Wilmarth Golden Retriever Puppies

New Rhett photos!

2008-11-25T20:56:00.000-06:00

Abby's family sent a photo

2008-11-18T22:05:00.003-06:00

That is one gorgeous dog!

From Kristi: "She is delightful - loves to chew on her bones, she collects the kids' stuffed animals and brings them downstairs - one of the attached photos shows her collection. The kids love her, although her teeth and nails are a little sharp. She is going to be a wonderful dog, and a big girl like her daddy."

Scarlett on Halloween

2008-11-09T19:05:00.001-06:00

I just realized I didn't post a link to the updated photos of Scarlett!

Little Red (Rhett) becoming "obedient"

2008-11-09T13:49:00.002-06:00

Dorsey saw Rhett and his family at Pet Smart yesterday, so he had to take some pictures. For better quality photos, however (iPhones don't take the best ones), see Rhett's family blog.

New photos of Scarlett

2008-10-09T21:24:00.002-05:00

http://www.jandjessary.com/2008/10/scarlett-is-right-at-home.html

She's a sweet puppy!

Puppies lives are playfully happy!

2008-10-07T19:07:00.001-05:00

Rhett (aka Little Red) has new photos of himself! Check out his family's blog.

Scarlett's mom sent new photos, too, but I'm having difficulty getting them posted. I will make it happen, though!

Thanks to y'all for keeping us up to date!

The Golden Life - Part 4

2008-09-30T19:26:00.000-05:00

Dorsey and Buffett

Wasting Away in Margaritaville with Buffett

Note: Posted under my name, but Dorsey is the author.

Naming a puppy is an important process. Trying to find just the right name that not only matches the puppy's personality but also has meaning to you, the owner, is a challenge.

My first golden was named after Humphrey Bogart. Bogey was one of my favorite actors and the epitome of "cool." So when it came time to pick a name for our new puppy, we already knew it would be Bogey. He more than lived up to the name.

When Ami came along, we tapped into one of our favorite drinks for inspiration. Amaretto, shortened to Ami for everyday conversation, seemed perfect given the liqueur's rich golden color.

When Bogey died in 1995, I thought for sure it would be a long time before I tried to replace him. The pain just seemed too great.

Vicki, however, talked me into getting another dog just a few months after Bogey died. She thought it was time, or maybe she just hoped a new puppy would take my mind off of Bogey.

There weren't many golden retrievers for sale at the time, but we found a family in Plainview who had a small litter of only two puppies.

There's a lot of thought that goes into getting another puppy after losing a beloved pet. For one thing, we worried about how Ami would respond to a new puppy. Did we really want to go through the "puppy stage" again? Could we afford to go through the "puppy stage" again? What valuables would this puppy chew up?

The one thing I knew, though, was that I was not looking for a replacement for Bogey. We made a conscious decision not to get another red male. Instead, we wanted one at the other color extreme.

In Plainview, we met him.

The owners had told us that both puppies were light in color, but one puppy was almost white, and he was huge! I guess when you only have one other sibling to compete with, there's plenty of momma's milk to be had, and this bruiser didn't appear to be shy about eating at all.

He was a big, giant white fluff ball, and we connected at once. He liked to play and everything in life seemed fun to him. What better name for fun-loving, playful golden retriever than Buffett -- after Jimmy Buffett, of course.

As a lifelong Parrothead, it was an easy decision.

Of course, not everyone made the connection at first. I remember a friend asking me if I had named him after Warren Buffett, the billionaire.

For crying out loud! Who would name a dog after him? Well, I guess technically, we did since Jimmy and Warren are distant relations, but come on …

You might think that following in the paws of such a great dog like Bogey would be an impossible task. After all, how could he measure up?

Buffett didn't have any trouble. From the moment we brought him home, he was a great dog. Unlike my other goldens, he didn't have a propensity to chew up everything in site. He was great with our 2-year-old son, Hart, and he grew into an absolutely beautiful dog. While he always remained light in color, his fur did grow more golden as he got older, and he was huge. From the standpoint of a breed standard, he was too big, but we weren't interested in showing him.

Buffett was there during the most traumatic time of my life when my wife, Vicki, and I divorced. As if divorce isn't devastating enough, we were faced with the decision of splitting up the dogs. Ami had always been more Vicki's dog than mine, and Buffett and I had definitely bonded, but since I had moved into an apartment, I had no place for a large dog, so he stayed with Vicki until I could find a house.

It's hard to understate the therapeutic value of a dog. When your life is falling apart, somehow the ability to bury your face in their fur and cry provides healing and comfort that humans can't really offer each other. Dogs never get tired of listening to you. They will let you hold them as long as you want. They know you are upset, and that upsets them, and they will use every tool in the puppy toolbox to cheer you up. At times, Buffett was my only physical source of comfort. I don't think I would be overstating it to say that dogs are the physical manifestation of God's love -- unconditional and unlimited.

Buffett was an accomplished dog. He was great a playing Frisbee, although his size made him more like a tight end than a wide receiver. He was the most good-natured dog I have ever had. He was so good-natured that we were never able to breed him. He just wasn't aggressive enough.

His biggest accomplishment, though, was winning over Jami, who would later become my wife. A self-avowed cat lover, Jami really didn't like dogs that much, especially big, hairy, shedding, making-a-mess everywhere golden retrievers.

It didn't take her long to submit to his charms, though. He truly was irresistible.

Like many big dogs and golden retrievers in particular, he suffered from hip problems as he got older. It got to where he could barely walk. He would drag his feet until his claws were completely worn down. We bought him some booties to help protect his feet, and we gave him drugs to help ease the pain, but one day, he could no longer get up on his own.

His inability to exercise had caused him to gain even more weight, and at more than 90 pounds, my petite wife couldn't lift him to go outside and do his business, and with my frequent travels, there was no way she could care for him alone.

On Sept. 5, 2005, we were forced to make the tough decision to put him to sleep. I had never had to make that choice before. Bogey had died in my arms, and I believe he spared me that awful decision, but that wasn't to be with Buffett.

I know it was the humane thing -- the right thing -- to do, but it was one of the worst experiences and worst days of my life. He was still the same beautiful loving golden retriever I had grown to love so much, but his body had failed him.

When I looked into his eyes that last time, he looked back with complete trust, and it broke my heart to realize that I was letting him go. I just couldn't bear to be in the room when it happened, but I can still hear the sound of the electric clippers the vet used to prepare a place for the injection. For a long time, I hated that doctor for his insensitivity -- he could have at least waited until we were gone.

For my stepson, Jordie, the traumatic ordeal was made even worse by witnessing my emotional meltdown. He'd never seen me lose control like that before.

Those who don't own pets can't really understand the loss pet lovers suffer when their "child" dies. It is a pain that, in the midst of, I swear I will never put myself through again. Eventually, of course, the pain fades, and we're left with the memories -- the companionship, the love, the laughter. Buffett provided that and so much more. If I could wish one worldly gift for you, it is that you would have a companion like Buffett at least once in your life.

Next: The best Christmas present I ever received

Little Red has a new home

2008-09-26T17:56:00.002-05:00

Stephanie and Casey are the happy new owners of Little Red.

Blondie (aka Samantha) at her new home

2008-09-24T18:12:00.002-05:00

Blondie's parents named her Samantha (or Sammie or Sam). They took this hilarious picture of her.

Little Red (Rhett) gets a bath

2008-09-24T17:20:00.002-05:00

Little Red got into something nasty on Monday, so he got the dreaded bath. He didn't like it much.

He looks so sad!

3 puppies go to new homes today

2008-09-24T17:08:00.005-05:00

Matt and his wife, Michelle, plan to surprise the kids with little Nilla. Of course, they haven't picked out a name yet, but when they do, they will let us know. When Nilla went into Matt's arms, she licked all over his neck. I think she'll do just fine!

Judy and Darl came to pick up their new puppy (Fluffy Face). They have named him Bart Bodacious! They also picked up Scratch for their friend, Stephen, who lives in the same town as they do.

I didn't get to see Fluffy and Scratch go, because I was at work. Hopefully, we will be able to keep in touch with all the new owners for periodic picture updates, which we'll add to the blog.

My heart swells with happiness ...

2008-09-23T20:35:00.003-05:00

Check out the Essary family's blog. They gave Scarlett her new home. I think God put Scarlett with the best possible family for her.

(And did you notice that Scarlett and Little Red look just alike?)

I think Little Red's name should become Rhett!

Fluffy Face, aka Rascal

2008-09-21T22:08:00.003-05:00

Rascal has a home. He's still with us for a few more days.

Rascal and Hart.

Little Red

2008-09-21T22:05:00.001-05:00

Little Red is a red male. He still needs a new home, too.

Nilla, (for Nilla Wafer)

2008-09-21T22:01:00.004-05:00

Nilla is the smallest and lightest female. She is sweet.

She doesn't have a new home yet.

Scratch

2008-09-21T21:45:00.004-05:00

These are all photos of Scratch. See the tiny little scratch around her eye? That's how she got her name, but the scratch will soon be gone.

We think Scratch most likely has a home, but here she is ...

Three Goldens Left

2008-09-21T15:23:00.002-05:00

In all likelihood, another puppy has found a new home. At this time, however, we have three unpaid-for puppies: 2 females and 1 male.

One of the females is small and light blond. Dorsey named her Nilla Wafer.

The other female is the one we have been calling scratch, although the mark on her eye is fading quickly. Scratch got too close to Koda while Koda was eating a milkbone. Koda lashed out at her. Meanie. Scratch was just fine, but she did come out with a little mark on her.
Scratch is a darker blond and also bigger than Nilla.

And, of course, my favorite Li'l Red is still with us. He's a male, red and petite. Also a sweetheart.

Actually, all the puppies are sweet.

We will miss them dearly when they are gone.

Scarlett goes to her new family

2008-09-20T20:45:00.005-05:00

The Essary family picked up little Scarlett today.

This little guy with Scarlett at first was afraid. He was bitten earlier in the summer by a big dog and wasn't so sure about her. It looks to me like Scarlett has won his heart.

Little Scarlett has a new toy.

Thank you, Jenny, for sending us the photos. Scarlett is special, and I know she'll be happy.

My Little Red puppy

2008-09-20T12:04:00.001-05:00

Friday night fun

2008-09-20T11:55:00.003-05:00

Playing tug with the chair.

Koda has a funny look on her face ...

Indy. We think he's a gorgeous dog.

Puppies can only play so much before they crash.

"Biggun'" or "The Hulk" becomes Jag

2008-09-20T11:16:00.002-05:00

Whitney, right, with her friend pick up Jag to take him home as a surprise to Whitney's children.

Blondie goes home to her new family

2008-09-20T11:14:00.001-05:00

Tommy and "Blondie," who hasn't been named yet by her new family.

Girl puppy finds a great home!

2008-09-18T22:00:00.001-05:00

Kristi picked out a little girl for her family. Later that day, Dorsey was at PetSmart and saw her there, with the puppy. Kristi was buying food and toys for her. I know she'll be happy in her new home!

Update: I heard from this puppy's family tonight. They have named her Abby! What a great name!

Blondie

2008-09-18T19:28:00.002-05:00

Of course, Blondie is not the name that will stick, but it's what we have called this puppy from the beginning. She was the lightest and the most precocious.

She also belongs to the Gibbs family. They will be picking her up tomorrow.

Little Red ... a.k.a. Dexter

2008-09-18T19:25:00.002-05:00

He looks mad, but really, puppies don't get mad. He's a very serious little pup.

Scarlett

2008-09-18T18:49:00.005-05:00

Scarlett is the puppy picked out by a family from New Mexico. They will be picking her up on Saturday.

Wow! They were so cute, she wanted two!

2008-09-16T21:45:00.001-05:00

Two female puppies and one male puppy found new homes today.

New owner Laura has named her girls Cassie and Keesha. I know they will be happy. Congratulations, Laura and family!

We now have five puppies left: 3 females, 2 males.

Puppies: 7 weeks

2008-09-16T21:27:00.003-05:00

Because our camera is broken, we've had to use the video camera to take still photos. Not as good as the other, but ...

Pick Me!

Help!

Time to go in for the night.

That can't be comfortable!

Aren't I cute?

We love our mommy.

Broken Camera

2008-09-16T04:52:00.002-05:00

Indy accidentally knocked our camera to the ground and broke it, which, of course, has stopped us from taking pictures in the last several days.

A new camera is on its way!

In the meantime, know that the puppies will be 7 weeks old tomorrow. The vet says they can go to new homes at any time now.

We still need loving homes for eight of the puppies. We have 5 girls and 3 boys left!

I have had several people express interest through calls, emails and even stopping by the house when we have them out in the front yard.

Now is the time!

Please give these beautiful puppies a loving home.

Puppy in a towel, 6 weeks

2008-09-11T18:32:00.001-05:00

This puppy had just gotten a bath because she rolled in poop, or something similarly smelly.

Playful puppies at 6 weeks

2008-09-11T18:29:00.002-05:00

Indy loves playing with the puppies ...

My, what big teeth you have, daddy!

The Golden Life - Part 3

2008-09-09T13:49:00.012-05:00

More golden retrievers than you can shake a stick at

When you have the two best golden retrievers in the world, it's only natural to want to propagate those qualities, and that led us to breed Bogey and Ami in the spring of 1991. A week later, we bred Bogey to a golden down the street named Cheyenne.

Like all good first-time parents, we bought all the books, read them studiously and prepared for the big event.

Being something of a woodworker, I built Ami a whelping box, which we decided to put in a small half-bath/laundry room. I was pretty proud of it. It was about 4-feet-by-4-feet and custom cut to fit around the pedestal sink. The walls were about 6 inches high. (Those of you with experience breeding golden retrievers are probably already laughing).

The big day arrived, and as usually happens, Ami decided to wait until late to begin the birthing process.

We watched in awe as the first pup was born and Ami's innate motherly qualities took over. She bit the birthing sack and immediately began licking the pup to get it breathing. Admittedly, we were a little grossed out as she devoured the sack, but we were prepared for that thanks to all the prenatal reading we had done.

For the next eight or so hours, we watched the miracle of birth repeat itself again … and again … and again … and again … 10 puppies and counting, and Ami wasn't done. She was exhausted. We were exhausted. Daybreak approached.

That's when the crisis occurred. Ami was having trouble with puppy No. 11. He appeared stuck in the birth canal, and we couldn't get him out. We placed frantic calls to our vet, but it was still way too early for them to be open. We left an urgent message but began calling other vets, trying to find someone who could help us through the emergency.

We finally found one, and I carried Ami in a blanket to the backseat of my car and raced her to the vet while Vicki watched over the rest of the litter. The vet met us at his office, and he managed to free the puppy, but sadly, he had been stuck in the birth canal too long and had died.

He was pretty sure Ami wasn't done yet, so he gave her a shot to continue her contractions, and she gave birth to another puppy while at the vet and two more when we got home. By the time it was all over, now morning, she had given birth to 14 puppies, and 13 survived.

Now, goldens have large litters. Eight or nine puppies is not unusual, but 14!

It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out my pitiful little 4x4 whelping box wasn't going to cut it. One of the books we'd bought had the plans for much bigger whelping box, and I quickly headed to the lumber store to begin work.

If the first whelping box was a "starter" house, the second one was a luxury condo. In fact, we referred to it as the "puppy condo." The base was a 4x8 sheet of plywood, raised slightly off the floor. The sides were 2 feet high with a door cut on one side to allow Ami to enter and exit the condo. The slotted door was cut into three pieces so we could raise the height and keep the puppies in as they grew larger. The floor of the box was separated into an area where the puppies could sleep with a separate area to do their business.

Of course, it wouldn't fit in the laundry room/half bath, but hey, who needs a dining room table anyway. Out went the table, in went the puppy condo. To me, it offered that personal touch to the house. I don't think Vicki agreed, but it was only for eight weeks (we hoped).

As the first week wore on, we were getting pretty good at the puppy thing, and Ami was a champion mother. That's when Wave 2 hit.

Sticking to the schedule, Cheyenne began giving birth a week after Ami, although she chose a much more civilized time (late afternoon) for the big event. Her litter was much more manageable too. She gave birth to nine, although one was stillborn, so eight survived.

In one week, the golden retriever population for the 2600 block of Ong went from 3 to 25 — a 733 percent increase.

If it's not on your Bucket List, then you need to add the experience of raising puppies from birth to eight weeks. I'm not sure there is anything sweeter or more innocent than a golden retriever puppy.

Their eyes open after about 10 days and for the next week or so, they start to get their legs under them. It isn't long before they are toddling around. By the time they are 4 weeks old, they are precious bundles of fur. As soon as they see you, they swarm to you for attention – a quality they never lose.

By five weeks, we were taking them outside. It's not easy to transport 13 puppies around, so we used a couple of laundry baskets, but as they got older, we had to make multiple trips. The baskets were just too heavy.

The funniest thing was watching them eat. We mixed dry dog food with cottage cheese, and they went after it like a piranha goes after fresh meet. They wouldn't stop until they were covered head to feet in food. We quickly learned that feeding was best done outside.

Of course, the hardest part was giving them up, but that's not as traumatic as you might expect, especially after spending eight weeks with 15 dogs in your house.

While we sold most of them, we did give a few away to friends with the selfish motive of knowing we would get to watch them grow up.

I can't remember them all, but there was Calvin (named after Calvin and Hobbes), Chili (very red), Katy, Barney, Stryker, Fergie, Rocky and Sunny.

Finding good homes for 13 puppies wasn't too difficult, but I have to admit that it wasn't as easy for our friends down the street. We sort of flooded the golden retriever market, and ours were ready to leave home a week before theirs, so they had a tougher time.

Later that year, we invited the owners and puppies to a puppy reunion. About half were able to make it, and we took them all to Santa Paws, a fund-raiser for the local SPCA. We positioned ourselves for a photo with Santa, and the photographer held up a squeaky ball to get the dogs attention so they were looking at the camera. When he counted to three, he tossed ball into the air to snap the photo, but at the moment he let go of the ball, eight golden retrievers lunged forward, with only their owners holding them back.

"Hey, hey, you can't do that!" we said. "These are golden RETRIEVERS. Are you nuts?"

Even though only six of the puppies were able to make it for the event, the photo is one of my favorites.

We never bred Bogey and Ami again. The process was stressful on her, and we didn't want her to have to go through that again.

We lost Bogey in 1995 to cancer. He had been struggling over the previous few weeks, and Vicki called me at work and said I should come home. I made it just in time, and my first golden retriever — the one closest and dearest to my heart — died in my arms. I'm convinced that he waited until I could be there with him.

We lost Ami a few years later, but by that time, our lives had changed in a lot of ways. Vicki and I were no longer married but before that happened, a new little bundle of fur came into our lives.

Amazingly, the last of Bogey and Ami's pups, Katie, died in 2007 at the age of 16, which is very unusual for a large breed like goldens.

Next: Wasting away in Margaritaville with Buffett.

Outside is fun!

2008-09-07T20:14:00.002-05:00

Hungry pups.

Indy loves to play with the puppies.

We're 5 weeks old today!

2008-09-03T17:00:00.001-05:00

The puppies began eating something else besides yogurt today. Now, it's puppy food mush (puppy food plus yogurt plus water, blended).

They loved it! I let each of them eat individually first, to see how each would respond. When all puppies had had their fill, I put the dishes out and let it be a free-for-all.

What a mess! But it was fun to watch.

Ten Perfect Puppies (4.5 weeks)

2008-09-01T16:10:00.003-05:00

Ten beautifully perfect puppies ... how would you choose?

The Golden Life - Part 2

2008-08-30T22:17:00.005-05:00

Amaretto di Amarillo

I don't remember how old Bogey was when we decided he needed a companion. I think he was 4. My wife at the time, Vicki, and I had relocated to Amarillo. She had begun work at the Underwood Law Firm, and I was working at the Globe-News. Bogey spent a lot of time alone. We decided he needed a friend.

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't remember much about picking out golden retriever No. 2. I guess a mind is a terrible thing to waste. I do remember, though, her first day at home and how she cuddled up in Vicki's lap.

I don't know if it's normal for golden retrievers to choose one person over another, but from day 1, this little girl was Vicki's dog. We dubbed her Amaretto after one of Vicki's favorite drinks, shortening it to Ami for casual conversation.

Where Bogey was a deep red, Ami was closer to the standard golden color that gives the breed its name.

To say that Ami was a chewer would be the understatement of the year. We liked to joke that during her puppy stage, she ate a couch. Truth be told, she didn't eat the whole couch, but she did pick at the nappy fabric until she tore big holes, making it less than appropriate for company.

That wasn't the only thing she chewed on, though. She took to gnawing on Bogey's ears, and for some strange reason he let her except for one time in which he put her in place by biting through her snout, sending Vicki scrambling with the little pup to the vet.

Ami got even, though, by continuing to chew on Bogey's ears until she managed to break skin, causing multiple trips to the vet as we tried to get his ears to stop weeping fluid. It took weeks for it to get better.

Both Bogey and Ami survived her puppy hood, and they grew to be fast friends. Eventually, we decided to breed them, but we had as much experience as the dogs, and Bogey was having trouble figuring out which end was up.

I don't know what is funnier: Watching two dogs trying to "do it" or watching two humans trying to help two dogs "do it." Proof once again that sex is not something a committee should be involved with.

We had more or less given up hope that anything was going to happen, until one night, as luck would have it, about 5 minutes before we were supposed to go to a party at one of Vicki's senior partner's home.

At that moment, Bogey and Ami decided to "hook up" as they say these days. So there we are standing in the kitchen trying to get out the door to a party, and our dogs are now "tied" together.

For those who don't know, when dogs breed, they "tie." The male's penis enlarges inside the female, and until the swelling goes down, they more or less have to stay connected; otherwise, the male and/or the female could be damaged. If that's not strange enough, the dogs manage to alter their position while tied so that they are connected rump to rump. God definitely has a sense of humor.

Concerned that they might injure each other, we had no choice to remain at home, making sure that they didn't pull apart prematurely. When they finally separated, we dashed out the door, arriving somewhat more than fashionably late for the party. Before we arrived, though, Vicki admonished me not to tell why we were late ... Right!

My boy finally scores, and the proud father isn't going to tell everyone about it? I don't thinks so! OK, so maybe it wasn't acceptable party conversation, but I thought it was only religion and politics you weren't supposed to talk about in polite company. Show me where it says you can't talk about dog breeding.

Now, golden retrievers don't really believe in monogamy, and it just so happened that our friends at the end of the block, John and Carrie Board had a female golden retriever named Cheyenne, and she came into heat about a week after Ami. They asked if they could breed her to Bogey, and he nodded his head enthusiastically (OK. I made that last part up).

Being the stud that he was, Bogey successfully mated with both Ami and Heresay and about 63 days later, the golden retriever population of the 2600 block of Ong Street increased 733 percent.

NEXT: More golden retrievers than you shake a stick at

Little Red

2008-08-30T20:30:00.000-05:00

Look at me, Little Red! I call him that because he's the smallest and reddest male.

Little Red is difficult to get in focus!!

Before it's all over, I will get a decent picture of this baby. He's the most docile of the group.

Blondie

2008-08-30T20:27:00.003-05:00

Blondie makes herself known to us. She's the first to ask to be picked up. I call her Blondie because she seems to be the lightest female.

Perfect Puppies

2008-08-30T20:01:00.002-05:00

That little white spot on her nose is yogurt. The puppies are messy eaters!

Yummy yogurt! (But not as good as Mama's milk.)

This is Biggun. I call him that because he's the largest and fluffiest puppy, also the most playful so far. Daddy Indy is licking yogurt off his face.

Biggun has the fluffiest face.

Living a golden life - Part 1

2008-08-29T20:48:00.010-05:00

Bogey Le Renard

For more than 20 years, golden retrievers have played a big role in my life.

I can barely remember a time when I didn't have a golden retriever, and if I have my way, there will never be a time in the future that I don't.

My golden journey began in Houston around 1985. I remember the day my wife at the time, Vicki, and I visited a suburban Houston home to check out a litter of golden retriever puppies. We had just moved into our first home, and the first order of business was get a dog. I don't think we had even fully unpacked before we began our search.

The house where the puppies lived had a pool -- I remember that, but very little else about the surroundings. I couldn't tell you anything about the owners, and I don't remember the sire and dam. I couldn't even tell you how many puppies there were because from almost the moment we walked into the back yard, "our puppy" picked us out.

While all of the others were off romping with their brothers and sisters, one little red fellow latched on to my shoelaces and began an aggressive game of tug.

That should have been a warning.

At the time, though, I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He was beautiful. He was playful. He was soft. He was amazing. He wouldn't leave us alone. He clearly chose us, and we were in love with him from the moment we saw him.

We named him Bogey -- after Humphrey Bogart not the golf shot. Officially, he was Bogey Le Renard or Bogey the Fox. His coloring was so red that people often mistook him for an Irish setter, an insinuation that both he and I were incensed by.

For one thing, Irish setters don't seem to be the brightest of God's creatures. Bogey, on the other hand, was brilliant, and that's not just a proud father's assessment.

We estimated that over the course of his life, Bogey probably understood 150 to 200 different words. There were some word that we simply couldn't say out loud because he would go crazy. The most obvious was "Walk." It was so bad that whenever we planned on taking him for a walk, we would spell it out, as in "Let's take Bogey for a W-A-L-K." It didn't take long for him to figure that one out. To this day, though, when it comes to taking our dogs for a walk, I still spell it out.

Bogey was a first child, and as such was treated like a firstborn. I've often remarked that having dogs was good training for having children. But like many new fathers, I set very high expectations for Bogey.

Beware the owner with the dog-eared copy of Barbara Woodhouse's "No Bad Dogs." I was determined to train Bogey in every manner of tricks, but before that happened, Bogey had to first train me.

Golden puppies are, well, puppy like. They are often referred to as "mouthy" dogs. That's because they will put anything in their mouths. In fact, to a golden retriever puppy, the world is his chew toy. It doesn't matter if you're talking about gray kid pumps, rugs or St. Augustine grass plugs freshly planted in the back yard, a golden retriever will see it as the perfect toy, one strategically placed just for his enjoyment. Rest assured. They grow out of it, but needless to say, I had to learn a lot of patience during that first year.

I'll never forget the time my financially strapped wife and I splurged on some country pork chops. I grilled them, and we loaded up our plates, leaving the leftovers sitting on the counter. A few minutes later, I returned to the kitchen to find Bogey raised up on his hind legs with his paws on the counter self-serving himself to one of our precious pork chops. What happened next would probably have landed me on an episode of "Miami Animal Police," but suffice it to say, Bogey never ever ate food unless he was given the command it was OK. You could literally rest a Milkbone on his nose, and he wouldn't touch it until you snapped your fingers.

Bogey quickly mastered his lessons. From "stick 'em up" (point your finger at him like a gun, and he'd sit up on his hind legs and raise his paws in the air) to crash (lay down) to speak (uh, duh) he learned them all, but not just by voice command. He responded to hand gestures as well.

As a retriever, fetching came naturally. So did releasing. After all, he quickly realized that if he released, I'd be able to throw the ball again … and again … and again. … There was one game, though, where "release" wasn't in his vocabulary, and that's when we played tug.

He could play for hours or at least until your arm gave out because when he wrapped his teeth around that hard rubber ring, he developed lock jaw, and nothing was getting that toy away from him. I remember we used to play with a toy that was "guaranteed" to be indestructible. If your dog tore it up, you could take it back to the pet store with the receipt and get a new one. I bet we got five free over the course of a year until I'm pretty sure the company went out of business.

Most golden retrievers love water, and Bogey wasn't any different, but he did take a little coaxing that first time. Vicki and I took him to the beach in Galveston and frankly, the waves scared him -- a lot. I tried everything to get him in the water. I would race into the waves, hoping he would follow. I tried Milkbones and other snacks. I called him lovingly. I called him sternly. There was no way he was setting foot in that ocean. Finally, I just picked him up (no easy task since he weighed 70 pounds) and carried him a few yards off shore and set him down.

At first, he looked horrified, but as the first wave hit him and he realized it didn't hurt, he suddenly got this "Wow! This is cool!" look on his face and began bounding through the surf. From that moment on, we couldn't keep him out of the water. In fact, we had to be careful whenever we came close to water because he'd be off like a rocket ready for splashdown.

Over the next few weeks, I'll share some more stories about Bogey, and introduce you to my other golden retrievers. I refer to each one of them as the "best" dog ever, and it's true, but Bogey will always have the place of honor in my heart. It's not just that he was the first. He was truly exceptional in every way. We were fortunate to be able to pass on those qualities, but I'll save that for Part 2 when I tell you about our second golden, Ami.

NEXT: Amaretto di Amarillo

Birthday Puppies: 4 Weeks Today

2008-08-27T21:08:00.003-05:00

The puppies are more and more playful and aware of their surroundings every day. I sat in the box with them earlier, fed them yogurt and let them climb all over me. They crawl, climb, wrestle the towels, wrestle each other and best of all, love to snuggle.

Hey DAD! (Look at the little girl in the middle, standing up with her paws out. She was trying to reach up to Indy and ended up rolling over backwards.)

Thanks for the snack! (The puppies had just finished eating yogurt, which makes the biggest messes all over them. Indy's cleaning it up.)

Hi, Pups!

Little Red (OK, so my photography skills are lacking, but I love this little puppy.)

Yogurt Head. This little guy had yogurt all over him.

I think it's funny to see the puppies latch on while Koda's standing up. She looks like, "I really hate this."

We'll be 4 weeks old in two days ...

2008-08-25T20:48:00.005-05:00

First we play!

"Sometimes I hafta stop and think."

"Gotcha right on the behind!"

Then we sleep!

Playing Puppies at 3 weeks old

2008-08-22T15:00:00.002-05:00

I think this is my favorite picture. I love their little eyes and black noses.

Tackled!

Wrestling. I like this one, too.

Shh! I'm hiding.

More wrestling.

Now it's time to change out the sheets so they can settle in for another nap.

My name is Indy, and I'm the daddy

2008-08-22T10:48:00.002-05:00

Indy came into our lives less than a year ago. In fact, his 1-year birthday was Aug. 21 (yesterday)! He is basically still a puppy ... and acts like one, too.

Lots of the photos on the site so far have shown mostly the puppies and Koda, the mom. I know that when people are seriously interested in getting a puppy, they want to see both parents.

I have plenty of Indy pictures to share with you, both now, and when he was just a baby.

The day we brought Indy home, he was dirty. We bought him from breeders, so he lived outside. Giving him a bath was a fun experience.

He still adores tennis balls. We find them all over the house.

He's definitely bigger by Christmas!

Bigger pup. Already thinks he's leader of the pack.

Koda was a bit jealous of Indy at first, but within a couple of weeks, they were playing and wrestling. They quickly became best friends.

See?

Indy had become a larger-size Golden. Koda is on the smaller side.

Indy is a beautiful dog who loves his toys. He rips them to shreds.

I think this one is hilarious. It was taken through the window. He's obviously too big to sit on the table now, but he was acting like our cats!

Best friends.

Puppies: Three Weeks Old

2008-08-21T19:50:00.001-05:00

Puppies: Two Weeks Old

2008-08-21T19:49:00.003-05:00

Puppies: One Week Old

2008-08-21T19:49:00.001-05:00

My 12 dogs, counting Indy, of course!

2008-08-21T19:48:00.001-05:00

I didn't sleep at all last night. Needless to say, I'm exhausted and wishing for bed right now. Hart took pictures of the puppies throughout the day, while I was sad I was at work instead of at home being a good grandma.

I think Koda is proud of herself, and she should be.

Puppies, puppies and more puppies! (Day 2)

Koda surprises everyone with 9 puppies! No wait! Make that 10!

2008-08-21T19:47:00.001-05:00

Usually the first thing I do when I get home from work is get on the computer and see what's happening in the Internet world.

Today, I walked into the backyard at 4:45 p.m. to five squealing puppies, and Koda and Indy looking as panic-stricken as I felt.

I quickly gathered the soaking wet babies and ushered Koda into the house to her condo box.

Then I called Dorsey. "Uh (shaking)... we have puppies, but I'm afraid I didn't get them all."

After three rounds through the yard, I was certain there were no hidden puppies anywhere. I recall hearing myself saying, "Oh, God. Oh, God. Please let me get all the puppies."

Then I called Hart because he lives a few streets away at his other house, then Jordie, who was at my parents' for the day ... and the very long night began.

I think it was 9 p.m. before I finally looked at the clock, not realizing how late it was, and by that time, Koda had done a beautifully perfect job of giving birth to 9 golden retriever puppies. The last four seemed to come approximately 40 minutes apart. She had quite an audience, too: Jordie, Hart, Hart's mom and step-dad (who have been through this process and were extremely helpful), my parents, my dad's friend who knows the puppy-birthing process very well and coached me along, plus his granddaughter. (Not only is former Amarillo High Lady Sandies basketball coach Dale Blaut a State-winning coach, he's apparently a puppy expert, too).

Sadly, Dorsey is not in town for the event, but we called with each puppy's birth. (And Hart took lots of pictures.) (Koda was suppose to wait until the weekend, but I guess those babies had other ideas.)

Together, in my dining room, we helped Koda have her babies; mostly we were her cheerleaders, and the others were my moral support. Baby #8 seemed to need special help, because she couldn't figure out how to stay latched on to her "feeding station." Puppy #9 astounded all of us when he arrived ... she (we think) is GIGANTIC.

The miracle of the birth process is something everyone should experience ... human, animal ... doesn't matter. It's awe-inspiring. While Jordie was reluctant to view the births because it's pretty gross at times, even he couldn't help but watch. It's just that amazing.

Now, I am exhausted, as I know Miss Koda especially is, but I am so proud of her. I feel like a grandma!

It will be fun to watch these puppies grow.

This has been an experience I'll never forget. Very, very cool.

Koda rests between puppies.

The dark, wet-looking one is the most recently born, yet there are more to come!

Giving birth is exhausting! (Fortunately, only humans feel the birthing pain; animals have discomfort, of course ... but remember, it was Eve, the human, who sinned! God spared our animals.)

I was afraid Koda would be terrified of her babies. She has turned out to be the perfect mama.

No. 9, the Whopper Puppy, still in its sack. Amazing! (Yeah, gross, too.)

Koda cleans No. 9 and gets her (I think) ready to feed.

The first eight puppies had to be moved aside so Koda could finally have No. 9. This one took a little longer than the others.

As of now, the puppies and Koda are sleeping and eating on fresh towels.

Update: I only thought they were resting. As I wrote this post, Koda gave birth to puppy No. 10. Bless her. I think I'll be sleeping in the puppy room tonight.

Puppy Condo finds temporary home

2008-08-21T19:46:00.001-05:00

I no longer have a dining room, at least temporarily.

The step in the door keeps the puppies from escaping. The slot has doors that are placed in it as the puppies grow and are more able to get out.

Koda and Indy supervise the project.

Indy enjoys the new spot. The slabs of wood you see around the bottom on all four sides are designed to keep the mama dog from accidentally smothering a puppy up against the sides.

Part of the box is covered with old towels, for comfort and to clean as needed.

The poop side will be lined with Amarillo Globe-News papers, saved for us by our neighbor.

Koda

Koda

It's official! (We're having puppies!)

2008-08-21T19:44:00.002-05:00

See the pregnant belly?

Koda appears to be about 45 days along, according to the vet. It's too soon to tell about how many she's having, though.

Expect pictures. Lots and lots of puppy pictures.

****

My doctor was not too concerned with my infection. It seems it's not uncommon for some people's bodies to try to reject the stitches, rather than dissolve them. So, she removed the stitches I'm trying to get rid of (or "spit out," as she said). It should clear up fine from there, but I go back Thursday just in case.

I'm going to my other doctor tomorrow, which is early, so I can hopefully be cleared to return to work on Monday.

They would make beautiful puppies!

2008-08-21T19:44:00.001-05:00

Indy (the lighter Golden retriever) and Koda keep Jordie company on the couch.

Koda takes a nap today. Can you see her bulging belly? It can't be too long before the puppies get here. I'm estimating they were conceived in the middle of May. According to something I found on the Internet, the normal gestation period is 54-72 days. YIKES!

We made it (and so did Koda and Indy)

2008-08-21T19:43:00.001-05:00

Baseball season is finally over, at least for a few months. The boys ended on a winning note after struggling quite a bit this season. Thankfully, we now have some rest time.

****

So, we get home tonight to our doggies we missed, and I'm looking at Koda. She looks FAT. I mean, really fat. Both sides are bulging out, so I tell my husband, "I think Koda is pregnant." (Remember those sleepless nights I complained about because Koda and Indy couldn't seem to get enough of each other?! Yeah, well, we thought nothing had come of that. It appears, at least right now, that we were wrong.)

Koda will be making a trip to the vet on Monday.

Now ... those are gonna be some precious puppies!

****

I think I have managed to develop an infection. I'm calling the doctor tomorrow, too.

Koda and Indy

2008-08-21T19:36:00.005-05:00

Here it is. The story of Koda and Indy's puppies, from the moment we found out about the puppies to regular updates. Just begin in "archives" from first post up to the current for the story.

The posts you see originally began on my main blog, so obviously, not everything happened on Aug. 21. I'll go back in and try to put in the correct dates of the actual posts.