Simon

Simon has gotten comfortable with us at the house and eventually wherever we go. Sammie, our 8-1/2 year old golden, gets along fine with Simon and visa versa. I don’t think Simon has ever had a fulltime canine partner before, but he has adjusted well to her. She has had two previous golden partners and is docile, but Simon doesn’t pick on her or dominate her. They both like their attention and sometimes have short barking and howling contests — one trying to upstage the other or just showing off. He likes to roll to an upside down position, so we can scratch his belly and chest. We never had a dog do this as often as Simon does, but that’s his trademark.

We took Simon and Sammie first to Visalia, California for two nights in a hotel as a test trip. He passed with flying colors. So we were 90% confident that he could make our Portland trip. We use LaQuinta Hotels. They are pet friendly and don’t even charge extra for dogs. We spent four weeks up in Portland to house sit for friends. Went to the beach (we suspect that it was his first experience with the ocean) and walked a lot in Portland. We take our goldens to Panera Bakery off Sunset near the Galleria shopping center in Henderson and they like it there. Even took them to Panera near Portland. He was a big hit with my 93 year old uncle Hank on the Oregon coast. In photos, Simon is the lighter of the two goldens. He’s mom’s boy.

Best Wishes and thanks for Simon,

Wayne and Ellen Bounds