Hi Everyone!

I am so excited that I found this site! I have barely scratched the surface of all the great information within.

Here is a little bit about me and my family...

We are a family of 5 living in a small town just outside of Portland, Oregon. In 2000 (when our kids were 4,6 and 8) we got our first puppy. (My first dog ever!) She was a Black Lab/Golden Retriever mix and her name was DJ.
I always thought that we would have a dog while our kids were growing up, and then when she was gone and the kids were grown, we would be empty-nesters with no more pets.

Well... We lost DJ a year ago at Thanksgiving, she was 11 1/2.
She was a fantastic dog and I loved her, but I never really considered myself a "pet person". I thought I was done...

Fast forward 6 months and I am reconsidering. We went and looked at our first litter of Goldens in June, but decided we weren't quite ready.

Since then, my oldest child (who has been out of the house for a few years now) turned 21, my daughter turned 18, graduated high school and left for college, and my youngest is a Junior in high school who will be 17 in a few weeks.
My nest is rapidly becoming emptier!!!

As Christmas began to draw near, I started looking at local breeders online again. I couldn't seem to shake the desire. And I wondered... Since I don't have small children anymore, will I have more time and energy to devote to a puppy? Will I appreciate a dog more now??
Having been a stay-home mom, I now have a lot of free time and I'm also home alone a lot. Would a new puppy be the next adventure that I could focus my time and energy on? Would he be my new best friend?

Turns out the answer is YES!!

Meet Riggins!! (Or Riggs, for short)

(If you've ever watched the TV series Friday Night Lights, you'll understand the name. )

He was born to a local breeder on November 6, 2012. And we brought him home at just under 8 weeks on December 29th. He will be 13 weeks on Tuesday. He is a joy, and a delight, and a handfull! And despite all my doubts and second-guessing, I have not had one moment of regret since bringing him home.

He is SO smart and is learning SO fast!! He has not had an accident in the house in probably 2 weeks. (oops... edit... turns out there was one found in the basement today. But on a rubber mat, so I won't complain!) He is sleeping through the night in his crate (usually from about 11 to 6:30), then he lets me go back to sleep on the couch for a while while he naps or plays next to me. (I like my sleep! LOL)

He loves to steal small soft items like socks, slippers, gloves or underwear! But he is learning to "drop it" when I tell him to. He loves to sleep on the cold, tile window ledge near the living room floor. He likes to find small "treasures" in the back yard and bring them to the door. He is not crazy about walking on a leash, but is getting better... as long as he can hold it in his mouth. When he is tired, he climbs into his soft bed in the living room and sucks on one of the corners like he is nursing. It is so sweet!
We have started some basic clicker-training and he has learned Sit, and Lay Down, Drop it, Leave it, and "Get out of the kitchen". LOL Of course we are still working on these and it's not consistant yet. But if he see's the treat baggie and the clicker, he is ALL business!

Thank you for letting me brag about my new boy! I look forward to "meeting" all of you and gleaning tons of support and wisdom.

Now for the pictures...

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Hello and Welcome,

Riggs is sure a cutie. My girl, Sage is 12 wks and I couldn't love her more....Thank you for sharing pictures, we love pictures here. Hope you enjoy the forum!

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I am so glad for you you found puppy Riggins to put some adventure into your empty nest. He is so cute (and you take such good pictures, I am jealous) and seems to make great progress (being able to sleep a few hours in a row is a big thing with a puppy).

Looking forward to the continuation of his life with you.

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Riggens is adorable! Welcome to the forum.


Sent from Petguide.com Free App

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Jodi

Welcome! I loved Friday Night Lights - and love his name. Riggs is adorable!!

Riggs is adorable! Welcome to the forum. I'm raising a 16 week old puppy myself so I'm sure I'll be seeing you in the Puppy forum!

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Meet Yogi! http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...tion-yogi.html

Adorable puppy! I have an undying crush on Tim Riggins. I even considered naming Copley Chantilly's Friday Night Lights.

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Jill &
Lush: GCH Am CH Harborview Sweeter Than 'Shine At PoeticGold CGC
Tally: Goldiva Raleigh Tangled Up In Blue CD RAE TDI TT CGC
Copley: BOS Chantilly's Bright Lights Big City RN TDI CGC
Finn: Sand Dancer's Infinite Sky TDI TT CGC
Tango: Topbrass Everlore Talk Of The Town TT CGC(co owned)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Poeti...4205285?ref=hl
]

Welcome. Riggins sure is adorable and you posted some wonderful photos.

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Dave

Welcome to the forum! Riggs is absolutely adorable!

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Wendy

Now the proud Mom of Renny, gotcha-day 10/19/2012.



My beautiful Lacey, always loved, never forgotten.
- Gotcha Day April 28, 2008 at @3 years old
- Crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, at the age of @8 years old, on Sunday, August 5, 2012

Goodness, he's cute! Welcome!

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"In life, the best walks are always too brief."


Gallagher(went to the Rainbow Bridge 08/02/02), and Fozzie's Mom forever!(Fozzie went to the Rainbow Bridge 07/14/12)