How Bowie Came Into Our Lives

I’m so excited to share the story of how we brought our sweet golden retriever, Bowie, into our lives. It’s been quite the journey!

A little backstory

I’m originally from Georgia, but now Thomas (Bowie’s other human) and I are living in San Diego, California. When we decided to bring a puppy into our lives, we were over the moon with excitement. But finding the right breeder for the perfect golden retriever? That turned into a bit of chaos.

The search begins

We started our hunt for the perfect puppy by searching for golden retriever breeders nearby. But every time we found a breeder we liked, there was a waitlist literally longer than my Netflix watchlist! After months of searching and feeling a little discouraged, we came across a gorgeous pair of golden retriever parents in Michigan. We put down a deposit right away, only to be crushed when we got the news that the mom wasn’t able to breed. Total heartbreak.

Back to Square One

We weren’t ready to give up, though. We kept looking, and that’s when we found an amazing pair of golden retrievers in Lexington, Kentucky (Sealy x Tommi of ShimGold Retrievers). Just when we thought we had it figured out, Thomas’ cousin decided he wanted a puppy too. We’d been hoping for puppy siblings, but this breeder only had one puppy left.

I was ready to make the drive to Kentucky, but the breeder threw us a curveball and told us she had one more puppy available—hello, Ollie! And just like that, Bowie and Ollie became inseparable puppy brothers.

The Road Trip

My mom and I made the drive from Atlanta to Lexington, stayed the night, and picked up the boys the next morning. We set off on a 5-hour road trip back to Georgia, and I have to say, they were the best little co-pilots. Our car was filled with puppy snuggles and a lot of “isn’t he the cutest?” moments. I honestly couldn’t believe I was finally bringing my dream golden retriever puppy home!

The Flight Home

The flight back to San Diego was a bit of an adventure. Delta required both puppies to be in the same carrier, which made me nervous at first. But Bowie and Ollie were total angels! 

One tip I highly recommend if you’re flying with puppies—especially golden retrievers—is to add ice packs to the carrier. The breeder suggested it to keep the puppies cool, and it worked wonders. Delta allows ice packs, so definitely use this trick if you’re traveling with pets.
Having them in the same carrier turned out to be the best decision. They were so calm and snuggled up together the whole flight. The Delta staff were also incredibly kind and checked on them throughout the trip, which made the experience stress-free.

When we landed in San Diego, I couldn’t believe how well they handled their first flight. It was a great reminder of how important it is to keep your puppies comfortable when traveling. If you’re flying with puppies on Delta, definitely plan ahead to ensure a smooth trip!

For the flight, we used the WEPLAN Airline Approved Pet Carrier, which fit both puppies snugly and met Delta’s in-cabin pet requirements. It was a lifesaver for traveling with two little ones!

A New Chapter

When we finally landed, it felt like a dream. Ollie went home with his family, and both puppies have settled in beautifully. Watching them grow up together has been such a joy. The bond between them is heartwarming, and their playtime when we meet-up is the cutest thing ever!

Bringing Bowie into our lives has filled our days with so much joy, laughter, and puppy love. I’m grateful for every twist and turn that led us to him, and I can’t wait to share all of our puppy adventures with you!