It’s a dog blog.
Well, not quite.
I am technically qualified to write about the following things: Western history, especially as it pertains to the international political economy; politics, international politics and political economy; and campaign strategy and current political intrigue.
There will be very little of that on this blog.
I will mainly write about dogs and their place in our society, the history of that relationship, and how that relationship can be improved.
I will also write about nature and ecology. I am full of nature writing and meditations on nature, as well as interesting stories about wild animals, including those that lived near me when I was growing up in West Virginia.
I am prone to writing stories about my childhood dogs and bragging about my current dog. As you may have noticed, I love golden retrievers, and I have a deep appreciation for their history and that of their close relations.
So what I’m basically saying is that you can expect lots of things on this blog. I hope you’ll find something you like here.
I have written for The Bark and Amateur Naturalist, and this blog has been ranked Number 1 on the Technorati category for pet blogs.
Feel free to disagree with me when I’m polemical. It keeps me honest.
And also don’t be a stranger. E-mail me at retrieverman1[at]yahoo.com or use the Contact Page:
I love getting feedback from readers.
I am also available for freelance writing and blog work, so please e-mail me if you’re interested. I am a nearly expert at using WordPress’s blogging software, and I have some expertise in SEO. I know how to build a community around a blog and produce good quality content. (Check out my Elance Profile).
However, if you just want me to write about the things I normally discuss on this blog, I would be fine just doing that.
And if you would like, feel free to join the Facebook group.
Update: As of 11 December 2011, “Retrieverman’s Weblog” has been renamed “The Retriever, Dog, and Wildlife Blog.”
Comments policy: I moderate comments. If you’re here to troll or bitch about pictures (read this post to tell you why I won’t approve your comments), you will NOT get a comment approved. Although I do reserve the right to publish really stupid comments and make fun of you! If you don’t like me, then I already don’t like you.
I generally tolerate those with different views for me, but creationism is not tolerated on this blog. You produce one creationist comment, and you will be banned. This blog does not exist to spread such terrific ignorance, and all creationist comments will be excoriated– if I choose to publish them.
I spend a lot of time taking down the Victorian toilet science that underpins the Dog Fancy. I have no tolerance for Bronze Age fairy tales and Medieval superstition.
Also I reserve the right to delete comments I deem offensive. More than likely, I will simply not approve them. I further reserve the right not to approve comments if I simply don’t like the cut of your jib. Offensive comments include– but are not limited to– attacks on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Just found your blog and am so thankful! We have just rescued an 8 month old Golden from a Golden rescue organization.
“Max” is overall a very cheery, “wants to be near us” animal. He is however showing aggression at times over food, toys , foreign objects from his mouth. He growls at me, pulls away clamping down and tugs in spite of my gentle approach. I do not engage him at the point where he does this and refuse to tug – but he presses his head into my arm and paws my arm to continue. His foster family played tug of war – or so we observed when we picked him up. He was fostered in several homes – each had other dogs. We have only cats – but our cats were used to our elder three dogs for years. When they passed, our cats were depressed. When Max came home with us – the cats tried to sit with him and be near him, Max is a bit too playful at this point. But has not attacked them, so that is one good thing. Max also barks and will try to fight with other aggressive dogs in our neighborhood. We have neighbors that are proud of their Alpha temperament dogs – so we are avoiding them while Max is seemingly so impressionable.
I am beginning to see he is relating at both extremes. Granted – we have had him for only four days – but we have had dogs all our lives. Labs and mixed breeds. I recognize that dogs of this age need to be trained well to mature out of the mouthing/chewing/dominant behaviors we are seeing in max. But it seems that this is more than I would have hoped for, having thought of Goldens in the more traditional way. her refuses to fetch for rewards. Max is pure bread – or so we were told. He has not yet been fixed.
Your thoughts?
I am concerned that I will not be able to train this reactive personality out of an otherwise sweet dog.
Thanks. Love your blog and helpful info.
Hi, you found my blog! Im so happy you did! Im very intrested in your site and I need help! My blog is in need of a make over!
I will be in toucn and thanks for the blog!
Birddogdiva
Yeah, I can help you.
This is my e-mail (retrieverman1(at)yahoo(dot)com.)
I’ve sent info and posts about my golden retriever Abby (With the white markings) in the past and was wondering if golden retrievers have only black eye rims or can they have brown. Abbys are brown and we ( myself and a littermates owner) have a suspicion that they are mixed with a TollerXGolden. I know tollers usually have brown or flesh toned eye rims and noses but am not sure if goldens have brown as well. Thanks for your input and your dog is beautiful but then again all goldens are arent they!!
Yes. They can have brown eye rims and lips. The whole skin is actually brown, not black.
Most goldens are genetically black dogs with gene that stops the black pigment from appearing on the coat. Those with brown skin have a gene that causes them to have the same coloration, just the liver/chocolate pigment isn’t expressed on the coat.
In goldens, it’s fairly rare to have brown skin– and have genetic liver/chocolates.
Yes…very cool place you have here labpack…yup…being nosey now and having a little Wolfie snout around to see what else is here! My 1st love is the German Shepherd Dog but Golden Retrievers are beautiful dogs too :)
Good to tripped over you! As a refugee from Windows Live Spaces the strange world of WordPress is a very wierd and wonderful one indeed…so if you’re willing to have your expert brain picked on the subject I’m sure it would be beneficial to a Europan Ice Wolf!
Errm…now I’m confused? Are you “labpack” or “Retrieverman”?!! Have I made a seriously embarrasing cock-up referring to you as “labpack?”!! Pls accept my apologies if I have confused ID’s…it is 00:20 UK time and I have a touch of “Wolf-flu!!” ;)
Hi. Have just come across your brilliantly informative blog, but how do I subscribe?
On left hand side, scroll down below my flickr, past the search function, and click where it says “Subscribe to this blog.”
Hi. I came upon your blog today and I am fascinated by your postings. I am a painter and I am starting a series of paintings about dogs in the woods in my native Virginia. I wa s googling “white dogs” to find a dog that looked like a stray white dog that we called the ghost dog. I came to your post about the white bull dog. I currently have a bull type dog- maybe mastiff, maybe pit plus some lab. He is not white but his body is very much like the picture of the Farm Bull Dog. I would love to send you a picture of him and see what you think. The video of the Farm Bull Dog is so much like him too in that he is very gentle with all animals and has a relationship with a cat that is very similar to how that dog in the video relates to the chicken! Anyway, I am very excited to know about your blog and I look forward to reading more posts. Did you read “The Wolf in the Parlor” by John Franklin?
Yes. Please send me the photos.
I reviewed Franklin’s book in The Bark.
[...] Next time on “Deadliest Catch,” the Scots figured they would not be one-upped by Alaskan fishermen, so they revived the industry of seal-hunting off the northern coast. Serious business: combating seals in the swells off the coast of Shetland is not for those easily daunted and the task requires dogs with superior cognitive ability to figure out how to utilize tools as bulk, teeth and claws are not sufficient and are woefully inadequate. A collie cur found himself a big log to defend himself against the giant aquatic bears of the North Sea. Coming this fall. Hosted and narrated by Scottie Westfall. [...]
I love golden retrievers so much. What is your favorite dog?
how do you change pictures?
I am starting to really read your blog and just wanted to tell you I think your posts are beautifully written. You conjure up my own childhood memories of “goldies” and I very much appreciate your comments on conservation and rescue.
I’m your newest fan!
Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying them.
Splendid work.
nice pictures on Flickr with your dog
Just noticed your warnings in read under “About” saying you don’t tolerate Creationist commentary and Victorian toilet science. I can’t tell you how much that warms my heart. I think I am shedding a tear. SNIF! Many thanks for bringing reality into the fold and helping people realize it is a help, not a hindrance.
come check out my blogs too as they are about ecology, nature and wildlife and i also am a golden retriever fanatic and will post pictures of the antics me and my golden retriever get into =)
People do have to become more aware of the importance of the relationship between him and nature (animals and plants), so I am pleased that you are not going to concentrate on “Western history,international political economy; politics, international politics and political economy; and campaign strategy and current political intrigue”, but will spend time to interweave those matters concerning humans best friend, the dog.
I love the Retriever, but I am to narrowly spaced, so I am happy now with my Shetland Collie, and my contacts with the many dogs I meet on my walks.
I am a dog lover and an amateur naturalist/birder/entomologist. Very amateur, but I enjoy studying and photographing nature. I love goldens (owned 3, all grown old and died) and now have a Brittany, a lab/cane corso mix, and some other big ass mix looks like a giant black and tan shar pei. I enjoy your blog. I’ve stumbled across it several times googling this and that. Cheers!