Thursday, June 3, 2010

Thousand Words Thursday



Cooper simply loves going camping, and at nine years of age, he showed no signs of slowing down last weekend. He fetched about 82 sticks...


Of course, Goldens are water-lovers, and Cooper is no exception. The trouble is, whenever he swims with the family, everyone screams for him to get away from them (His enthusiastic "dog paddle" can take skin off!) In this shot, everyone is rushing to avoid him...(I wish you could hear the hysterical laughter.)


He's just so happy to be with the family (in or out of water).

Goldens are also very vocal. When we take Cooper to the vet, for example, he's so happy to see everyone that he will "talk" in a howl-y voice until someone acknowledges him. (He's also a "smiler.") Here's my favorite shot of Cooper and Mr.4444, from when we went camping Memorial Day weekend. They are "talking" back and forth to each other in a very annoying but simultaneously-charming way.


Of course, with all of that water play, comes a very stinky dog (it's sometimes a long ride home) but of course, it's worth it.  Oh, and can't forget the joyful puking-in-the-middle-of-the-night business from eating whatever he could get his paws on at the campsite.

This morning, I woke up to find my breakfast gone and an empty plastic bag on the kitchen floor. (There goes 1/2 loaf of my favorite whole grain bread AGAIN.)  I swear that dog is lucky to be alive...

I know, I know--I said it was worth it. (Mostly.)

19 comments:

  1. Agh, what IS it with dogs and loaves of bread? THAT annoys me to no end. He is a lovely dog, though.

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  2. See! Cooper has it right. We have 2 Labs and both are deathly afraid of water. Retrievers who don't like water, what's with that??

    Cooper is a handsome fellow though, even wet.

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  3. There is nothing quite as cool as a dog smiling. I so love that!

    My cousin has a golden lab that ate a whole cantaloupe off the counter.

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  4. Awwwwwwww! I love goldens. I have one now and we had one before him. Totally a member of the family! Beautiful post...brings back memories for me.

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  5. Well, at least it was fiber - and not something to be puked into a puddle on the floor.

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  6. Let's see. 4 pictures should be 4000 words.

    That must have been fun having the dog splash around. He must have loved being a part of the group!

    My dog jumps in our pool sometimes. But quickly wants to get out!

    I'll bet he got out of the water and shook off right by you!

    :)

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  7. I wish you could see the big wide grin on my face! Our golden is called Jake, but naturally has our family surname, COOPER!!

    I walk him on the beach every day, he's a great swimmer, but forgets to turn around again, many's the time I fear I might need to catch the boat to Ireland to scrape him up from a beach. He hoovers up all the seaweed on the sand, and promptly upchucks it, not on the floorboards, (which are predominant in our house)but always on the nearest rug he can find. I can never listen to the radio in the car, because he "sings" along to it - the more I crank the volume up, the more he finds a louder pitch.. and does he talk? It's hard to have a telephone conversation when he is about. Perhaps he and your Cooper were sperated at birth?

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  8. How cool that you take the family dog camping with the family. I guess the puking during the night wouldn't be fun though. You will have to put your lunch bag in the frig and post a note at the door to remind you to get it when you head out the door for work, that is what I did.

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  9. Our Pepper recently ate an entire loaf of bread, too. Her tastes seem to run toward the unhealthier, bland variety.

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  10. I wish Cooper had a blog. It would be so interesting to get his side of the story.
    woof

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  11. Linked you up! I actually put one up today!

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  12. Cooper is too cute!

    I have a Pug, Chloe, and she is a water dog, believe it or not! We go to the lake and she will paddle out to the boat with me and play in the water. Mostly I think she doesn't want me to leave her, she is loyal that way. WHen I water ski, I have to have someone hold her leash so she won't go to the water...

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  13. There's nothing like a family dog, is there? I was thinking of that dog smell just looking at the pictures, but you're right -- it's so worth it. :)

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  14. Lol at "about 82 sticks"

    We've had dogs most of my life, they totally become part of the family.

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  15. Your dog is SO beautiful! Really. I can't believe the smell story for one second...

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  16. What a handsome dog! Happy ATWT!

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  17. Cooper is so cute! And lucky to be cute, too.
    My boxer Sofia is a counter-surfer, she's consumed so many things she shouldn't have! But then she always looks so ashamed, it's hard to get on to her...it's the eyes...LOL.

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  18. What a happy dog! He seems like he's just so glad to be part of your family. I mean how many men would be willing to have a conversation with a dog? :)

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