For those of you who don't know, my 9 year old son Ethan has a genetic disorder called Kabuki Syndrome. For a long time we thought it was Noonan Syndrome. He has a lot of autism/aspergers characteristics, but he is very intelligent and does great in school (in a regular class). He is in Occupational and Physical Therapy, as he has some sensory stuff and low muscle tone. He is terrified of animals though. How anyone can be terrified of animals in my house is beyond me
. So when Ethan started bugging me awhile ago to get a golden retriever, I thought it was odd. I didn't take it real seriously at first, as he loves Air Bud, and all of those movies and figured he just wanted one because of the movie. Lately though, he has been leaving pictures of goldens up on the computer screen for me to see, and asking more. Now, I had no desire to get a big dog. I always have loved big dogs, but didn't want the hassle. Then I had to bring my daughter to the doctor one day and picked up a magazine in the waiting room. I opened it up to an article about a 9 year old boy with aspergers and his golden retriever. That got my attention. So I talked to his pediatrician about it. She went on about goldens and their amazing ability to sense things in people and how it was a great thing I should look into. That didn't convince me still, as we have our little dogs and they are more than enough. So I talked to his Occupational Therapist. She was on the same page as the doctor
So I looked into some local breeders and found a great retired couple that breeds them. Their prize girl just had her last litter a little over 12 weeks ago and they were just finding homes for the puppies. They were sad because it was her last litter and they had her into the vet to be fixed because it was time for her to retire. They have never had a pup ever have any genetic problems, and there are many champions in just the 3 generation pedigree. I must say that I wasn't looking for a dog to be a champion, but we needed a good quality line to insure temperment and intelligence, not that it always insures it, but there is a better chance. Ethan never pets dogs or likes to be around them. When I brought him to see the pups, one came up to him and licked his hand and sat. The puppy picked Ethan. Ethan pet him all over! He doesn't even like it when our dogs sit on the couch by him! So we picked him up yesterday, and it's amazing. Ethan named him Sunny, and Sunny slept in Ethans bed with him all night. He has had no potty accidents at all. He is so smart and sweet, and the other dogs like him too. I was very very unsure about this initially, but I think it was a good choice for Ethan. I think this is going to be very good for him. To see him in the pictures, you would never guess that just before this, he was a child that was terrified of animals.
So here is Sunny and Ethan...oh and he LOVES the basketballs, and Ethan's absolute favorite sport is Basketball, esp. the Pistons, lol.