Andrew Muse - Life Is Golden: What I’ve Learned from the World’s Most Adventurous Dogs

Hood River, Oregon Digital Edition 1.0 Text and Photographs 2022 Andrew Muse Front cover photo by Tom Lebsack Photographs by Andrew Muse unless noted otherwise All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproducedby any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except briefportions quoted for purpose of review. Published by Gibbs Smith P.O. Box 667 Layton, Utah 84041 1.800.835.4993 orders www.gibbs-smith.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Muse, Andrew (Vlogger), author. Title: Life is golden : what Ive learned from the worlds mostadventurous dogs / Andrew Muse. | Layton, Utah : Gibbs Smith, [2020] Identifiers: LCCN 2021025287 | ISBN 9781423660279 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781423660286 (epub) Subjects: LCSH: Adventure travelPictorial works. | DogsPictorial works. | LCGFT: Illustrated works. | LCGFT: Illustrated works.

Classification: LCC G516 .M87 2020 | DDC 910.4dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021025287

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah Photo by Ashley LaMarre Moab, Utah Photo by Taylor Maag Dogs have changed my life. The love I have received from my dogs hasbeen pure, unconditional, and special. Its a deeper emotional connection than any Ihave ever had with a human. And it all began with Booter. Because I grew up in a single-parent household where substance abuseissues strained relationships, my family moved around a lot, and life was oftenunstable. We had a few dogs over the years, but more often than not, against mywill, the dogs we didhave tragically ended up in the care of a shelter after just a year or two.

Even ata young age, I recognized this behavior was wrong. So when I first felt it was time for me to find a dog of my own, Iforced myself to wait. I did not want my dog to suffer the same fate as all the dogsI had known before. Even after I left home and was on my own, I knew I needed tohold off until I was in a position where I could give a dog the best life possible:I wanted my dog to be immersed in the outdoors, chasing adventures and experiences,but I also wanted to make sure I could provide a forever home. Five years after leaving Massachusetts to pursue happiness in themountains of Utah, I had built a life where I could give a dog the time, love, andattention I knew it deserved. I was working at a local park doing landscaping, so Iwas financially stable and could bring a dog to work with me.

I lived in a town withoutstanding access to nature and the mountains, in a house with a huge yard and afew roommates who took great care of their own dogs. A life full of adventure, love,good food, and attention was the best existence I could imagine for a dog. I spent months researching dog breeds, going to shelters, and readingbooks on dog training to find the perfect fit for my active lifestyle. Eventually Ilanded on a golden retriever. Goldens are athletic, rugged, and lovingthe list oftheir desirable characteristics goes on and onand they thrive in the type ofclimate I lived in. Because the shelters in my area didnt have golden retrieversavailable for adoption and provided next to no information about the dogs they didhave, I decided to meet a local breeder and look at a litter of five-week-oldgoldens.

When I met the puppies, one quickly stood out as a bit of an oddball,while another was shaky and nervous. And then this little furry nugget camestrutting over, cool as a cucumber, and fell asleep on my then-girlfriends lap,sucking her finger. I knew right then: this was my guy. A few weeks later, I came topick him up, and things just clicked. The look on his face said, Cool, youre my dad now,and I couldnt have been more excited to become the best dog dad I couldbe!

Salt Lake City, Utah Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah Photo by James Borje-Clark At first, I had trouble thinking of a name for my new pup.Snowboarding has always been a major force in my life and I eventually decided thatBooterthe term for an extremely big jump in snowboardingwas the perfect fit forthis active puppy so prone to getting underfoot. For the first few months, Booter and I rarely spent more than twohours apart.

We took our first big adventure to some remote hot springs in Utah. Iknew the trail would be far too long and steep for a puppy to hike on his own, so Ibrainstormed a few ideas to safely carry him. A cloth shoulder bag allowed him tolie down with his two little paws and adorable snout poking out of the opening. Iwasnt sure how well he would tolerate it on the hike, but he actually seemed toenjoy it. I would let him walk alongside me for a bit before tossing him in the bagand carrying him as he slept. When we made it to the springs, he was all tuckeredout and slept cozy as could be on some towels while my friends and I enjoyed thewarm water and beautiful setting.

I couldnt help but just stare at my sweet,innocent dog. He was an absolute angel. I took a moment to appreciate that this wasthe beginning of the life I had dreamed of as a child. After the hot springs, I took Booter rock climbing, and he againhandled everything thrown his way. He would hike for a couple of minutes before Itossed him back in the bag where he slept, nuzzled deep into a pair of my shoes,warm, happy, and peaceful. (I think this is where his passion for dirty socksstarted.) From that point forward I decided to take him on all my adventures,and it became my top priority to keep Booter warm, happy, and safe.

Because he wasso little at first, it was also important to protect him from overexerting himself,as puppies so often do without realizing it. This is essential to raising a dog keenfor all kinds of adventure. You want to introduce puppies to new things often andearly, but always in a way thats lighthearted and fun. Anytime Im on an adventurewith a dog, I make sure to operate well within my own comfort zone so I can keepboth of us out of trouble.