April, 5^th., 1997 : Surprise, surprise! I was just playing with my sister Fanny and my elder sisters Ellie and Emily when a car stopped in front of my breeder's house. A young couple came to me and after getting to know each other for a while, my breeder Christina took me in her arms, kissed me goodbye and handed me to them. I felt their hearts beating faster and in that moment I realized how important I was for them, just like a dream come true. They embraced me tenderly and we immediately fell in love with each other. They took me to a long ride in their (our) car to my new home. I kept my eyes wide open all the time, everything was brand new to me! But I never got scared, I felt safe in my new mom's arms, she never stopped kissing me and daddy did the same every time the traffic lights made him stop the car.

April, 7^th., 1997 :

I was taken to the vet for the first time. They went all crazy about me. I was the first Golden Retriever in the vet's hospital, and my doc said I was so healthy and beautiful he even congratulated my breeder for her good work. I started my sanitary program and of course, I was forbidden to walk outdoors until I finished it.

April to June, 1997 :

My mom and dad as well as my grandparents make my life a constant joy. They kiss me and hug me a thousand times a day. I play with Ugas very often, grandma's mixbred; he's my uncle, they say. I steal all his toys (although I have many of my own) and he says nothing. I guess he's madly in love with me too...

May, 4^th., 1997 :

Although I knew I had an elder brother named Foxy, I had never been introduced to him, and I didn't know why. The day came but it wasn't a very happy one. Everybody had told my parents that there would be no problems considering the fact Foxy is a boy and I am a girl, but it turned out that mom and dad were right in being afraid of his reaction. As soon as he saw me, he bit me. He couldn't hurt me because his fangs are trimmed but I got so scared I cried a lot. I know he did this out of jealousy but this was enough for mom and I never met him for a long time.

June, 14^th., 1997 :

Good news! I finished my vaccines and I got permission to walk outdoors. My first visit to the park will always be unforgettable to me. I was taken to Palermo, a big park in Buenos Aires downtown, which has even a big lake. I wanted to swim because there were some tempting ducks there, but my mom wouldn't let me. Pity! I'm afraid she gets a bit overprotective sometimes, but I know it's just because she loves me too much.

August, 17^th., 1997 :

I made my first appearance in a dog show. You could never imagine how afraid I was. There were too many dogs and people there. Worst of all, I had to walk in a ring and a lady first and a gentleman later I didn't know at all touched me all over. My hairy legs trembled a lot. I became second prize in my breed in the puppy category but I didn't like the experience at all. When I came home I slept the rest of the day long.

August, 19^th., 1997 :

Something good came out of the dog show after all. My breeder told mommy that I should be taken to longer walks everyday because my nails were a bit too long. I knew mommy didn't take me out alone because she was afraid something bad could happen to me. The neighbourhood we're living in for the time being is not a very clean one, and there are too many dogs in the streets (no doubt she's overprotective, but I forgive her, she cares too much for me). So although she was as scared as I was in the dog ring, she started taking me to long rides every morning. I love to share that with her!

September, 13^th., 1997 :

Dog show again!! However I did better this time and, although I can't tell you I enjoyed it a lot, because I didn't, it wasn't the torture the first one was for me. This time I became first prize in my breed in the puppy category and I won a shiny medal. My mom and dad were so proud of me!

September, 20^th. ,1997 :

I feel so strange this morning! My belly aches a bit and something red comes out of my back part. I got scared at first but mommy explained to me I had become a grown up girl. The bad part of it is that I will not be allowed to play with grandma's Ugas for three weeks!! I don´t understand why and he doesn't get it either, in fact he seems to be more in love with me than ever. Why could that be?

September, 29^th., 1997 :

I'm afraid something's wrong with my brother Foxy. My mom and dad have their eyes red, I assume they have been crying for him. They say he had six strokes in one night, due to his epilepsy. They took him to the vet because he was completely out of control, but although some "people" adviced them to put him to sleep, they would never do that. They started with a strong medication and after three more sleepless nights their efforts were compensated with Foxy's recovery. I'm so relieved, I don't like to see them suffer and I love Foxy because he's my elder brother after all.

October, 4^th., 1997 :

I can't believe it! My parents introduced me to Foxy again and he accepted me at once. He seems to have fallen in love with me. He's become a bit sticky even (ha! I'm a grown up girl now) but my parents didn't allow him to pass certain limits, he may be a very handsome fellow but I'm keeping my virtue for a Golden prince. Foxy has changed his temper so much, the new medication has made miracles with him. He's become sweeter and less dominant, he's not so "wolfie" as he used to be. Poor thing! He must have been suffering big headaches in the past and the vets didn't notice it.

November, 15th, 1997 :

Dog show again! However, I liked it much more this time because it was in the open air. I won first prize excellent in both shows. Mom and dad were more than happy, and I was anxious to go back home to my Uncle Ugas and my bed.

November, 29th,1997 :

Oh, Oh! Something is going on.Mom and dad keep on carrying boxes, bags and furniture. Is it that we're moving to our new home? Yes, Sir! In fact, I had already visited my new house when it was being built but I had never imagined that one day it would be all for us, backyard included. However, I'm a bit sad. The day we moved in here I played with Foxy all day but when we came back from walking and he woke up from his nap he bit me again. This time he injured my face, too close to my eye. I cried a lot and I jumped into mom's arms. This time could have been dangerous, and this was enough for mom. They could never forgive Foxy if I got hurt permanently. So they decided that Foxy will live in our backyard and I'll live inside the house with them. This is not what they wanted for us, as they believe that dogs have to share EVERYTHING with the family, but this time I was too close from a serious injury and they can´t run the risk. But don't be sad, Foxy is happy all the same. He goes walking every morning,and mom and dad go out to the backyard to play with him every morning and evening when they come home from work. He's adjusted perfectly to his new place, it seems he was needing a closer contact to nature. 

December,24th. 1997 :

Jingle bells, jingle bells... Ho, ho, ho! Don't you love Xmas? (Especially for all the present Santa brought to me). Mom chased me  with this ridiculous hat for days and she took dozens of photos . But the only thing that mattered to me was to play with the little white ball hanging from the red hat. Don't I look pretty in the photograph?

January, 31st. 1998:

It's my birthday today! My parents gave me tons of kisses (as usual) and presents too (as usual). I didn't know what a birthday meant but dad is very wise and explained it to me.

September, 1998:

Good news! I have a new friend! He appeared at our door one day, so tiny, lean and full of ticks. Mom fell in love with him. His name is Petiso (Shorty in Spanish) and he's a little clown. He wags his tail all the time and he smiles!!! Yes, he does smile!!!(if you don't believe what I'm saying look at the photo). If I know my parents well, in a few days he'll be living with us forever. Meanwhile, mom took him to the vet, he got all his shots, she feeds him every day and she made him a little house in the front garden.

October, 1998:

Didn't I tell you so? Petiso is my new brother. We love this little angel so much, he's a real darling. He sleeps every night on my parents' bed. Lucky him! I'm not allowed to do so because I'm too big and if I get in mom and dad should have to sleep on the floor. But Petiso is only 7 kilos. However, I'm not jealous, he deserves it. He's a sweetie and he needed a loving home so much!...

February, 1999:

Something's going on. Mom is usually with me all day long and she has not come home for a week. I was taken to grandma's and I see dad day in day out. Grandpa Ramon is with Foxy and Petiso at home. But it must be something good, because all my humans are very happy, and thet congratulate dad. I'm anxious to know what is happening.

February, 28th.,1999:

Mom is back! And she's not alone!!! I have a human baby brother!!! He's so cute. As soon as he was introduced to me, I kissed his tiny feet and I laid down by his craddle to take care of him. His name is Nicholas and he's the sweetest baby I've seen in my entire life. If I am jeaolus? Never!!! That kind of feeling does not exist in my generous Golden Heart.

To be continued...