Back in the early 70's, we worked in Beaufort NC during hurricane seasons while living aboard,
commuting from the anchorage to jobs ashore.
One of our joys during those
periods was a pair of Golden Retrievers that lived in a house near the dinghy
dock. A Golden’s face is the epitome of innocence and their demeanor is
ultimate joy and enthusiasm, not to mention that they are absolute hand
magnets.
At
days end, after working ashore, we’d rustle board the dink and each take an oar
to row about a quarter mile across the cut to our anchored boat. We learned to
keep an eye out for the four-legged pair because if they saw us rowing they’d
jump in the water, swim our way and try to board us in our $20 two man
inflatable dinghy. More than once we’d been capsized by our enthusiastic
visitors and on a couple occasions suffered dink punctures when they boarded.
The article was written seasons later when we'd been loaned a hard dink.Our sailboat is in the bottom pic at upper left.
It
was kind of funny when we saw the swimming dogs approaching, knowing that we
too would likely be swimming the rest of the way to our anchored boat if they
caught up to us. When we saw them coming, I’d suggest to Suzy that we needed to
hustle. We’d step up the pace but invariably I’d pull a little harder than she
could and we’d end up going in a circle, shouting and laughing hysterically,
each blaming the other for the course changes. More often than not though, we’d
make it unscathed because of having scoured the shore before we set out to asses our
probability of getting close enough to the boat that they couldn’t catch up to us.
We
wanted a dog so bad, but Suzy is deathly allergic so it never
happened…until 40 years later when my daughter relentlessly encouraged us to
look into getting a dog. Knowing the consequences of my wife’s face swelling up
resulting in trouble breathing we just couldn’t do it until on a cruise in
British Columbia a dog appeared at a neighboring dock that caught my attention.
As our eyes locked, he said, “Get a dog like me.”
Dude said, "Get a dog like me!".
I’d
never had a dog talk to me before, so I inquired what kind of magical dog this
was. I was told he was a Golden Doodle – ½ Golden Retriever and ½ Poodle. They
can be non-shedding, hypoallergenic and unusually very people oriented as well an no doggy breath or odor.
Back
home after detailed research, we drove 400 miles to a potential breeder to
see what these dogs were all about. In our correspondence with the breeder
we were informed that there was a litter 7 weeks old and they wouldn't be released
until 8 weeks, but it was still OK to visit. We'd come - we were only visiting to get an education.
My
daughter decided to come with us when we made the trip To Louisville from SC.
She had worked at an animal shelter and wanted to give the breeder a once over
to make sure this breeder wasn’t just a ‘Puppy Mill’.
On
our arrival, we learned that the couple bred these dogs because of the joy they
brought to owners. Anna, whose day job is an MD, attends to the internet,
paperwork and of course health and testing of the pups. When we met her husband
Charlie he was on his back in the puppy pen with 8 or so adorable puppies
pouncing on him from all sides. We knew we’d be back in a week to get a puppy,
but which one?
We
narrowed it down to two red nosed males but ran out of time deciding.
We took a
room at a nearby motel so we could go back the next day, I guess knowing that
we really just wanted to spend time again with all of them.
The next morning we were back trying to decide which puppy we'd like to adopt. For some reason my
daughter suddenly pointed and said, “That one!”
Our
enthusiasm was slightly dampened when Anna said that a couple had been up from
Florida a week earlier and told her they wanted the same puppy. Anna suggested that we take the other one, so we said, “OK, no big deal”.
We then got to
talking with Anna and Charlie, learning that they loved the water and planned
to fix up a boat that they had stashed in the corner of their field. We told
them how we had lived aboard for 3 years and about the Doodle that had inspired
our search. We were in the midst of 20 or so pups while we were talking and the
little guy that we had originally chosen seemed to find me fascinating despite the rest of the little pups frolicking elsewhere. Anna and
Charlie excused themselves for a couple minutes. When they came back they told
us we could have the puppy that seemed to have chosen us. We were delighted and
told them we’d be back in a week.
Then
they dropped the bomb on us. “We’d be comfortable in letting him go home with
you today.” Yikes, we didn’t know anything about puppies. We had none of the
things you’re supposed to have for the trip home or when you get there. I was
hesitant, but the girls wouldn’t take no for an answer, so Merlin went home
with us at 7 weeks.
Merlin (and wife Suzy) on the way home.
We
kept in touch with our newfound breeder/boating friends and had them send our
whereabouts to the couple who bought the other puppy. The Florida couple wrote
us back. We learned that “Niko” had gone to Florida to be companion to their
other dog Riley, an Aussie-Doodle.
We
corresponded back and forth with Niko’s parents, eventually making several
trips to Florida to get the boys together again. Niko also came up to visit
Merlin. Merlin and Niko’s last get-together was only about a month ago when we
went down that way to do some boating. Big Duck Tastes Salt for the First Time
Enough
rambling – just know that a new puppy in your life will open doors you never knew existed .
And now that I've got myself going on how lucky I am to have a most joyously admitted, 'feather footed lop eard fleabag' best friend - here's some random pics.
Me an Mer-Mer on the ICW, cruising in our 18' cuddy
Soggy puppy.
Merlin playing in the salt with my daughters dog.
Couldn't you just squeeze this guy until he squeeked?
Merlin worked as a therapy dog logging over 200 visits to hospitals and old folks homes - I called it reconnaissance for this 71 year old handler.
Merlin and Niko on one of their many get-togethers.
Is this a boat dog or what?
Merlin and Niko in FL.
Merlin as a puppy - How could you possibly resist?
I guess he can drive - he DOES have a license!
Best friends - Merlin first - then the Pacifico.
Merlin and his sister Sara Jane
Well damn, doesn't that make you want to take to the water again?
Full speed ahead!
Merlin makes a great four legged pillow and I bury my nose in his armpit before napping for a comforting aroma. If they made an "Eau De-Doodle" candle I'd buy one for every room.
Potty ashore, Cap! The original plan.
Merlin taught himself to swim ashore to go potty, then swim back and come up the steps.
Swimming ashore, while convenient proved to be problematic because whenever he saw the steps down he thought it was an invitation to go ashore - which obviously wasn't always the case.
We then tried to teach him to go on his green mat on the aft deck. We'd all 'gone' on the mat, including traces of his and others 'deposits' but nothing inspired Merlin to take the plunge. Finally after 36 hours there was relief for the entire crew.
Looks like he's been eating Tootsie-Rolls
Nice Tinky-tink
This isn't me, this isn't my boat, but it is my dog.
I got carried away with all the pictures. OK, just one more.
Lovely tribute. Almost makes me want a dog. Almost.
ReplyDeletepretty cool. I like your style! I stumbled upon your writings here after you posted on THT.
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