Why golden retrievers are my heart dog

Did you know there is such a holiday as National Golden Retriever day?? I didn’t until a few years ago when I was scrolling through my social media and saw one post after another celebrating these sweet, gentle retrievers. While I think we should celebrate all dogs everyday, golden retrievers hold a special place in my heart.
I didn’t grow up with dogs, but I always knew I wanted a retriever. For many years, I thought I would get a Labrador retriever, but the more goldens I met and the more I learned about this breed, the more I realized this was the dog I was meant to have.

I love all dogs, all breeds and mixed breeds. I have a golden retriever, an Australian shepherd and a terrier mix. As a pet sitter, I’ve cared for hundreds of dogs over the years, from tiny chihuahuas to enormous and strong mastiffs. But the golden retrievers are the ones who have always tugged at my heart.

Like so many canines, goldens exhibit traits we all love - loyalty, unconditional love, and companionship. They are so trusting, it’s no surprise that many families with babies and young children adopt this breed to be a part of their family.

I adopted my first golden, Mika, over 20 years ago. A year after she lost her battle to hemangiosarcoma (a cancer of the blood), I adopted my second golden, Isabella, or Izzy for short. While they share so many similar characteristics, they were also very different. Mika was my steady Eddie, calm, quiet and friendly. Izzy was a very rambunctious puppy, playful yet also lazy. Mika was my shadow, following me everywhere. Izzy, on the other hand, lives for the moments I get out her leash to take her for a walk.

In my girls I find a kinship unlike any other relationship I have. They are so trusting, so much so that I trust them with anyone of any age. Being laid back, they welcome all into their pack. Possessing an innate ability to read my emotions, they know when I am sad, angry, scared, happy and excited. Sometimes I feel like they know my feelings before I do.

Despite their differences and the distinctive relationship I have with each, I think of both of them as my heart dog.

Not only are they compassionate, they are gentle, intelligent and mostly easy to train. I say mostly, because I used to train in them in agility and obedience. Mika was awesome (my steady Eddie) earning many titles. Izzy, on the other hand, proved to be too challenging that we gave it up after a few brief years.

Easily, they are some of my best friends - coming to work with me, running errands, watching a movie or simply doing nothing. They have enhanced my life in more ways than I ever expected a dog could. And that, I think, is something worth celebrating!