In the past 30 years, I've had two Goldens with just a few months off in between the passing of my first (Chase) and the birth of my second (Cooper).
Both were of the same blood line from Spirit Lake Iowa. Both were the alpha males of their respective litters, weighing in at 100 pounds without an ounce of fat. Both were super aggressive in their desire to work, and protect...much like Ky Jons Chessie they would have tracked down your killer and made a meal of them...then asked for more. Never the less, each could "read" people perfectly and would instinctively protect youngsters while in the yard.
MOST IMPORTANT... both have been the smartest dogs of any breed I've ever known or been fortunate enough to own. In fact, when I picked up Cooper at age 9 weeks (having already spent two weeks bonding with him) it took him only 20 mins. to train me into never putting him in a travel cage again. He spent the next two days of car travel happily riding on my shoulder, or sitting on the console between the seats...even driving the last few hours to get home. He's always been second in the family pecking order...my wife continues to be third...as well she should be.
Now the line is done. Cooper is 14 1/2 and on his last legs which I find heart breaking since he wants to go but his legs just won't take him there anymore ... so we spend a lot of time retrieving biscuits and just climbing stairs in the house. The next crisis in my life will be his passing.
Now the obvious question...where do I find my next WORKING Golden? I am in the upper mid-west, but will go anywhere to find a suitable MALE successor. I am leery of big "breeders" who have a reputation for using terror tactics to train. Damn near shot a professional trainer who was using a shock collar in a very inappropriate manner on a lab one day during field trials training. In my experience if the dog has the native "smarts" it's not necessary to push like that.
I do need recommendations on where to find my next Golden. If anyone knows of a possible Feb./March 08 litter coming up, please send me a PM at: rsmith@truepair.com
Many thanks.
