While golden retrievers are recognized as incredibly friendly dogs, that doesn't mean they don't ever get a little shy. Such was the case with Lola, a timid dog who feared other large canines. The one dog she knew she could trust was her sister, Skylar.
When Skylar went to a new home and Lola moved to England, the expectation was that she'd be timider than ever. Then Lola became transfixed by the dog next door, and it was clear she wasn't just adapting well, she was happier than ever. Keep reading for more on this adorable tale of puppy love.
Meet Lola's Family
This precious dog with the tongue dangling out of her smiling face is Lola. Above are her parents, Amber Monte and Alex Boothroyd. Amber and Alex are extremely loving parents, so Lola lives a pretty happy life.
The young couple created a positive outlook for Lola towards humans. Just looking into her eyes, you can tell that she's a sweet animal that wouldn't want to bring harm to anyone. Her amazing personality flourishes when she's with others.
Other Dogs Are A Different Story
As kind and gentle as Lola is, she's also a bit of a scaredy-cat when it comes to other dogs. While she's happy to receive affection from humans, dogs are a different story. Amber told The Dodo that Lola becomes shy on walks when another dog is around.
Lola especially fears large dogs, which is rather ironic considering that she's a good size herself. It is rather touching that she fears dogs her own size because it goes to show that she really does mean no harm.
One Dog Was An Exception
The dog to the left is Skylar, Lola's sibling (not by breed, but by family). Though Lola would normally be afraid of dogs like Sky, she had grown to trust the sweet dog. The two went together like peas and carrots.
Though the dogs didn't come from the same biological parents, their expressions make them look like actual siblings. Since the two dogs have similar demeanors, it was easy for Lola to become trusting of Skylar.
Through Thick And Thin
Skylar and Lola had been there for one another through a lot. Being there through thick and thin made them even more incredible siblings. Just look at this photo of the two dogs on their way back from the veterinary's office.
You'd expect a dog wearing a cone to look a little down, but Lola looks happy as ever. Right by her side is Skylar, who's practically shoving her face into Lola's cone to be as close as possible to her sister.
The Family Had Some News
One day, it was time for Amber and Alex to share some news with the lovable dog siblings. They were going to move into a brand new environment! While Lola could sense that something big was happening, she had no idea what was to come.
The move threatened to aggravate Lola's timid nature. At the same time, with all of the love she would get from her family, they were confident she'd be just fine.
Where To?
The plan was to relocate to Surrey, England. All of the lush green of the area would be a dream for any dog. On top of that, the wide expanses would give Lola the opportunity to run free without feeling surrounded by other dogs.
Still, they would be moving to a suburb. That meant that it was just a matter of time before Lola ran into the neighbors, and potentially their dogs, who might be large.
The Bad News
As exciting as the move would be, there was one more piece of bad news. Lola's sister and best friend, Skylar, would no longer be living with her. For whatever reason, the couple decided it was best to have Skylar stay with Alex's mother.
Though both dogs would still be receiving loads of love and a good home, it would be strange to be apart. Sure they would see one another as often as they could, but it certainly wouldn't be the same.
Hitting The Road
Though all of the change would be difficult, Lola took it like a champion. She wore her usual, big smile as she embarked on a journey with her family. Together, they could get through it.
Still, no one knew how exactly how Lola would handle being in a new home. Would she develope new fears? Would she become even more scared of other dogs? Would she miss Skylar? All of these questions would only be answered in time.
An Animal Fascination
Lola's sweet demeanor was clear in how she approached other animals. Though she was afraid of large dogs, she still had a gentle curiosity towards other species. More aggressive dogs might want to pounce on things that are smaller than them.
Not Lola. She just wanted to look at things and try to understand them. Perhaps that's why she was so timid; she wanted to understand others so that she knew she could trust them.
Adjusting To Her New Home
Once the family was settled into their new home, something odd happened. Lola wasn't terrified, but she did seem transfixed. She would go to the back window and stare out of it for long periods of time.
The home had a yard, so she could easily go outside. It seemed that she was scoping out the area for something. She could have been getting used to her surroundings, or looking for a bunny or another animal.
What's On The Other Side Of The Fence?
The home they moved to had a wooden fence separating it from the next home over. It became gradually obvious that whatever was on the other side of that fence was the object of Lola's attention.
In time, Amber and Alex got to know their neighbors. That's when they discovered what had been causing Lola to act so differently. There was something on the other side of the fence that wasn't scaring Lola, but rather was intriguing her.
It Was Another Dog!
The one responsible for Lola's trance-like state was the dog next door! It was a Staffordshire terrier named Loki. You may notice that Loki looks something like a pit bull. That's because pit bulls don't actually exist.
According to The Dog People, a pit bull is a catchall phrase for a variety of similar-looking breeds, including the Staffordshire terrier. Loki's breed is one of the smaller ones in the family, which was great news for Lola.
Gazing From A Far
The dogs began gazing at one another throughout the day. Lola would perch up on the window and look for Loki, who would hop up as high as he could to catch a glance at Lola. Seeing them like that was so precious, you'd think someone told them to pose that way.
Their connection was real, and anyone could see that. The owners quickly understood that these dogs needed to meet, especially since Lola didn't seem shy around this dog at all.
They Hit It Off!
As expected, the dogs hit it off right from the start. Lola was more outgoing than ever, and Loki was all over Lola. The two were hopping all over the place and messing with one another like puppies.
In this photo, it almost looks like the two are dancing. Loki looks as though he has a huge smile across his face, while Lola looks like she's about to leap forward into his face. It looks like some major attraction to us.
It Was Fireworks!
While we know that dogs can form a deep connection with humans, we sometimes forget that they can also form deep connections with one another! Just think about how we use the term puppy love to describe young humans being together, not dogs.
Like a pair of teenagers, Loki and Lola were inseparable from day one. The fireworks were clear at every encounter. Neither dog seemed to view the other as just the ordinary dog on the block.
Can Lola Come Out And Play?
Amber told The Dodo that Loki started jumping to see over the fence, in case Lola was out. Things got even cuter when the dog began hopping the fence to see Lola. Amber would look out the window and see sweet Loki in the garden, patiently waiting for Lola.
Loki's trespassing has happened numerous times, but the pet owners couldn't get upset over true love. If anything, seeing Loki's happy face was a reminder that Lola wasn't alone after all.
She Couldn't Wait To See Him Again
Loki wasn't the only one showing his enthusiasm for Lola. The golden retriever began sitting by the back door and whining to go outside. Once they'd let her out, she'd immediately look over the fence for Loki.
If he wasn't out, Lola would sit and wait next to the fence for him. Since Lola hadn't lived next to dogs in the past, she was excited to have a friend she could see every day, which was odd since she often feared other dogs.
Straight Out Of A Movie
At first, Lola and Loki's owners just thought that their dogs were getting to know one another. When the excitement didn't wear off, and only grew, they realized that the connection was more than just a momentary thrill.
It was like the movie Lady and the Tramp. What began as two dogs hopping around one another turned into a desire to be around each other day after day, and a whole lot of kissing.
Falling In Love
The two dogs formed a habit of meeting at the top of the fence and saying hello with a few licks. Amber told The Dodo, "They are so excited to see each other when they play — there’s lots of jumping around, running, lots of kissing!”
She went on to describe them as inseparable. It's fair to say that if and when the family moves again, they're going to have to make frequent visits to the old stomping ground for Lola and Loki's sake.
Dreaming Of Loki
Lola's parents couldn't be more pleased at how the move to Surrey turned out. Not only is their precious dog happy as ever, but it's all because of her unexpected companion, Loki.
The content dog can sleep easy each night, knowing that the sooner she falls asleep, the sooner she can go back outside again to see Loki. There's no way to tell what Lola dreams about, but we'd bet it's playing with her favorite neighborhood dog.
