Down By The River

Got accosted by a very excited golden retriever at the Ashley River Reserve this afternoon. He was lovely (very naughty), happy (out of control), and attentive (failed to heed the commands of his exasperated owner). No apology required - made my day!

"Golden retrievers are not bred to be guard dogs, and considering the size of their hearts and their irrepressible joy in life, they are less likely to bite than to bark, less likely to bark than to lick a hand in greeting. In spite of their size, they think they are lapdogs, and in spite of being dogs, they think they are also human, and nearly every human they meet is judged to have the potential to be a boon companion who might, at any moment, cry, 'Let's go!' and lead them on a great adventure."
Dean Koontz