In every dog family, there are always those moments that remind us just how much personality our furry friends truly have. Today was one of those moments, and honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever stop laughing about it.
I had this sweet little idea—nothing too fancy—just a wholesome attempt at teaching my three golden retrievers a fun little “pose” trick for the camera. The goal? Line them up so one could put their paw on the shoulder of the other, creating a cute little chain of connected golden goodness. Sounds simple enough, right? I mean, they’re smart, eager to please, and never turn down a chance to earn a treat. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned after years with these three, it’s that “dog logic” doesn’t always follow “human logic.”
We started out strong. Treats in hand, smiles on their faces, tails wagging like little propellers ready to take flight. Maverick, the old soul of the bunch, positioned himself front and center, sitting calmly and patiently as though he were born for the spotlight. Then came Teddy, my enthusiastic middle boy, bounding into place with his signature goofy grin, practically vibrating with excitement at the thought of being part of something fun. And finally, sweet Peaches, the youngest and most mischievous of them all, bounced into the lineup like this was the best game in the world.
I carefully guided their paws—one here, one there—and for half a glorious second, it looked perfect. The chain was complete. My heart swelled, I raised my phone, and just as I was about to snap the picture, chaos struck.
Peaches, true to her playful nature, thought Teddy’s shoulder made a great springboard for her own wiggles. She leaned too far into him, causing Teddy to stumble and nearly topple Maverick in the process. In an instant, instead of an elegant “paw chain,” I had a wobbly stack of golden retrievers looking like they’d formed a furry game of dominoes.
But here’s the thing—dogs have a way of making mistakes look intentional. Instead of falling apart completely, Teddy regained his balance, leaned back into Peaches, and Maverick just sat there with his calm, regal expression as though saying, “You know what? This is fine. We’ll call it close enough.”
And that’s how this photo came to be—three golden retrievers with the biggest smiles plastered across their faces, one paw here, one paw there, and an overall look of happiness that melted my heart. Sure, it wasn’t the perfect Instagram-worthy pose I’d envisioned, but in the end, it was so much better. Because it was real, it was them, and it was pure joy.
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud as I looked at them—two of them grinning ear to ear, clearly proud of their “teamwork,” while Maverick sat poised at the front like the responsible big brother tolerating his siblings’ shenanigans. It wasn’t polished or perfect, but it was absolutely us. And let’s be honest, isn’t that what life with dogs is all about? The mess, the chaos, the unexpected silliness that turns into memories we’ll never forget?
Looking at this photo, I’m reminded of a simple truth: happiness doesn’t live in perfection. Happiness is in the goofy moments, the outtakes, the “close enough” attempts that make you laugh until your cheeks hurt. These three remind me every single day that life isn’t about getting everything right—it’s about being present, having fun, and sharing love no matter how it looks.
When I imagine them years from now, older and grayer, I know these are the moments I’ll remember most. Not the perfect poses, not the flawless training sessions, but the belly laughs, the unexpected teamwork, and the little reminders that sometimes “close enough” is exactly what you need.
So here’s to my golden trio—Maverick, Teddy, and Peaches—for always making life brighter, funnier, and infinitely more full of love. Thank you for teaching me that joy is found not in perfect lines or polished poses, but in the beautiful, chaotic, silly moments in between.
And if anyone asks, yes, we totally nailed the pose… close enough. 
