09/26/2026
What started out as a week full of promise got a little rough pretty quickly…
A couple of days ago, we said goodbye to my very first Golden, Harper.
Harper came into our lives in 2014. She immediately became one of the kids. I never saw her as “just a dog”. She was family from the very beginning.
Harper also holds a special place in the history of Big Lake Goldens.In fact, for the longest time (3 years) she was our one and only Golden. She already had her first litter before Jax came into the picture! Yep, she was there when it all started, long before Big Lake Goldens even had a name. She gave us two beautiful litters, the first in 2017. After complications with her second litter, I decided she'd done her part, had her spayed, and officially retired her from the breeding program.
In 2019, my daughter moved to Kansas. She and Harper had always shared a special bond, and when it came time for her to move, there was really no question about who was going with her. Harper packed her bags, too! From that day forward, those two were inseparable.
Looking back, I couldn't have asked for a better retirement for Harper. She got to spend the rest of her life being spoiled, loved, and doing what she did best—being someone's baby. I'm especially grateful that my daughter and Harper got to share so many years together, growing up alongside each other and making memories that will last a lifetime.
It's funny how one dog can play such a big role in a family's story. Harper was there at the very beginning of Big Lake Goldens, helped us build something we love, and then went on to become an even bigger part of my daughter's life. She had a wonderful life, and she gave us so much more than we ever could have expected when we brought that little puppy home in 2014.
I'll always remember that goofy little girl, and I'll always be thankful she was our first. She taught me how to love this breed more than I can ever express.
Rest easy, Harper. You were loved from your very first day to your very last. ❤️
Harper | October 11, 2014 – September 24, 2026
