It's funny, because while Sam loves all friendly dogs, and will happily play with any dogs, he absolutely loves Retrievers best. You could almost see the wheels turning the first few times he interacted with Goldens- he too thought they were especially attractive Labbies. Goldens don't walk or run, they glide, with their long fur flowing in the breeze behind them. Sort of like the Fabio of the dog world.
We brought Sam home when he was about 14 weeks old, ergo we had about a month of "puppy quarantine" during which he was finishing up his shots. The vet, who has known Sam since Sam was just a planned breeding between a dam and a sire, who has taken care of all of these dogs, put the righteous fear of God in me about parvo and other ailments that can sneak around a puppy's immunity before the puppy shots are completed and the dog has an adequate immune response to the inoculations. We could not allow Sam around unknown adult dogs, dogs who might be carriers of parvo and other diseases, dog feces, food bowls, water bowls or toys onto which other dogs may have slobbered, you get the picture.
So we were faced with the critical socialization period plus the quarantine period happening simultaneously, and we live in an area with lots and lots of dogs who are walked along the same sidewalks and streets to which we have daily access. And Lab puppies need lots of exercise and outdoor time, etc. etc.
It was an interesting month of discovery and terror. GOOD GRIEF I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS UNKNOWN DOG FECES EVERY FREAKIN' WHERE UNTIL I HAD TO KEEP A PUPPY STONE COLD OUT OF IT.
Anyway, we were at the very end of this quarantine period, and we were out walking Sam in the neighborhood one evening, when around the corner floated, literally floated, a gorgeous Golden with his owner. He floated toward us on air, feet barely touching the pavement, silky golden hair flowing behind him, like some sort of Golden Retriever Vision.
Sam saw that retriever face and lost his little puppy mind. He was fresh off of the breeder's farm, where he'd grown up with many Retriever playmates. This month of quarantine was the longest he'd been without fellow canine companionship.
The Golden floated congenially toward Sam, all "What's up, Little Guy? It's all good!" and Sam was all "I WILL SAY HELLO TO THIS DOG!"
So like it or not, we were interacting with this gorgeous and friendly Golden and his owner.
I was filled with anxiety because I didn't know this dog from anybody, nor the owner, so I had no idea of the dog's health history. I was running the clip in my head of me trying to explain to the vet how my dog got sick because I let him interact with a dog I didn't know, JUST SOME DOG ON THE STREET, and how saying BUT IT WAS A GORGEOUS GOLDEN WHO FLOATED TOWARD US ON CLOUDS WITH ANGELS WINGS probably would not cut it.
I finally found my voice and asked, as tactfully as I could, if this Golden had any disease history, if he could be any sort of carrier, and if he was up to date on his shots.
The owner looked at me, a bit startled and caught off guard, but she answered completely and promptly, and she could see the stress on my face. I explained the vet's instructions, the quarantine period and The Fear of God. She understood immediately, thank goodness.
"Oh yes," she said. "We are up to date on all of our shots - and our grooming and spa treatments as well. Did you see him prance down the street toward you? He knows that he's beautiful. Up to date on his shots? I'm surprised that he's not demanding Botox!"
We all had a good laugh at that.
I think about that now, every time I see a Golden glide by with that happy, cheerful, "YES I'M GORGEOUS!" demeanor. Oh yes, Goldens are gorgeous and don't think that they don't know it! Thank goodness they are too friendly, loyal and lovable to be vain!
