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All About Goldens(from their kids!) and lots more! |
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"A good dog deserves a good bone." - American Proverb |
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 My
name is Katie and I am 13 years old. I began doing agility with my
Golden Retriever, four-year-old Dusty Snickerdoodle, when I was 11.
My parents gave me my own dog when I was 9, and I chose a Golden Retriever.
I knew that I wanted to do a competitive dog sport with Dusty, but
couldn’t find the right one. I discovered agility on Animal Planet.
It is perfect for Dusty: He is fast, strong, and lives to please me.
I knew that this was the sport for us. |
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I have been Dusty’s only trainer and handler for his whole life. I began his early agility training in the backyard when he was around 6 months old. I used anything I could find to make jumps and tiny obstacles. Using lots of food and hugs, I trained Dusty to go over the jumps happily. By the time he was a year old, he could run short jump sequences off-leash. I enrolled him in a group agility class shortly after his first birthday. With the help of our trainer, as well as more food and hugs, I taught Dusty to soar over jumps, race through tunnels, climb over the A-frame, zoom across the dogwalk, and snake through the weave poles. He loved to do those obstacles, but he hated the teeter-totter. Our trainer and I tried everything: putting food at the end, pushing him up, helping him tip the board, racing ahead, calling him over. Nothing seemed to help. He would leap onto the miniature teeter in my backyard, but the big teeter at class scared him to death. Since the teeter and dogwalk look similar to a dog, he started avoiding the dogwalk as well. Finally, I discovered his love of whipped cream and squirt cheese. I would squirt piles of whipped cream and cheese up the teeter, and he happily licked it up. While he is still slow on the teeter, he always does it and he races across the dogwalk like he used to. |
Dusty learned to run longer courses while on the leash. A few months after we began training, we entered a special show called a show-and-go in which we were allowed to use a leash. Although he was still having a teeter problem and I had to push him up the teeter, we both had a lot of fun. I started running him on a lighter leash, and finally off-leash. It was a slow process. We entered the more advanced class at our training center, and I began to hope that our trainer would allow us to compete soon. Dusty’s first competition was in February 2002, a year after we’d begun training. He was doing very well at lessons, but in the show he ran off the course to “visit” people quite a few times. Most Golden Retrievers go “visiting” at their first show, but Dusty continued to visit at our second show. And third. And fourth. He still goes “visiting” occasionally if I do not stay right next to him. Our first clean run (a perfect run) was in June 2002. He got a first place, and I was so happy! At the next show, all four of his runs were perfect. On July 28, 2002 (Dusty’s third birthday), we got our Novice Agility title. |
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Dusty and I have always competed against adults, and we have done very well. He has won 14 blue ribbons and we have the following titles: AKC Open Agility and Agility Excellent Jumper; USDAA Agility Dog; NADAC Novice Agility and Novice Jumper; ASCA Regular Standard Novice and Jumpers Standard Novice. |
Agility
has been great for Dusty and me. It has made our relationship much
stronger and taught me how to be a good dog trainer. My goal is for
Dusty and me to be the first junior handler and Golden Retriever
team to earn the USDAA and AKC champion titles. We are always working
on running faster and being more accurate. |
I
would recommend doing agility to anyone with a dog. It is a lot of
fun to train your dog to run the course. Competing is thrilling,
although I always get nervous. There is nothing like the connection
that I feel with Dusty on the agility course. Dusty is a real agility
dog. Katie,
age 13 |
I
love to swim, play fetch, and go for walks with my dog,
Koa (Golden
Retriever). He is getting old, but still as fun as when
he was a puppy! My dog loves to go to the Colorado river with me
and my sister! Anonymous, age 13, California USA
My dog is called Muska. My mom named him that because he
was such a
mush. He's 11 years old and his breed is a Golden Retriever. I love him very
much. He's my best friend. He's special to me because he loves me and
I love him. Ben, Age 8, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, Asia
I have a Golden Retriever, his name
is Shine, and a Cocker Spaniel,
his name is Shadow. They can do a lot of things like sit, stay
here, jump
over a fence. Also they are beautiful and intelligent dogs.
Juliana, age 14, Caracas Venezuela
Max (Golden Retriever) is 9 months old. He likes to be
in the house. He is getting
big, but still likes to get on my dad's lap. His favorite game is
tug of war.
Jayden, Age 7, South Dakota USA
I have a Golden Retriever puppy named
Penny. She knows
how to sit, stay (for a long time), lay down, and my "Get
up against the wall".
That is my favorite trick!! All I did to teach her
that was to put a treat
on the wall and when she jumped up to get it, I told
her "UP AGAINST
THE WALL, YOU'RE BUSTED!"
Then I search her for a gun or drugs.
She has always come clean. Lacey,
age 15, Louisiana USA
My dog, Goldie (Golden Retriever) is great, because she
accompanies me
when I'm alone, and knows when to sit quietly, and who to bark at.
I wouldn't exchange her for any dog in the world.
Dianne, Age 10, Subang Jaya/Selangor/Malaysia
I love my dog, Mr. Bear. He's a Golden Retriever. He is
a big baby and loves
to be rubbed. I love him a lot. Zachary, Age 8, Tennessee USA
Molly (Golden Retriever) is so lovable. She does not bark.
She loves to beg
for food. She hates uncooked carrots and lettuce. She also love Christmas presents.
Rachel, Age 16, Kansas USA
We play hide and seek with our two dogs, a Golden Retriever
and
a Cocker Spaniel, in a field of alfalfa.The grass and alfalfa get really high
and
I hide in it while my mom holds them where they can't see me.Then she
tells them to find me and they run and jump all over in the field until
they find me. Many times they jump right on top of me to find me.
It's great fun. Keri, age 8, Nebraska, USA
I have an 8 week old Golden Retriever named Max. He can
already beg, heel,
sit, and get my dad's newspaper. AND he plays for my basketball team, my
football,
and my soccer! Jake, Age 13, Texas USA
My dog's name is Rusty (Golden Retriever) and he's a sweetie...he
was named
after his color. Whenever someone's outside or someone comes to the door,
he barks a lot,
but he's so friendly he would never bite anyone! He loves dog biscuits, being
petted,
chasing after little lights, playing and chewing on his ball, and being lazy.
Mitchell, South Dakota USA
I have a dog named Cookie. She is a Golden Retriever. She
has a lot of energy
and I love her a lot. I love to play with her and teach her to do agility.
Jaimee, Age 13, Manitoba, Canada
My dog is a golden retriever, and he is VERY playful. Instead
of guarding the house,
he would ask any stranger to play with him! As he is rather big, many people
in the
neighborhood are terrified of him! Victoria, age 12+, Singapore
I have two Golden Retriever puppies. Their names are Doo
and Clay. When I first bought
them, they were 10 weeks old and I could hold them both in my lap. Now they
are 18 weeks
old and they both fight over trying to sit in my lap. They are so cute. Their
favorite thing to do
is wrestle together. They look like little teddy bears rolling around in
the grass.
Dana, Age 14, South Carolina USA
My dog is a Golden Retriever. He is so adorable. He is
almost 10 years old. He has
arthritis, but he always is running around with me. We got him when I was
born.
Elizabeth, Age 10, Pennsylvania USA
When I get our new house I am going to get a new puppy
but he'll be a big
dog pretty soon. He will still be a puppy for a long time. He will be a Golden
Retriever puppy. Pretty soon he will be a Golden Retriever dog. Samantha,
Age 7, Texas USA
My dog is a Golden Retriever. She is the best dog in the
world. She looks like
an Irish Setter. She's so funny sometimes. Kelsey, Age 9, Grosse Ile,
Michigan USA
My dog, Jodie, is my best friend. She is a little silly
sometimes, like when
people pretend to attack me. She bites me! She is a Golden Retriever. Let
me
tell you, people mistake her as an Irish Setter! Jodie is the best (she likes
me a
ton too)! I wish she would never die. Michelle, age 9, Missouri USA
I love my dog, Sunny (Golden Retriever) because he is very
cute and he
helps me by protecting me always. He loves to play games and is very good
and loves the world! Jodie, Age 12, Tilbury Ontario, Canada
There are many Golden Retrievers around the country without homes. Have your parents call a Golden rescue to adopt a warm, loving Golden just waiting for a home. Check here for rescue information and an organization in your city. |
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Jessy: Wow, your dog must be very smart! Jami: Oh, not really. I usually win! |
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 (Close the window to return to this site.) |
| Shadow, from Homeward Bound and Homeward Bound II |
| Liberty, the dog of U.S. President, Gerald Ford |
| Speedy, from the Drew Carey Show |
| Sun Dance, in Adam Sandler's movie, Click |
| Duke, from Bush's Baked Bean commercials |
| Comet, the Golden from the TV show Full House |
| Buddy, in Air Bud and all the Air Bud sequels |
| Brandon, the Golden of Punky Brewster |
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Visit our Golden Retriever Shop. Click here to teach your Golden Retriever some tricks. Click here to start training your Golden Retriever. |
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Golden
Retrievers
by Stuart Callen All about Golden Retrievers,written especially for kids ages 4-8. |
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Owning
a Golden Retriever by Sally Stewart Owners who have just acquired a pedigreed pup, and dog lovers planning to purchase a pet, will value "Living With a Pet" books for their in-depth presentation of the special characteristics and needs of the breed being considered. These books give readers detailed understanding of the animal's daily needs, adaptability to training, physical and personality traits, specific strengths and weaknesses, ability to learn, susceptibility to health problems, and more. Books are filled with full-color photos and attractive sidebar features. |
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The
Golden Retriever Handbook by D. Caroline Coile An 11-year old reader writes: This one of the best book I've ever read about GR. It give me a good information on purchasing, training, feeding, health problem, and much more. I strongly recommended this book for those who want to buy a Golden Retriever and for those who wants information on Golden Retriever. |
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Train
Your Golden Retriever by Liz Palika Easy to read book with lots of color pictures of Goldens in everyday life. Helpful hints in blue boxes that catch your attention. Good first book for anyone interested in Goldens. |
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The
Guide to Owning a Golden Retriever by Joanne P. Huxley This book gives an understanding of the Golden Retriever - from practical information to care, love and nurturing. |
Here are some more great books about Golden Retrievers:
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A
Guide Dog Puppy Grows Up by Caroline
Arnold from a reader from California: This book is filled with photos of puppies and dogs in training. The reader will identify with Honey from her birth in the kennels to life with her puppy raisers, her training in guide work and finally, being paired with her blind partner. The book is a great way to attract children's/students' interest in learning about disabilities. Ages 4-8 |
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One
Golden Year: A Story of a Golden Retriever
by Coleen Hubbard For one happy year, Caitlin and her mother raise and train a puppy to become a companion dog for the disabled. Albion, the loving, intelligent Golden Retriever, graduates from training and is given to a girl in a wheelchair who is Caitlin's age. Ages 9-12 |
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Bailey
Bymyside: Golden Lessons for Life by Patricia Burlin Kennedy an Amazon reader writes: Anyone who reads this book will "feel" the connection that these four legged creatures have with us. You will smile, you will cry and hopefully, you will pause to think about these life lessons and promise to be a better person because of these reminders. Please buy this book for your children and encourage them to live by Bailey's example. Ages 9 and up |
DVDs
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Air Bud DVD |
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Air Bud: Golden Receiver DVD |
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Air Bud: World Pup DVD |
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Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch DVD |
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Homeward Bound DVD |
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Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco DVD |
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