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Ten years is about it for most Goldens. Owned a big male Golden named Buddy that weighed 125 lbs. Biggest lap dog I ever knew...best damned dog I ever owned. Would not harm a fly, but loyal as hell. He was so gentle that I often wondered if he had my back, but he proved he had the balls when an unknown jogger ran up to me in my yard and took a swing at me early one November morning.

I had let Buddy out in the front yard around 5AM. A few minutes later he starting barking so I went back outside to try to get him to quiet down so as not to wake the neighbors. I wore contacts back then and did not have my glasses on so I was temporarily blind as a bat.

I said rather loudly, Hey Buddy, knock it off. Next thing I know, some jogger comes out of the darkness telling me how he was going to kick my ass for mouthing off...not realizing I was talking to the dog.

I knew I was in trouble as I did not have time to explain and could not see very well at all to duck of defend my self. Buddy saw what was about to go down and ran to me and got between us. He stood up on his hind legs and lunged and roared like a lion with a mouthful of teeth trying to get a piece of the guy. Standing almost 6 feet and putting his paws on the guys shoulders. The guy turned and hauled ass.

It was onne of those, what the hell just happened moments. LOL! And certainly an unintended consequence of naming your dog Buddy.