I could easily write a book with all the stories about Dandy -but nobody would buy it, because unlike the book "Marley & me", Dandy was the world's BEST behaved dog, and where is the fun in that.... ?
I have very few memories of training Dandy. He just seemed to know what to do. I can remember him as a puppy, out for a walk with his uncle, I told his uncle "down" and Dandy instantly dropped as well. I had never taught him a down. Whatever I taught him though, he got instantly. I remember teaching him being sent to his bed for the KC Good Citizen Gold test (which he passed easily), it took 5 minutes. He was the only dog at the local training club who could do a perfect send away. The first time I tried an interrupted recall, he did it perfectly. His retrieves were wonderful, because as a Golden, Dandy lived for retrieving. His party piece was retrieveing a raw egg without breaking it.
Dandy was the first dog I ever dared to have a go at competing in obedience with. Nothing serious, just at companion shows. The very first time was an extremely hot summer's day, I was pregnant and unwell, and I had a bitch in season at home so Dandy was a bit pre-occupied. The lady who took the entries had seen Dandy at training class and told me there was no way he should go in the easiest class, I should enter him in the more advanced one. So I did. We walked into the ring, did it all, and won the class. It was just 6 dogs, but to me it was one of the biggest days of my life. We then went to other companion shows and did all sorts of fun things like competing for fastest recall, fastest retrieve etc -and almost always won. One of my favourites was the fancy dress class at companion shows and at training club's Christmas party. I'd dress Ripley the Malinois up in a child's policeman costume, then ask Dandy to down and cover him with a blanket, completely, head as well. When asked what my dogs were dressed up as I'd reply "Police dogs; one in uniform and one under cover!" Dandy would accept whatever you did to him, because he so loved being with me. He was never trained with treats, praise was his only reward. Back then I thought that was what you did. Thankfully Dandy just so loved working just doing it was reward enough.
We went to a few shows, got a few placings, nothing major. Dandy was an old fashioned Golden, from an old fashioned breeder. Large, 40 kg, strong head, dark very curly coat.
Dandy loved almost everyone. At one point we were looking after a friend's medium sized mongrel. One day this bitch attacked a kitten of mine, just went for it, biting the kitten, who was quite badly injured. Dandy literally jumped on the mongrel, flattened her, in fact broke her leg, told her off -then left her alone. It was over in seconds. Afterwards he spent the entire day laying next to the litter of kittens watching over them all.
When my youngest child was born, one of the first visitors was Pauline. We never, ever knew why, but Dandy was scared of Pauline. Usually when she arrived he'd go and hide under the kitchen table. This time, he was so scared he was shaking, but he would not leave the baby's side. He had to protect the new human. When health visitors arrived months later to check Benjamin's hearing, they had to ask me to put Dandy in a different room as they could not get the baby to concentrate on anything but Dandy. Benjamin is now 9 and reckons he will have 600 Goldens when he grows up -it's his only life ambition. <grin>
When Dandy was 6 we had the accidental mating between him and Ripley the Malinois which resulted in 9 "Maligolds". Some of them went as pets, others work obedience and agility. Two stayed here. Arnie, Dandy's son, has a lot of his dad in him and I've done a lot of obedience with him as well, but the big difference is Arnie has no interest in retrieving.
After the puppies were born I had Dandy hip scored and was horrified to find out he had a score of 96. He had never showed any symptoms of bad hips, but soon after we found out, he started developing problems. He was on Rimadyl for about a year, then it stopped working. His hind legs just would not work, they would drag uselessly behind him. Our vet suggested using Glucosamine & Chondroitin. The first tub from the vet cost £54 and after a few weeks on it, Dandy was able to walk again. Went back to normal. We then found we could get the same capsules but for humans, for a tenth of the cost on the internet, and he stayed on these for the rest of his life. Still going for daily walks. Still enjoying life.
When I got re-married, Dandy was best man. The local newspaper printed the story on their front page, and then again at the end of the year as one of the year's best stories. "Dandy, man's best...MAN!" Dandy came with us everywhere.
When we moved out to the country two years ago, Dandy started to act old. He would bark all night long, and we soon realised it was because he did not want to be without human company. So he moved in with my mother in law, who is disabled and lives in a granny flat in our bungalow, and he loved that. He had company all day and all night. (Canine company too, as MIL has a rescue Labrador bitch.)
For several months now we had known something was wrong with Dandy. He had a large tumour on the outside of his body (not in a good place to remove the vet said), and when he started to refuse food and be sick regularly we realised something was wrong inside too. His hips had started to get worse and he was heading towards 13, so we did not want to put him through surgery, even if it was possible. When he stopped eating one type of food, we went on to try another, even hand feeding him if that's what it took. But he would still be sick several times a week. We knew he was on borrowed time but his tail was still wagging, he still enjoyed his walks, and every time he came back in from a walk he would quickly steal one of the Papillons' toys and sneak it into his part of the house. At one point he had 8 toys stashed away -I had been wondering what had happened to them all!
Yesterday evening I knew the time had come. Dandy must have lost ten kgs in weight, and he had not eaten for 3 days, whatever we tried. During his walk he fell over and could not get up.
This morning he didn't want to go outside at all, but came at last when called, tail wagging. I put his collar and lead on (collar now several sizes too big) and walked him outside. Then had a thought and ran back in to fetch his favourite dummy. Nothing ever cheered Dandy up as much as the sight of his dummy. It meant he would get to retrieve! I gave it to him and he wagged his tail and walked a few steps, the dropped the dummy and ignored it. I threw it a tiny distance and he didn't even look at it. If I hadn't been certain already, now he told me in no uncertain terms that he had had enough.
9.30 this morning Dandy fell asleep at the vet's in my arms. I have had dogs for 28 years, but he was the first dog I have ever lost after as long as 13 years. There will never be another Dandy. Never.
Marianne, I'm so sorry you've lost Dandy. 
Sleep well, Dandy-dog.
I am so sorry you lost your wonderful Dandy thank you for sharing you wonderful memories of you wonderfull dog with us all.
So sorry to hear the sad news about Dandy, he was a very special boy, and you will always hold a place for him in your heart, 
Sorry for your loss marianne, he was clearly a big part of your life.
I,m very sorry to hear you,ve lost your special lad Marianne. What a brilliant dog and what memories to treasure.
Very sad news he will be missed by you all, a fitting tribute to a very special boy.
What a lovely tribute to a very special dog!
run free dandy, a lovely tribute to him, our thoughts are with you at this time, so sad x x hugs x x
So very sorry for your loss Marianne 
What a fantastic tribute to a much loved and special dog...
So sorry for your loss
so sorry for your loss 
So sorry to hear you've lost Dandy. What a lovely tribute you have written. You will miss him, he sounds an amazing and most precious dog.
So sorry to hear this news Marianne, Dandy sounds like a lovely boy, just what a Golden should be a great example of his breed and what a lovely tribute to him. You have some lovely memories of him and soon they will make you smile again! And what a sensible lad your son is 900 Goldens indeed absolute bliss!!
So sorry to hear this Marianne, remember the good times. 
Sleep well Dandy xxx
So sorry to hear of you loss Marianne. Dandy sounded like a wonderfull chap, your tribute said it all. and reduced me to tears. How hard life is when we need to say goodbye.
Oh Marianne, so very sorry to hear of the loss of Dandy. It is so hard to lose an oldie but even worse when they have been such a good one. Rest in peace Dandy, running free after your retrieves again.
I'm so sorry for your loss. 
I am so sorry for your loss. He sounded like an amazing dog, a true testiment to his breed. May he run free at the bridge, always waiting for you and him to be together again. 
Run free, lovely handsome Dandy. xx
Oh Mariannne...accept some huge cyber hugs from me please.(((((((((((hugs)))))))))
What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful dog. It brought tears to my eyes. I can imagine the depth of your loss but laud your courage in being able to appreciate what you had in your relationship with Dandy. RIP
Such a lovely tribute to Dandy, i can hardly see for tears..
Oh Marianne.....
and how!!!!!!!!! Sooo glad you had such wonderful success especially in the light of what must have been such a hard week xxxx)
R.I.P wonderful Dandy.
Isn't this what makes us share so much love with our dogs, knowing that one day we have to part for a while? MarianneB, big hugs to you and Dandy at the bridge xxx
Rest in peace Dandy, what a wonderful dog and a lovely tribute. xxx
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So very sorry Marianne. RIP Dandy xx
