Ten years ago, we were living in the suburbs of Illinois and decided to get a puppy. I'd done my research, decided on English Cream golden retrievers, and found a breeder not to far away.
The puppies were born on the first day of winter, and each was given a colored ribbon collar. When I saw the one they called "Little Yellow", I knew she was the one. And then we met her and our hearts melted with her cuteness.
Mind you, she wasn't always cute. We had a rough period those first months, that's for sure! She was bitey and nippy and mischievous. They don't call puppies at this stage "land sharks" for no good reason!
But soon, she resolved herself to the fact that we were her family, like it or not.
I learned something interesting about golden retrievers recently. Of all the dog breeds, they produce the highest levels of Oxytocin. That is the hormone often called the "love hormone". It is what mothers of newborns produce to bond with their babies. It floods their hormones with love.
This is why Goldens are known to bond so deeply with their owners. They are not independent dogs. Jemma follows me everywhere, even into the bathroom. She tries to sit on my lap, even though she's 80 pounds. When we sit at the table to eat, she's at our feet. When we sleep, she's laying curled up to our legs. When we are out in the yard working, she's by our side, guarding us from evil squirrels.
Yesterday was Jemma's 10th birthday. The Queen of the Goldens needed a crown, so I made her one!
It was a happy day. And when Jemma is happy, she smiles.
Happy Birthday, sweet Jemma!
Hope your day is full of smiles, too!
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