wild boy turned couch potato

Our dog Lou, (AKC name "Bailey's Captian Lou"), turned 9 years old on April 23. According to Hannah's recent independant research on dog breeds, she discovered Golden's live 10-12 years, and she wasn't too happy that Lou is now 9 already.
Our fluffy, energetic wild boy has traded in those times, for naps on the couch all day.





He does still gets bursts of energy, but are mostly short lived. He loves to wrestle with Steve in the livingroom, and instead of long walks on the path in town, he now enjoys the quick jaunts to the local coffee shop with Steve. The jingle of his collar and leash still gets him all riled up.
He will tear around the yard like the wild boy he used to be, but it only lasts a few short minutes now before he needs a rest and a drink. He will still retrieve a ball or frisbee, but only a few times and then he just stands and looks. Escaping out of the backyard used to be his goal, but not anymore. If he does spot free range of Dassel, he now just ventures across the street to visit the neighbors, instead of his escapades trying to figure out how to get to Cokato ( 6 miles away!!!)and then looking at us like--see ya later. One time he landed in the dog pound, because he got out without his collar on, we all learned a expensive lesson. He loves to lounge in the sun, as long as it's not too hot and spends most of the summer outside on the back step, sleeping the day away. Winter is not his favorite season.....snow up to his back is hard to get through.



Spring is definatly not my favorite season when he comes in all muddy.

His fur is pretty white now, and has been turning white over the last several years. He is our version of a white golden :)
He has truly been a wonderful first dog for our family and we enjoy him in our lives (most of the time)

The dignity and grace of our canine friends are amazing to me.
We humans have so much to learn from them,
Such an uneven exchange...such a small price they demand from us.
A little food and water, a little attention
and a corner in which to sleep.
In return, we get volumes of unconditional love,
patience, understanding, and loyalty.
If only the human race could unlock their secrets.
(author unknown)

Pictures of Lou on his birthday.

He's pretending to be an old man ( ha ha)