When I had Goldens there was a range of colours, and wow, didn't they look fabulous framed against the mown grass at the outdoor champ shows! Elma Stonex used to say that they could be any fallen beech leaf colour, but never the mahogany of the Irish Setter. I had a preference for the warm golds: the working line was, and often still is, more red, but it only takes a couple of influential sires to change a breed feature.

> Oh dear.  How sad. They have such beautiful temperaments.

They really do. This particular dog is incredibly patient with my little pap, who I’ll admit can be quite annoying. He adores other dogs but doesn’t understand that they don’t always want to play with him all the time. He’ll jump up at her nose practically shouting “Play with me! Play with me!” when her back legs are too wobbly to do much more than bounce along for a few steps. I don’t usually let him bother other dogs like that but she genuinely doesn’t mind and will come bouncing after him if I take him away to give her space. She lays down when she gets bored of him so he can just lick her face instead.

Honestly I’m perfectly okay with other dogs having a grumble and telling him off when he’s getting too enthusiastic, even snapping if he needs it. But I don’t think she has a grumble in her body.

She has fits and the medication for it apparently makes her back legs really weak. She’s only 8 and can’t walk properly, but she absolutely loves to be out meeting her doggy friends even if she can’t run around with them. Poor girl.