Loco Meadows

09/14/2025

🏹 The Original Golden Retriever (Field/Working Type)

Purpose: Bred as a gundog for hunting and retrieving game over long days in the field.
Look:
• Lean, athletic build
• Darker golden to red coats
• Moderate feathering
• Longer legs, more stamina
Temperament:
• High drive and energy
• Loves having a job (retrieving, hunting, sports)
• Quick learners, eager to please
• Need daily mental + physical exercise

✅ Pros:
• Fantastic for active homes, hunters, and sport competitors
• Naturally athletic and agile
• Highly trainable, thrives with structure

⚠️ Cons:
• Can be “too much dog” for laid-back households
• Boredom can lead to destructive behavior
• Needs daily exercise and training — not a couch potato

⸻

🏆 The Modern Show Golden Retriever

Purpose: Bred to conform to AKC/FCI breed standards for appearance and temperament.
Look:
• Heavier bone structure, blockier heads
• Cream to light gold coats (in some lines)
• Full, flowing feathering
• Softer overall expression
Temperament:
• Generally calm and people-oriented
• Lower energy than field lines
• Excel as family companions, therapy dogs

✅ Pros:
• Excellent for families or those wanting a calmer Golden
• Gentle, affectionate, easier for first-time dog owners
• Beautiful, classic “Teddy bear” look

⚠️ Cons:
• Can lack the drive or stamina for field work
• Higher grooming needs (thicker coats = more maintenance)
• Some lines may be more prone to health issues if not responsibly bred

⸻

🐾 The Best of Both Worlds

Neither type is “better” — it depends on your lifestyle!
• Want a running partner, dock diving champion, or hunting buddy? A field-bred Golden might be your perfect match.
• Want a calm, cuddly family companion who lounges on the couch after playtime? A show-line Golden may be right for you.

Responsible breeders aim for a balance — preserving the working ability and sound structure of the original Golden while maintaining the lovely temperament and beauty that make this breed so special.

Do you prefer the look and energy of the classic working Golden or the big, fluffy modern show Golden? Drop your pick (or a pic of your dog!) in the comments.

09/13/2025

Emily Dunkelberger Riding Fund
By Kay Poeth

Monday, July 14 marked the date of what would have been Emily Dunkelberger’s 26th birthday. Emily touched so many lives in the short six years that she was here on earth. She was the happiest girl in the world, always with a smile.
Once again, especially at this time of year, funds are being raised to benefit the Emily Dunkelberger Riding Fund. This fundraiser supports riders in the therapeutic horseback riding program at Random Canyon. Emily loved participating in the riding program there.
Donations may be sent to: Random Canyon at 15 Costenbader Lane, Selinsgrove PA 17870. Write Attn: Emily Dunkelberger Riding Fund in the memo line. To donate online, visit: https://thrivent.cotribute.co/events/1168912/detail or call or text 570-541-2048 for more information. Everyone that donated will earn entries for several giveaways.

09/12/2025

I saw this and it hit me right in the heart.

If you’ve ever had a dog that’s grown old by your side, you’ll understand. Walks used to be about energy and excitement - tugging on the leash, sniffing every blade of grass, chasing after squirrels. But now, they’re slower.

There’s more stopping, more resting, maybe a little limping. And that’s okay.

Because now the walk isn’t about getting anywhere fast. It’s about being there - together. It’s about showing up even when the legs are stiff and the pace is slow.

It’s about loyalty, love, and the kind of quiet companionship that doesn’t need words.

Our dogs give us everything they have for their entire lives. Their youth, their energy, their joy. And when they get older, they ask for so little in return. Just time.

Just presence. Just love. That same old walk might not look the same, but it still means the world to them - and to us.

So if your dog is aging, take the walk. Let them sniff. Let them rest. Let them move at their own pace. The walk might be slower, but the bond is deeper than ever.

To all the senior dogs out there - thank you for still walking beside us. You may be slower now, but your love has never lost its pace. 🖤🐾

08/30/2025

08/25/2025

This little cutie is looking for a new address.