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Moving from comfortable California temperatures to Colorado snow would be an adjustment for anyone. For Liz Andersen's one-and-a-half-year-old Golden Retriever Captain, it was an exciting new experience to share with his best friend, a stuffed tiger. The toy is something Andersen said Captain had always been obsessed with.
"He had a white tiger that was our daughter's and he claimed it as his own," Andersen told The Dodo. "He destroyed it, of course, but my daughter had this orange tiger, and he kept stealing it — so it's his now."
She continued: "He brings it everywhere! He always picks it up when he gets excited and wiggles his little butt," Andersen said. "It's his bestie."
According to the American Kennel Club, Goldens are, "likely to carry something around everywhere they go, such as sticks, toys, clothing, or whatever else isn't tied down." More so, they do it with a gentle grip.
"All retrievers must have a mouth 'soft' enough to pick up and hold game like ducks without damaging it. The Golden's mouth is so soft, it's said they can carry a raw egg in their mouth without cracking the shell," the outlet continued.
Having lived in higher temperatures, Captain hadn't experienced snow until they moved to Denver.
"He kinda just looked around at it and, of course, tried to eat a bit of it," Andersen said. "But he just watched. He was so fascinated."
It didn't end there. Captain was so excited, he returned to the door, silently asking to be let back inside. Finally, Andersen understood why.
"[He] grabbed his tiger and ran back out and was galloping about," she said.
Captain wanted his stuffed tiger to feel the same joy he felt when he touched snow for the first time. In photos obtained by The Dodo, you can see the pup happily running through the front yard with the stuffed tiger hanging loosely from his mouth.
"He has really made this family complete," Andersen said. "He is such a light and is always there for everyone. We have a son that is autistic, and he always goes to him to give him comfort. He's just the best boy we could have ever hoped for."
Whether it's an out-of-state move, a first snow sighting, or just being a good boy, Captain brought more to the Andersens than they ever thought possible.
