It's a boy...

[lindrusso]

...and his name is Bailey!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p156891acd9d246b4ba90bddbe528cf46/f8f9fb66.jpg

And I think we must be crazy! We are not exactly "doing it right" here, but I think it will all work out. We don't have the fence up yet (it will go in in the next couple of weeks, though) and we got the first golden we looked at. But, seriously, how can you drive 2.5 hours one way and NOT come home with that sweet little face?

Well, we may not have done it perfectly, but I did find the breeder through a puppy referral on the AKC site, so I've got all the papers for health and bloodline, etc.

And, well, he's just he sweetest little thing! He's 4 months old and likes lots of loving and just loves to follow the boys everywhere! He is a little timid, but it's hard to tell becaue he's also getting used to all sorts of new sights and sounds, as well as getting used to being in the house (as opposed to the kennel with other dogs) and away from his "pack".

I've been trying to read up on training, but I can tell the next few days will mostly just be devoted to getting him used to his crate and getting him to come in the house without having to be picked up (he seems to prefer the outdoors at this point)! That will be enough to keep us busy for a while! The rest will come soon enough.

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce our newest member of the family. Wish us luck! :)

Alysha

[Kayaksoup]

What a beauty. Enjoy him!!

[Natasha]

Alysha,

Oh, my! Bailey is SUCH a sweetie. :) :) Enjoy!! I love love love Goldens.

Good luck and please post more pics as he grows up (which will happen quickly, as you know).

Natasha

[wallycat]

Cool new baby :)

[gabbyh]

Oh Alysha! What a cutey! He's found a wonderful home ;-}

~Gail

[SandyM]

Alysha, he is just too precious! Congrats, and good luck! :)

[Melman]

Bailey is BEAUTIFUL!!! Congratulations on the newest member of the family!! I'm with Natasha...Goldens are my favorite!!! :D :D :D :D

[Jewel]

Oh Alysha, he's just too cute...and I love that name! Bailey was my bunny's name! :D

[stefania4]

He's adorable! Welcome to the "Mom of a Golden Retriever" club - we're a happy group!

[jjsooner73]

Congratulations! He is beautiful! I love puppies. And grown dogs too. :)

Big paws--I bet he grows into a very big boy. ;)

[NancyR]

Good for you, Alysha!!!!! Sometimes you just have to follow your heart. I would have had to bring him home too. Lucky Bailey.
Nancy
Is he named Bailey because he is cream colored (Bailey's Irish Cream)?

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by NancyR
Is he named Bailey because he is cream colored (Bailey's Irish Cream)?

Actually, we just threw out a few acceptable names (otherwise who knows what we'd end up with :D ) to the boys and they picked Bailey. :) It was hard to decide! But I liked that the boys made the final decision. I don't really know where Bailey came from - just sounded good.

He's coming in the house, going in his kennel and playing with a few toys now, so I think he's feeling a bit more at ease.

He does have big paws, but neither his dad nor his mom were exceptionally big. Dad was pretty stocky but mom was a bit small for a Golden, at least to me. I guess we'll have to see! And I have to say that his pointy head cracks me up! :D

I can see that with a new pup it's hard to tell the "need to go out" sniffing and whining from the "it's a new place" sniffing and whining! :D

Time to go walk him again before bed....

Alysha

[HealthyinMN]

Cute puppy!!!

[SusanL]

He is too cute, congratulations! Thanks for sharing him with us!

[ErinM]

Originally posted by jjsooner73
Congratulations! He is beautiful! I love puppies. And grown dogs too. :)

Big paws--I bet he grows into a very big boy. ;)


Big paws? I didn't even notice those! My thought was "such a big head on a little body!" His head reminds me of an adult golden!

He's a cutie, Alysha! :)

[HejazSunKat]

Alysha - I was reading your post before the picture booted up and I was halfway through it still trying to figure out what Bailey was when he popped up and stopped me in my tracks. What a little darlin'! :D

[Robyn1007]

Originally posted by jjsooner73
Congratulations! He is beautiful! I love puppies. And grown dogs too. :)

Big paws--I bet he grows into a very big boy. ;)

That is exactly what I was thinking! I am so jealous, I miss having a dog around. Enjoy!

Robyn

[Molli526]

Congratulations! He's adorable!

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by ErinM
Big paws? I didn't even notice those! My thought was "such a big head on a little body!" His head reminds me of an adult golden!


That's funny - when I see him running around IRL, his head doesn't look all that big. But you're right, it does in all the pictures!

His dad had a pretty big head too, but from what I can see on her website, maybe the smaller head of the bunch! Dad (Beamer): http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/pfd49db2dd9c663bbf49480b56aa1e092/f8f8a595.jpg

He did well last night in his crate. I kept thinking I heard him whining, but he wasn't - I'm just a nervous doggy parent - never did sleep well when the boys were little either. :D :rolleyes:

So now we have to work on a regular eating routine. I think she must have left food out for him all day - he likes to snack and then go back, etc. I think I'll try shutting him in the crate to eat and leaving the room (we can go eat too) - too many distractions with 3-4 sets of eyes watching you - he'd rather play! :)

Sorry for all the new parent babbling! :D It's been almost 7 years since I've had a baby in the house! :D

Alysha

[phantomcg]

Congratulations, Alysha!! Bailey is just adorable.

Have fun with him!

Cheryl

[yorkshirepud]

Alysha, Bailey is so cute!!! Love the name! Have fun!

Adele

[LonghornGal]

Hi Alysha! I'm so excited for you - how fun fun fun! And you have lots of helpers too. :) Bosco sends his love and says Hi to Bailey.

--Kristin

[Beth]

Alysha, Bailey's adorable! And near the color of Bailey's. ;) I'm sure everything will settle in just fine. Just don't show my son that picture! He wants a dog so badly -- a golden, if possible (a lab would probably be his other choice and I like beagles too). Enjoy!

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by Beth
He wants a dog so badly -- a golden, if possible (a lab would probably be his other choice and I like beagles too). Enjoy!

Labs were our second choice too. We did look at one litter of 4-month-old chocolate labs, but they were absolutely wild and crazy. This calm little guy suits us much better - and still has plenty of puppy energy to boot. :) Chuck never had any pets growing up and really, really wanted a Golden retriever. How could I deny all of my boys their favorite breed of dog (and mine too - I had two growing up)????

Alysha :)

[Beth]

We have joked that Golden's seem to be the unofficial dog of The Woodlands -- we have seen so many. DH is afraid they can be hyper, and we have seen some very calm labs. The former principal of my son's elementary school breeds labs and we recently talked to someone who got one from her. They had talked about having 3 or 4 boys and needing a calm dog. They picked the parents and waited for the right puppy and were extremely happy. If we decide on a lab, I think we migth go the same route, and for a golden try to find a simialr breeder. Very different to me -- all my cats have been strays, a feral cat or adopted from the Humane Society.

[SueK]

Alysha- Bailey is adorable!! I'm sure you guys will just love having him in your family. Congrats! :)

[sneezles]

Alysha,
What a cutie! So glad you finally took the plunge!

[Wendy w]

Alysha, he's adorable! Great name too. I'm sure that Sandy seconds it.

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by Wendy w
I'm sure that Sandy seconds it.

I remembered Sandy had labs, but not that one of them was named Bailey! :)

Is it typical for retrievers to need to be taught to retrieve? This one seems a bit at a loss for what to do with a ball. :D Actually, he did retrieve his rope toy for me this morning, but no balls yet. I think he's also just plain tuckered out from all the commotion too.

Alysha

[Natasha]

Originally posted by lindrusso


Is it typical for retrievers to need to be taught to retrieve? This one seems a bit at a loss for what to do with a ball. :D Actually, he did retrieve his rope toy for me this morning, but no balls yet. I think he's also just plain tuckered out from all the commotion too.

Alysha


Alysha,

I've seen some retrievers that seem to be taught a bit about retrieving, or that do it occasionally but not obsessively, and others that seem to live for retrieving. ;) Seems to depend a lot on the dog's personality and bloodlines. For example, one of my sister's Goldens can't "visit" someone without a toy in his mouth, while the other retrieves quite rarely.

Bailey's dad is awfully cute too!

Natasha

[seathyme]

Ohhhh he is adorable! Another Golden Mom here, and I'm a sucker for those puppies!!:D :rolleyes: Our last Golden would retrieve in water but not on land, go figure. Current one will bring back anything from anywhere. I agree with Natasha, they vary.

Have you thought about taking him to puppy kindergarten? I realize that's not easy with a busy family schedule, but your boys could go too, perhaps. It's great socialization for Bailey, and the beginnings of training. Just a thought, and probably one you've considered. When we took Rocky there, the sight of all those puppies rolling around in a pile could make you smile for a week.

Have fun with your new baby!:D

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by seathyme
Have you thought about taking him to puppy kindergarten? I realize that's not easy with a busy family schedule, but your boys could go too, perhaps.

My schedule might allow for it okay, but I'm not sure they have that in my area, at least without having to drive 40 minutes each way. I will be looking into obedience classes tomorrow to see what age we can start those and I'll be making an appointment with the vet, so I'll ask them too. I'd better write down all my questions!

[Leisa M]

Try Petco or Petsmart, they might have obedience classes. They might also know where you can find a puppy kndergarden.

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by Leisa M
Try Petco or Petsmart, they might have obedience classes. They might also know where you can find a puppy kndergarden.

Thanks - PetSmart is on my list of phone calls for tomorrow. It is 40 minutes away, so not very convenient. I do know of one trainer in town - I'm hoping he's good and has classes available - that would be so much easier!

[KathrynY]

Just adding my congratulations - Bailey is adorable! :)

[ebobbitt]

Bailey is such a handsome boy! I just love those fat puppy paws!

[linsleyd]

Beautiful, absolutly beautiful!

[RunnerKim]

What a cutey!!!! Congratulations on your new family member! Ahhhhh

Seathyme - my golden only retrieves in the water too! I've always said she's more golden than retriever :D It's great when she's playing fetch with other dogs - she'll race them to the ball/stick but let the other dog actually retrieve it - works out well for everyone that way.

I haven't been a big fan of the classes held in PetsMart and PetCo - lots of distractions and not the best surface on the floor etc. Hit and miss depending on who the instructor is (vs. a person/small business that's really involved in dog training and doesn't have staff turnover etc.) Your vet's office will often know good resources and if you can find one that talks about clicker training that would be the best choice, in my opinion. Puppy classes often have a part where the puppies just get to play with each other which really helps with their socialization and keeps everything fun.

Kim

[RunnerKim]

Whoops - duplicate post

[PoppyJ]

What a cute baby boy! He will bring a lot of joy and smiles to your life.

[KristinK]

He's adorable, Alysha!

My uncle had a chocolate lab named Bailey. We babysat him for 2 years while my uncle lived in a pet-free apartment -- it's the closest we ever came to having our own! Now he has a golden named Garth. So IMHO I don't think you could have gone wrong with either one. :D Congratulations!

[kristalsnow7]

Alysha, Bailey is absolutely ADORABLE. I love his sweet little face! Congratulations, and enjoy him! :)

[cniles]

Just popping in to say congrats!!!! He is adorable!!! I want a puppy......:p

[ReneeV]

Oh My, he's just adorable! We hope to have a Golden one day. My boys have all ready decided to call him Ranger.

Enjoy your new puppy!

Renée