CARLYLE - The Morrisons are a well-known Carlyle family, all five of whom have lived in Carlyle their entire lives.
Trevor and Lisa have three children, Mitchell, Makenna and Carter.
In the summer of 2019, the family decided to acquire a family pet. Mitchell and Makenna had already left the roost and Carter was in high school. Lisa and Trevor were starting to feel the effects of empty-nest syndrome.
“In all our years of being together as a family, the only pet we had was a goldfish,” said Lisa. “Our family thought it out and we decided to purchase a dog. I started researching online and all of us agreed wholeheartedly to acquire a golden doodle. We drove to Manitoba and selected an eight-week-old female.”
Makenna remembers naming the puppy.
“My brother Mitchell loves fishing, and he started calling her Lindy as that is the fishing tackle he uses. The name stuck.”
Golden doodles are a cross between a golden retriever and a standard poodle. They have many positive traits. They have a gentle and friendly temperament. They are outgoing, playful and highly intelligent. They are a great family dog and love children. Golden doodles are extremely active, very loyal to their owners, and love water. They are a great hiking companion. They infrequently shed their hair.
On the flip side, golden doodles require constant grooming because of their active lifestyle and regular haircuts and baths are needed. As well, they form strong family bonds and become severely stressed when separated from their owners.
Lisa loves Lindy and treats her like family.
“She’s just a big teddy bear,” she said. “We walk for miles every day and she loves swimming. In fact, kayaking is one of her favourite pastimes. She just sits on the bow and jumps in and out of the water all day long. And, of course, deep down she is a retriever. Throw her a stick or a ball and she will fetch it. Lindy fears other dogs but just loves kids and people in general. She wouldn’t harm a fly.”
Not to be outdone, daughter Makenna also decided to purchase a dog and selected a Labra doodle. This is a cross between a Labrador retriever and a poodle. She acquired a male in September, and it was also obtained from a breeder in Manitoba.
“My boyfriend races cars in Estevan so we chose the name Hoosier after a brand of racing tires,” said Makenna. Hoosier already weighs 15 pounds but is rather docile when compared to Lindy. Even so, Lindy is frightened of Hoosier and gives him a wide berth.
“I have loved Lindy like my own, but I thought it was time to get my own dog,” said Makenna. “Hoosier is smart like Lindy and another great addition to the family.” Makenna is presently teaching a Grade 4 class at the Wawota Parkland School.
Lindy is now three years old, weighs 65 pounds and stands 30 inches tall. She has a brother named Huxon who is owned by Josh Brown.
Added Lisa, “Our family really appreciates the Second Family Dog Lodge. Lindy requires special care due to her shyness and we truly appreciate their efforts when we are away. And, if you own a dog, make sure you license him or her through your town office. And naturally, don’t forget to pick up the poop.”
Lisa concluded, “These doodles make excellent pets and have great personalities. They are smart, fun to be around and are a huge part of our family. They also keep you in great shape walking and swimming with them. We highly recommend the breed.”
