Introducing Miss Scarlett

We’re a wee bit distracted this week!  The Meyers household is growing!

And today, I am introducing our newest addition, the lovely Miss Scarlett!

I make no secret about my love for Golden Retrievers.  Having owned 4 of them over a span of 25 yrs, Scarlett being our 5th, and actually being afraid of large dogs surely speaks to their gentle manner and the wonderful breed that they are.

First there was Abby – a timid but gentle girl who my son had saved half of the purchase for by the time he was 7.  Abby was Craig’s girl.  Craig, being an only child then, found Abby to be more than just his pet, but closer to a sibling growing up.  She was also his first family pet so the bond was a strong one.

Then there was Murphy – my canine soul mate who I nurtured and raised from the very tender age of 5 weeks old.  Murphy wasn’t a planned addition. A friend was going to see a litter of Goldens to choose one for herself.  The litter wasn’t appearing well to me. Murphy, seeming the more robust of the litter, promptly made his way to my feet, sat down and looked up at me as tho to ask “Are you here for me!”.  I picked him up and held him close to me – biiiig mistake!  I left with him that night and not for one moment of his life, did I ever regret it.  So loyal, sensitive and everything one would hope for in a canine companion and then some.  I was absolutely devastated when he left us after a very short 11 ½ yrs of age.  I swore I’d never open myself up to that kind of heartbreak again.

Then there was Murphy #2.  A call from a friend working at our local animal shelter came, informing me of a Golden who had just been turned in as she explained “He’s Murphy reincarnated!  I know you said you would never again but he needs you.”  Only 9 weeks old and he was everything that Murphy the 1^st was. We had no choice but to bring him home.  His features were so similar to Murphy, his coat the same color and his whole demeanour the same.  I will be forever grateful to the previous owner who recognized that he wasn’t equipped to care for a puppy and gave him up for a loving home where he would thrive and be forever included and loved. He was Eliza’s first family pet as a toddler.  Joe and I raised them both together.  It was a magical time in our lives and Murphy was a big part of that.  He too left us at 11 ½ yrs of age.  Again, a complete and all-consuming heartache.  Such a strange coincidence that he and our first Murphy would both pass on at the same age, and on almost the exact day of the year, seeming even more of a reincarnation in retrospect than originally thought.

Then came Gunner, whom we still have!  We had gifted Eliza with Gunner for her 12^th birthday, fully realizing that Murph would soon be leaving us and knowing the huge void we’d all be left with, but especially Eliza.  Murph didn’t have much tolerance for Gunner in his old age, and Gunner made sure to make a total nuisance of himself.  But he was so loving and always needing the physical closeness of us all. 

Now 2 ½, Gunner is slowly growing into the gentleman we knew he could be.  He’s a bit slower than the others to reach his full potential in his high level of energy, but he is getting there – slowly but surely.

When bringing Gunner home, it took everything in me to not bring home one of his siblings as well.  We continued to think long and hard about bringing a 2^nd one into our home while Gunner was still so young but in our feeling that he would benefit from a companion of his own just due to his nature, we began our search – enter Miss Scarlett.

Scarlett is an 8 week old bundle of energy and sass. We made the 9 hr drive to bring her home over the weekend.  So far, Gunner doesn’t seem to require the physical closeness to her that we thought he would.  Scarlett’s actually seeming more a bit of a thorn in Gunner’s side at the moment but we’re expecting that that will change as we see his attempts to engage her in play. He’s rough with her tho so we need to watch them closely and correct Scarlett when she hangs with her teeth from Gunner’s tail.

So far, Joe and I have been tag-teaming on showers while we hand over the reigns on feeding, playing, walking, and pee and poop duty while still trying to prepare dinner and sit down to eat.  It’s all so fun and interesting to watch them as they interact with one another and attempt to establish themselves in each other’s world in hierarchy, and find their place ours.  Joe thinks Scarlett will be the dominant one.  I hesitate at times to step in as they attempt to work it out early on.  She’s so tiny tho.  One false move from Gunner in his jealousy and rough-housing and she could get hurt.

It seems to be going okay, sort of.  Scarlett is being crate-trained as all of our Goldens have been.  She’s not so fond of it as her late night yelping let us know on night #2.  But we know from experience, that that will settle in the near future. Her first night home with us found her sleeping through the night and waking to a dry crate.  Last night was night #3 and with the few changes Joe and I made yesterday in her routine and accommodations, everyone slept well with the exception of Joe getting up for taking her outside in the middle of the night.  A week or two will find us with her house-broken and more restful nights undoubtedly.  None of it much different from having a newborn baby in the house. We know we will get there eventually. 

We also know that they will both be a huge part of our family where there’s always enough love for a Golden.