What a first quarter.
I lost Brody in January. I am still mourning him, deeply. He unequivocally answered the question of whether or not you can have more than one heart dog in your life. The answer is yes.
My husband (and my son) asked me, shortly after Brody died, if we would be getting another dog. It seemed a silly question to ask me of all people, sitting there with my puffy eyes holding my chest like pressing it would somehow staunch the bleeding. Of course we would.
Two weeks later, a labradoodle entered our lives, all teeth and fuzz and adrenaline. I was opposed to the idea since I’ve been around enough of them to know that they’re a unique form of crazy all their own. I was doing my usual thing eyeing rescue websites and talking to friends with Goldens, but his heart was set and we came to the agreement that he could bring home a doodle if I could, when the time was right, get another Golden. It’s probably better to wait for that a little more anyway, as my heart is still healing.
To date, he has been out of my line of sight exactly four minutes, and in that four minutes he’s managed to find every hidden sock, shoe, and pair of underwear that I didn’t know were remotely accessible. He brings the cat toys, which she regards with disdain. As she regards the offering he sneaks behind her back to eat her treats. He is devious. He already learned the food puzzle that neither Brody nor Kekoa could ever manage in their full bloom adulthood. Yes, he is in training so we can direct his obvious intellect for good rather than evil.
I was right about doodles. They’re exhausting, like all puppies are exhausting, but it’s like a level 11 as opposed to a 9.5. For the first two weeks I reminded myself that transition periods are hard and my deep and abiding remorse would subside. I pull yet another wad of paper from his mouth –transition periods are hard; dislodge my foot from his jaws- transition periods are hard; listen to him howl as we work through separation anxiety- transition periods are hard.
Here he is on the way home from the veterinary dentist. Every toy he has is veterinary dentist approved for puppy teeth; no antlers or hooves or anything of the sort. In protest, he chewed on the coffee table (I guess? there is literally nothing else in the house he is near that is hard) and broke a tooth. A deciduous canine with a long, long root rooted so firmly in the jaw that the choices were let him live with it for a couple more months (ouch) or go to the specialist. As specialists do, Dr. Brigden got that thing out in record time, root intact, and Dakota still wagging his tail on his way out. To review: not old enough to neuter, not even old enough for rabies, already at specialist. But because I am smart and I know doodles, I had already purchased pet insurance. Maneuver, counter maneuver.
He is hard to photograph. His head and his butt look the same: floof.
Dakota is adorable. He is sweet. The family loves him. I do too.
Doodles are a handful. I have one next door who regularly scales their fence and ends up in my yard. You’re smart to buy the insurance early. I have Frenchies and they get covered the minute they hit the door here. With some breeds, you’re just insane if you don’t do it.
I do hope you get your Golden when you’re ready.
He is adorable! I think part of your problem is he is part lab, and labs, oye! I have a lab mix, and he was nuts the first 2 years of his life. I have a Golden who is older and she pretty much convinced us that another dog would be great. Her brother, bless him, lol. Now he’s 8 and the mastiff side of him has long taken over, which means he lays around and snores a lot. But those first 2 years were a test of my patience. Dakota is adorable, I love your posts about him. I miss Brody, but then I miss Koa too. Hang in there with this new baby, My dad’s baby golden about killed him in the first year, lol, but he got through it, you will too.
I was saddened to hear about Brody but happy to see the new little One. We are contemplating a doodle so we will be watching your progress and taking every tip we can from it–I am searching vet insurance right now!
Brody was such a sweetie – it will take time to be ready for another golden, but I know you will be blessed when you choose to have another. You have been lucky, more than one heart dog doesn’t happen to everyone. He was lucky to have your family! <3