Anyone who has ever had a dog knows that there are certain ones who win your heart. Riley, our Golden Retriever who lived to be almost 16, was my husband Doug’s special dog. From the moment I carried him into the house as an adorable bundle of fur, he and Doug bonded.
As Riley matured, Doug liked his independent spirit and the kind of macho thing he had going on. Early on they took runs together and in Riley’s later years they walked every morning.
Not only was Riley our last dog without a job, he was also our last non-Doodle. Riley’s nephew Charley was our first Goldendoodle, followed by Charley’s half-brother Elbee. Then Gus, our Teddy Bear Doodle joined the pack.
I think the Doodles are a little quirky for Doug’s taste. They’re funny, attention seeking and kind of emotional. Let’s face it. They’re diva dogs.
ELBEE There’s a problem with that?
It’s not that Doug hasn’t loved all of them but Riley was his boy. The morning that Riley passed, Doug felt such a deep sense of loss. I don’t think he expected to have that connection ever again, especially with a Doodle. Then along came Henry.
The first time that Doug held eight week old Henry, a Pyredoodle, in his arms, he 
melted. We were both amazed at how calm Henry was on the long drive home. Almost two months later we’re grateful and, let’s be honest, totally surprised at the way he fits in with us and with Gus and Stanley.
It’s not that he doesn’t get into some typical puppy shenanigans and I’m sure he’ll have some crazy phases, but he seems to have the calm, gentle spirit of his mother who is a Great Pyrenees. He is independent yet loving. He will wrestle with the other two and make spitballs in their hair, but he is truly learning from them. And he loves Doug.
When Doug goes out to do some morning gardening, Henry is right at his heels. If he sits 
down to read the paper, Henry is under his feet. The other evening, after putting Henry is his crate, he said almost to himself “he’s such a cool dog and he’s so smart.”
Speaking of bonding, last weekend our seventeen year old grandson Ryan came over to meet Henry who immediately won him over. Even more touching than his delight with Henry, was Ryan’s interaction with Stanley.
Elbee was always Ryan’s favorite. When Elbee passed, he told me that Elbee was his favorite animal that ever lived. At the time, Stanley was a goofy puppy, so that didn’t help.
On Sunday things changed. Stanley, who is now mature and loving, kept giving Ryan the “lean.” Suddenly, Ryan said, “Grandma, Stanley reminds me of Elbee.” I asked if that made him happy or sad. He quietly answered, “It makes me very happy.”
