My first dog, not the family dog but the first one I raised and trained, was a Golden. She was not some lettered hunting stock but a barn born papered dog. As a young man, that dog lived thru the greatest times of my life with me as a great friend. She died at 14.5 and I was heartbroken. I still tear up thinking about her. I could not replace her with another Golden. It would never stand the comparison. I ended up with a pair of Labs, good dogs, good hunters but never quite the personality of the prior dog.
Now that one is gone and 14 years have passed, I think I can take the leap again. I may not survive another dog (I am not dying) but my kids will certainly get to know the joy...
