Tom and Helen Amador have been devoted dog lovers throughout their almost 48+ year marriage, sharing their lives with many beloved dogs, including Katie the Collie; Mitzi the Lhasa Apso; and Golden Retrievers Shasta, Domino, Dylan, Tess, Bear, Jacob, and Madi. Today, their home is filled with the pitter-patter of paws of two Golden Retrievers: Morton, whom we met as their Precious Pet in May 2022 and who recently turned 11, and Chaps, a one-year-old puppy they welcomed in October 2025.

 

Chaps came to Tom and Helen from the same breeder as Morton and several of their other Goldens. Like Morton, he is being trained as a show dog and is expected to begin competing this summer when he turns 18 months. Born January 1, 2025, Chaps was one of four puppies, and the breeder kept him for 10 months to monitor his development and ensure his competitiveness. Needing help with his care, the breeder placed him with Tom and Helen as a companion for Morton, while retaining plans to show and possibly breed him in the coming years. After retirement, Chaps will remain with Tom and Helen in his forever home in Buffalo Creek.

 

Having just turned one on January 1, Chaps is still very much a puppy even though he is already 65 lbs. and likely to grow to be about 90 lbs. as an adult.  He loves toy balls—rolling, fetching, hiding them, and even barking with one in his mouth when greeting neighbors over the fence. Still in his chewing phase, he has prompted Helen to baby-proof a few favorite furniture pieces, and he’s also known for sampling small pebbles, which don’t stay down long. On warm fall days, Chaps enjoyed splashing in the baby pool. He loves being outdoors, but prefers quietly watching backyard wildlife—squirrels, rabbits and birds—to chasing them.

 

Chaps and Morton get along wonderfully, and according to Helen, Chaps’ puppy energy helps keep Morton young and active. They’re respectful of each other—so much so that they can be fed together without competing for food. While their diet is mostly dog food, Helen occasionally treats them to boiled chicken, and Tom sneaks them a bite or two of pancake. They play happily together and show affection by licking each other’s ears.

 

The breeder’s children name each litter, and Chaps was named by her daughter after Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman. Helen sometimes affectionately calls him “Chapster” or “Chapstick.” Both Tom and Helen help with his show training, working on proper walking, commands, and socialization. A beautiful example of the Golden Retriever breed, Chaps is likely to become an award-winning competitor later this year—but in the Amador's hearts and home, he is already a gold medal champion.