It’s not President Obama’s dog Bo. The dog who holds top security clearance in the US is Bravo, a golden retriever owned by Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta.
Bravo spends many days at the Pentagon, and has even sat in on classified briefings with top military leaders. According to a story on CNN, Bravo knows the tactical details of the Bin Laden raid. Because Bravo has been privy to such classified information, he surpasses Bo in power ranking, as Bo is rarely seen in the oval office. Just one more celebrity golden retriever!
Sec. of Defense Leon Panetta and his golden retreiver Bravo at a recent event at the Pentagon. (Photo by Glenn Fawcett/DoD)
Take it for what it’s worth, but if you’re single and own a golden retriever, you should be parading that animal around like crazy if you’re looking to hook up. According to Klooff, a new app for pet lovers where you can enter a profile of your pet, the number one breed for landing a hot date is a golden retriever. Personally, because a golden is such a family oriented pet, I don’t picture too many single people owning one. Could I be wrong? After this poll, perhaps that would change!
A male Golden Retriever named Tucker. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Here are the results from Klooff:
The top dog breeds to attract men were:
5. Beagles
4. Poodles
3. Chihuahuas
2. Labrador Retrievers
1. Golden Retrievers
The top dog breeds to attract women were:
5. French Bulldogs
4. Siberian Huskies
3. Labrador Retrievers
2. Golden Retrievers
1. German Shepherds
And there you have it. Klooff also stated “Women are over 10 times more likely to see a man who owns a Golden Retriever and 3 times more likely to see a man who owns a German Shepherd as “marriage material” or “boyfriend material,” than a man who owns a Pit Bull.” and also “Men are overwhelmingly more likely to see a woman who owns a Golden Retriever as girlfriend material than a woman who owns a Chihuahua.”
My nephew and I recently decided we wanted to get in shape and were going to start walking in the evenings, taking Tucker through the local conservation area trails. There is a river that runs through these trails, and we were hoping Tucker could get introduced to romping in it. When we arrived at “the spot”, a place where I used to hang out alot when I was a kid and fish for rainbow trout, there was a Canada goose and her goslings floating by…Tucker didn’t chase after them. We threw a stick in the water. That did it. Out he bounded towards the center of the river…no holds barred. You could tell where it got deeper and he began to swim, naturally, of course. It was such a beautiful sight! And then out he came. After that, he wouldn’t so much as get his paws wet. He would run around, go up to the edge of the water, his paws would touch the water, he would jump, and run away. Golden Retrievers are to water as Chihuahas are to barking. I found this strange but knew he would come around. Perhaps he needs to see another dog or a person in the water first? Tucker is only 7 months old and this was his first “forest” experience. He was a little jumpy and reluctant, sniffing everything and trembling a little at times. He would go ahead of us, but not very far. He was cautious, yet curious and confidant, which I think is a healthy balance for a puppy. It was so cool to see him explore. (not actual picture of Tucker, shoulda brought my camera)
Tonight on our walk, my nephew stripped off his socks and shoes and went knee deep into the river. After a few minutes of coaxing, Tucker reluctantly went into the water towards him. They splashed and played. Tucker realized he could drink the water. He stood and plunked his paw into the water repeatedly. He finally loved the water. After that he would run out and around in a big circle at an insane pace, run to a muddy spot and dig frantically, then run back into the water and splash around. He repeated this about 10 times, ears flapping, smiles abounding. I said to my nephew: “It’s like Canada’s Wonderland for Dogs” That, plus the car ride where he got to stick his head out the window, and the 10 minute playdate with a doberman, made for the perfect day! Tucker says it’s good to be a golden!
My search today came up with a funny, yet slightly disturbing video. On May 21, in 1927 Charles Lindbergh landed in Paris marking the first solo flight over the Atlantic Ocean. (real story here)The Onion reports that before this solo flight could be completed, several test flights occurred with dogs as pilots. Many dogs were lost. including german shepherds and dachsunds. One dog, a golden retriever named Oscar, made it 3,625 miles…well, watch the video..you’ll see. The part on Lindbergh doesnt start until about 35 seconds in…(sorry I can’t seem to embed the video here..)
Charles Lindbergh, with Spirit of St. Louis in background (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Southern Golden Retriever Society Display Team (Photo credit: internets_dairy)
Picture this: 16 beautiful Golden Retrievers in a line, or a circle, or a V formation, prancing around with their handlers to music like Katy Perry or Lady Gaga. It is pure joy to watch….
The Southern Golden Retriever Display Team was established in 2001. They are a team of 16 Golden Retrievers and their owners (plus 5 reserve dogs) who perform at various events around Kent, Surrey, and Sussex England. They got their rise to fame when they performed on Discover Dogs in 2003. Since then, they have performed at Crufts every year since 2004. Last weekend these adorable, smiley faced goldens were featured at the London Pet Show.
The team practices on a weekly basis, rain or shine. Dogs on the team are trained based on what is called The Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Dog Scheme (GCDS) They promote the pleasure of owning a well behaved dog, and at the end of their performance, they invite children into the ring to pet the dogs and learn about responsible pet ownership.
The team goes through various drills and formations set to music. There are sometimes some imperfections with the performance, which makes it even more adorable if you ask me!
Here is a video of the team performing at Crufts:
Richard Fisher, a writer for New Scientist magazine, saw the team of Goldens performing at Discover Dogs and became an instant fan. He wanted to propose to his girlfriend Krissy, so he had each golden wear a letter around its neck spelling “Krissy will you marry me?” (I assume they had to use the reserves here) Apparently, she said yes! So here is where the group gained their youtube fame…Richard was tasked by his editor to write an article on “what makes a youtube sensation” He wanted to use the golden retrievers to illustrate the structure of an atom. The video is called “Pets Teach Science” and it currently has over 300,000 views. Please watch and share the video. If it goes viral, maybe they will get to perform on Ellen, or Conan! They are both animal lovers, and I believe Conan still owns a Golden Retriever of his own.
The Southern Golden Retriever Display Team illustrating the structure of atoms:
The Southern Golden Retriever Display Team is a subsidiary of The Southern Golden Retriever Society, an established breed club from England. Karen Menter is the Display Team’s manager. She choreographs the routines, is the “caller” during performances, and works with her own dog “Saffy”
I came across an article in OK! with some photos of George Clooney and a golden retriever and I felt I must share. Apparently he was filming an Android Smartphone commercial in Malibu, CA yesterday with a very handsome sidekick. From the looks of the pictures, they seemed to form quite a bond. In the one photo, it even shows George kissing the dog on the head. How sweet! Then again, how could anyone NOT fall in love with a golden. Photos courtesy of Splash News.
George Clooney and Golden Retriever – courtesy Splash News
Before we got Tucker, Betty was queen of the house. Betty is a fat, spoiled kitty, with lots of toys. She is also a finicky eater, and rather skittish when company comes. It takes awhile to get to know Betty. Here she is the night before Tucker arrives…..
I like to call it “T’was the night before Tucker”
Since that day, Betty hasn’t been able to sprawl out on the kitchen floor like that. She sits just inside her kitty door (to the unfinished basement) and peers out. She has gradually become a bit more brave, and when she knows Tucker is sound asleep, she will even come up on the bed with us. Sometimes I wake up and there she is, just sitting up staring at him with those big huge eyes. She has learned that she is quick enough to escape him when he is in this groggy stage. She has several safe places and escape routes throughout the house, and I really don’t think Tucker would hurt her. He wants to meet her so bad! But he is a puppy, and sometimes he peers through the hole and barks at her. With excitement, of course. His tail is walloping on the floor the whole time.
This is a common occurrence at our house..
How could you be afraid of this??
Of course, Tucker is much bigger now, but his head still fits in the hole.
I have read so much on the subject of introducing dogs and cats, and have come to the conclusion I just have to let them be. We tried a few formal introductions, where Betty wasn’t contained..we would just hold her and let Tucker come up gently. It always ended in Betty hissing, clawing and running down the stairs. She is still faster than him. I cant help but feel sorry for Betty. Sometimes Tucker lies right outside the kitty hole, and there’s Betty, about 2 feet away, staring right back at him. It is bound to happen one of these days. I shall keep you posted..
This story captured my heart. I think it was the still shot of the one golden sitting looking stoicly, or the old golden with the glove, standing by while rescue crews try to rescue their owner. Sometime this winter, Pascal Scrufari, 70 yrs, was walking his three golden retrievers in Hyde Park, Niagara Falls, NY. One of the goldens ventured off onto thin ice and he went after it. He fell through the ice. Captured on film and still shot, are the owners dogs looking on. The older dog, Chloe, had a glove in her mouth. I am only assuming it belonged to the owner. According to firefighter Frank Cacciatore, one of the dogs was hovering over the rescue crew the whole time. WIBV News has a great take on this story with video here.
The dogs were apparently taken by the local SPCA. Here’s the nice part…. Frank Cacciatore, who had a golden of his own, rescued the 3 dogs. He has 4 children. Their first golden, Lady, who they have had for 10 years, helps their son Nick, who has Autism.
The other three dogs were matched with the other three children in the family. Apparently they have taken over the 2 1/2 car garage. Cacciatore family: please let these animals live indoors with you!! They will enrich your lives in so many ways. I suppose because there are 4 of them they are a pack all their own, but I can’t imagine them living out their lives in a garage. They have so much to offer. With persistance, you can learn to live in harmony.
Sadly, oldest dog, 10 year old Chloe has been diagnosed with fibrosarcoma. Zach and Sheeba are one year old. Chloe was paired with Hailey, and there is also a precious still of them cuddling on the floor. Thankfully Chloe will live out her last days in happiness, with her pack and her new loving family.
I also want to encourage the family to have the dogs spayed and neutered, not bred, as suggested in the article. Unless they are AKC registered dogs without non-breeding agreements, you may want to reconsider if you love the breed as I do. I encourage you to do extensive research before you embark on such an endeavor.
“Being a hero to someone, even if it is a dog, is a feeling like no other...it can be the most rewarding thing to give someone a second chance at a happy life." ~ From Finally Home, by Elizabeth Parker
Lighthearted tales of life beside the sun on a heavenly ridge with occasional travels in the kingdom animalia. Starring "The Sundogs" "Rockin Roy" 2 handsome horses, 7 goats, a wild burro named Rosie and a sensational guest appearance from time to time.
