Goodbye to Gemma

[janrobinson]

Gemma's devastated owners have had to say goodbye. to this special girl She was nearly 13 years old and they have had her for over 7 years.

[Ellas mum]

So very sorry....what a beautiful girl

[george&diane]

She was a very beautiful girl and we loved her so much although we would never have believed it when we first got her when she was so odd and aggressive with other dogs she made us nervous to go for walk.

Given time she accepted us as part of her pack and her loveliness began to shine through and her true self surfaced. We miss her so much already and have cried that much in two days it hurts. We couldn't have adopted a better dog who had the gentlest of souls so it pays to endure and not give up on your rescue.

Rest in peace my darling.

[Cobi & Ginnie's Mum]

We are sorry to hear about your Gemma ( our love of golden's started with Mum's Gemma, 40 years ago)


Lynda, Les & Calli xxx

[lynn wise]

So very sorry to hear your sad news, a truly heart breaking time for you.
Rest in peace little girl, you were so loved.

[bentley]

I'm so sorry to hear abut the loss of your beautiful Gemma. She really was a gorgeous girl

[george&diane]

Gemma was our third Golden Retriever, we were totally smitten by the breed and Gemma was our first rescue at 5 years old we got her not long after Thyra had suddenly died.

The first two came as pups and as they grew they learnt about us, what is acceptable, what they can get away with etc although with the first as with children this was a steep learning curve for us as well with mistakes along the way. I think dogs know more about us than we do them and its a good job dogs are very forgiving! Each one has taught us new things about ourselves we didn't know before.

Thinking we understood Golden's so it came as quite a shock to find ourselves with a dog who was depressed and had issues towards other dogs that we had never encountered before. After one particular unpleasant episode where we debated what to do and should we send her back? Gemma looked so incredibly sad and dejected that we couldn't do it; and after all it was we who had invited her into our home. After joining a local Dog Training Club who decided her problem was fear aggression we set about rehabilitation and socialisation with the Crufts Good Citizen Awards; kept her away from most stressful situations (although we felt like social outcasts for a little while) and accepted her just as she was - warts and all.

The breakthrough came when Gem came between our legs and looked to us for protection from a potential foe; she didn't need to be the alpha dog anymore and started to be normal towards her own kind! In trusting us she became the most gentle endearing happy dog - our best mate - described by my daughters partner as being like a Queen surrounded by her loving family of admirers.

We couldn't change her past but we made the rest of her life a good place to be, she has had a lovely life the past 7 years and we were honoured to have her. When the time is right in the not too distant future and after 32 years of ownership we would like to have another Golden, like Shard and Thyra before Gem she holds a very special place in our hearts and we will love her always.
Diane xxx

[Cobi & Ginnie's Mum]

Diane,
Even though I didn't know Gemma I can't help shedding tears for your loss, we had to say goodbye to Cobi 13 months ago and Ginnie died 4 years earlier both these beautiful girls were from Jan. (sometimes I can't read the sad posts on the website, I just dissolve into tears)

Your Gemma and our Ginnie sound similar, like you we thought we knew all about goldens. My Mum and Dad had Gemma and her daughter Jade which we borrowed frequently until we had our own golden in 1987. We had to say goodbye to Ceili in 2000. I remember vividly telling Abby to 'shut up' as we walked Ginnie and Abby together, with Jan watching to see if they 'got on' ok. Abby needed a pal after Ceili had died 3 months earlier.
Ginnie had fear aggression and 'got in there first' before the other dog, I found that she was 'on patrol and lookout when I walked her, so we took Ginnie to training classes, she was so frightened of everything, especially the dark.
The week after Abby died we collected Cobi from Jan (a lot of people thought it was too soon, but Ginnie had lost two pals Abby and Jasmine my sister's golden who lived with us died 12 weeks earlier) and Cobi needed a new home, the best two goldens to love each other and play together, both from Jan.
When Ginnie died in 2011, dear little Cobi then became so frightened of other dogs, I was so protective of Cobi, she had been bowled over many times, dogs bullied her, she soon learnt to dive in the bushes and come out when the coast was clear. You have to persevere, and all the love, kindness and patience pays off and is so rewarding.
A lovely description of Gemma being a 'Queen' with all her admirers.

17th December 2015 first time in 40 years I hadn't had a golden in my life, and 50 years without a dog. The next eleven weeks without a dog in our lives was horrible.
We now have Calli (not rescue) and we are back at training classes............and on a much lighter note......at training Calli goes through the tunnel like greased lightening turns around and goes back through it again !!

Lynda and Calli

[Hollys Mum]

So very sorry for your loss, You know you gave her the very best when you rescued her and always keep that in your heart.
We had Holly from Jan from 16months old until nearly 13years old. We had to let her go to the bridge in June 2015. I still miss
her but have wonderful memories. Love and Hugs Lesley and Steve xxxx

[lenny]

So very sorry to hear of you sad loss of Gemma, you can only give them a happy and loving home , why oh why can't they live longer . When they go they take a part of your heart with them. But in life they have given you so much love loyalty and happy times. Nothing takes away the pain it slowly eases but she will always be in your memories and in your hearts

[lynn wise]

Reading about Gemma reminded me so much of when our dear Woody came here. The lad was so worried about other dogs approaching us on our walks, we had never had one that was so worried. Right, what do I do now we can't have this going on. Good old treats did the trick, as soon as another dog came towards us, into pocket out with the biscuits. " Come on everybody sit, one for you and one for you " Within a couple of weeks the nervous aggression had gone, to be replaced with " where's the biscuit".
A gentler lad you couldn't wish to have, biddable and happy. Learned his new words and hand signals so quickly. Now at 13 he's as deaf as a post, thank goodness for hand signals. On walks he constantly looks to us, a quick arms out at side brings him hurtling back ( well as fast as his old legs will allow him ) with a smile on his face.
The joy of having a Golden to make memories is one to treasure even at sad times.
To All