I have loved dogs for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never loved a dog quite as I’ve loved Charlie.  At four years old, this floppy-eared, sock-loving Goldendoodle is a vital member of our family. 

It all started in the fall of 2020. My mom’s dad had just passed away and in a moment of sadness, my mom called my dad and agreed to get a dog for their four kids for Christmas.  As the oldest, I knew that a dog had been in the talks, but I also had some advice to give.  

One, because of my sister and I’s allergies, the dog had to be hypoallergenic.  Ideally, 3/4 poodle and 1/4 golden retriever, giving a higher likelihood of the signature tight curls.  Two, we get a puppy from a reputable breeder and not an under cover puppy mill. 

Christmas morning came and just as I’ve always dreamed since I was a little girl, there was an adorable puppy under the tree waiting to be loved. 

Over the next six months, Charlie and I spent as much time as possible together.  While I followed as many training guides as I could, Charlie’s innate eagerness to please shone through.  It was like the best of both breeds had been multiplied in him.  Did he go through a biting phase?  Of course.  However, once he grew out of it, he grew his own boundaries as well.  He will play rough with my dad or me, but refuses to even gently put his mouth on my mom or younger siblings.  Does he bark? Yes, but only once to let us know he needs inside, then he will patiently wait by the door.  This has come to his detriment though if he gets stuck in the laundry room. “Where’s Charlie?” we ask. “In the laundry room again.” 

Our family has never been the same since Charlie bounded with golden ears flopping into our lives.  For example, we may never have matching socks again.  He does not eat them. He does not even chew holes in them.  A sock to Charlie is as a pacifier is to a baby.  If he is happy, he needs a sock. This has led to him performing mad dashes around the house to find a sock, purely so he can show it to us proudly.  

Charlie also prides himself on being a great rescuer.  The pool is obviously a threat to the well being of his family.  However, his family keeps plunging into the belly of the beast every summer.  In order to protect them, he must jump in and pull them out. While the great guard dog’s heart is in the right place, landing on top of people is not the most efficient way of saving lives.  

Although Charlie may not be the best lifeguard, he is the best friend.  By the time he was six months old, he was basically my dog. I had trained him and spent the most time with him. However, in June of 2021, I made my annual eight week journey to Alaska for a summer mission trip.  

During this time, my mom started going through chemotherapy. It was then that Charlie’s ultimate loyalty shifted.  He was still the family dog, but his life from that summer on would be devoted to my mom.  After colon cancer and lung cancer, my mom is miraculously cancer-free, but Charlie is still by her side every waking moment and she wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Charlie may not be perfect with his sock-stealing habits or failed rescue attempts, but he is the perfect dog for our family and we couldn’t imagine life without him.