Which means that an 11 month old was |
| We'll get to that in just a second, but first let me | | | | much better for my pack because the puppy was |
| finish my own personal "Perfect Puppy" story... | | | | OLDER. And my active pack wouldn't overpower her. |
| In August 2008, Logan became very ill with an | | | | (It would be much easier for them to overpower a |
| extremely elevated Liver alt (2100) and we found | | | | puppy.) |
| with x-rays and an ultra sound that his liver and | | | | 4. Figure out what you need to make you happy. For |
| spleen were enlarged. | | | | me, it was all about Logan. If he was happy, I was |
| At 1:30 am in the emergency room, I promised him | | | | happy. So I wanted a golden retriever puppy for him. |
| that I would find him a friend. (I am a firm believer in | | | | And that's how "Angel Lily" came to live at our house. |