One of the things I appreciate most about our Goldens is the way they bond our family together. Whether it's going on a walk together (one for each of us to walk!), or watching a movie while each holding a pup, our Goldens are an integral part of our family. And our little boys understand the importance of caring for them accordingly.
This morning, my 9 year old (Max) woke me up at 4:30a.m. to tell me that the power was out. He understood that with 14 day old puppies relying on a heater to keep them warm, this had the potential of becoming a crisis (since we live in the country, an absence of power relegates us to the status of campers - no running water, no stove top to boil water, and certainly no central heating).
I leaped out of bed and as they rubbed the sleep out of their eyes, both of my little boys jumped into action. One went to check on the temperature in the whelping box, the other sprinted to the camper to get lanterns so that we could see how the puppies looked. I began delegating tasks and within a short time, we had the situation under control and a way to heat the pups. My little boys (the 2 legged ones) were instrumental in the process and I can't help but wonder how the weighty responsibility of raising other family's pets is shaping who they become (in a profoundly good way). Yet one more reason to "love that dog..."
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