My Mascot – Bailey – our Golden Doodle
Dogs have always been a part of my life. Whether they were childhood pets or those belonging to relatives and friends, I have always loved dogs. And I have always thought that some dogs had that special personality that made them feel more like people than canines. You know the ones I mean - these dogs seem to look at you differently, almost as if they were looking into your soul. These dogs seem to expect something from you. No, I don’t mean food, water and a good walk. It’s almost as if they expect you to be a better person – better because you have them in your life.
“Be the person your dog thinks you are!” It’s one of my favorite t-shirts. Each time I wear it – it does make me want to be a better person. And I am certainly a better person because of my dog Bailey. But I think that it’s not just me that she changes, but everyone who comes in contact with her.
Bailey is our six-year-old Golden-Doodle, and she is one of those dogs that reaches into your soul. She also looks into your heart and takes hold – tight! Bailey is our second family dog, our first, Brandy was a Yellow Lab/German Shepherd mix that we rescued from a shelter when our daughters were in elementary school. Brandy was a great dog and lived to the ripe old age of fourteen, passing while the girls were both in college. We all loved Brandy dearly, but she was more of a “cat-dog” – she was very aloof and dealt with us on her terms - often giving us the snub.
After Brandy passed it took me a couple years to convince my husband, John, that we should get another dog. The two-year wait gave me the opportunity to think long and hard about what breed I wanted this time around. John and I are both active people, so we wanted a dog with energy and a good personality. But more than anything I told John that I wanted a dog that wanted to be with us, snuggle with us, run and play with us. After our first dog, Brandy’s aloofness I wanted a dog that would “love” us back!
By the time John was finally ready I had done my homework. On the recommendation of a family friend who had worked with a Golden-Doodle breeder, we put in our request for a female from the next litter. When we finally got the news from the breeder that the littler had been born, we were told it would be approximately 14 weeks and we could expect a phone call when we could come and make our pick of the females.
As it turned out I was in Rome when the call came. I had taken my mom to visit my daughter, Kelsey, while she was doing a semester abroad. I had to laugh when John sent me the picture via text of three identical Golden-Doodle puppies. How do you choose? I told him this was up to him as I really couldn’t tell them apart – they were all adorable!
Well, in the end John made the right choice – or as he tells me Bailey picked him. From the get-go Bailey was a feisty pup, demanding so much attention that John continually reminded me that she was my dog – and “you should always be careful what you wish for!” Yes, I had asked for a dog that would love me and need me and want to be with me – and I got her! But what we also got is a dog who LOVES not only me, John and our daughters – Bailey LOVES EVERYONE! And EVERYONE LOVES BAILEY!
Bailey squeals with joy when we get home – even if we have only been gone half an hour. Luckily John works from home now, so Bailey has company all day long. She loves when John takes her for long walks through our little city of Bethlehem, PA. She loves to sit on “her” bench – which is pretty much any bench she can find – with the hopes that strangers will stop to say hello. She has one of those faces that makes you melt – even if you are not really a dog lover. Since she loves to be around people and be petted continuously I decided to get her certified as a Therapy dog. We go to visit people in local nursing homes. And she loves being read to at the local library during their “read to a dog” sessions. John and I have come up with a routine to get Bailey ready for “work”. He puts on her special bandana (among other costumes) and gives her a pep talk. Her favorite “gig” is helping John ring the bell for the Salvation Army at Christmas in Bethlehem. The donations double when Bailey is on duty!
So, I guess in the long run, my t-shirt is right. Bailey has made both John and I better people and the world a better place – I hope we are the people she thinks we are – at least while we are petting her!