When I first met Casey, he was three weeks' old. I had wanted a competitive male golden and had looked at several litters but nothing quite caught my eye. You wanted me to take the wiggly male that wouldn't hold still in my arms. But the other little boy in the litter came wobbling over to me and proceeded to plop down, put his head on my feet and fell asleep.  How could I resist....it was a match made in heaven. Casey was my four-legged soul mate.  We were inseparable....he was my best bud, my protector and guardian, my babysitter, my confidant, and my dog trainer who kept the other dogs in line; it made him extremely upset if one of his "doggie family" decided to go off the property. They would be properly chastised when they returned. He would go just about everywhere with me as I thoroughly enjoyed his company. I honestly believe if I could of walked a straight line, Casey would of had his OTCH title. He was such a serious dog when it came to working. As an example, three days before NorCal Golden's WC and WCX tests, I called DeeDee and asked her what I do (I had never trained him for field work). She told me "do two singles and a double." So I practiced for the three days. I hadn't done water work. When it was Casey's time to run, I sent him out for the birds and he performed beautifully. Then came the water.  It was a windy day and the wind carried the bird way off target and over into some reeds near the shore. Casey went out to the drop spot, turned around and looked at me. I ESP'd my directions, he headed to shore. He went over and checked the birds under the shooter's chair and decided that wasn't what he wanted. Again, he stopped and looked at me. I prayed! The judge wanted to call him off. I asked if he would please let him think this out.  Boy, did he. He started tracking on the shore and it was just as if a magnet shot his nose in the direction of the downed bird. He jumped back in the water again amongst the reeds and pulled his bird out and proudly brought it back to hand. No one but no one could have been prouder than I was that day! He was brilliant!!! Same as when he got his tracking title...he zipped right through it with me holding him back. As a smoker, I was huffing and puffing but he literally "pulled" me through. 

These are just a few of the many amazing things Casey accomplished. He was one dog in a million....there will never be another like him for me. Casey Smith lived for a short 16 years.  I wished it would have been for more!

- Elaine Smith