Cooper | Just Your Average Adventure

We said goodbye to our beloved Cooper today.

Cooper … aka Coopie, Dooper, Doopie, Boyzie, Good Boy, Declan (just to name a few) … passed away just six weeks shy of his fourteenth birthday, an extraordinary life for a dog his size. In the end, we don’t know exactly what he had … the assumption is some form of cancer … but he wasn’t happy anymore, and we could no longer keep him comfortable. Letting him go was the last loving thing we could do for him.

He loved big, and he loved all of us: SchwartzCentral, our extended family, our friends, and the twenty-eight foster children who came through our home. He was the original gentle giant … licking food off little faces, kissing dangling feet, and showing nervous kids that big dogs could be the safest place in the world. His favorite hobbies included photosynthesizing (sunbathing), resting his big goofy head on a lap or hand, and being as close as possible to his people. He was the consummate host … greeting guests at the driveway, walking them in, welcoming other dogs to come play, and even letting them stay awhile.

He was a traveler: countless trips to Pennsylvania to visit G/Bubby/Grandma Ada, adventures to Plainview’s dream backyard, as far north as Rhode Island for a stay with Sarah so the kids could visit them during session break from Ramah, and all the way south to Boynton Beach for nearly six weeks of sunshine, toddlers, lizards, birds, and flash rainstorms. He happily jumped in the car for carpools and airport runs, always ready for the ride. He adored the snow … less so the snowballs stuck to him … and his snowsuit let him enjoy every moment without complaint.

Cooper never fully recovered after losing his bonded sister, Lily, two and a half years ago. He tolerated his nephew Bamba and, more recently, his brother Otis, but they were not her, and he made that clear in his gentle, dignified way.

This truly feels like the end of an era. We brought Cooper home when our kids were 5, 7, 8, and 10. He has been with them for more than half their lives. We are heartbroken, but overwhelmingly grateful … for his steady presence, his softness, his protection, and the joy he gave us every single day.

Our good boy. Our gentle giant. We will miss you, Cooper, and we wouldn’t trade a single moment.

Cooper on Left
Cooper on Left
Coop right before we got him!
Jacob picking him up at the airport!
Yael – love at first sight
Adina making sure he is facing the camera
Aiden not sure what to think yet!
So little!
That tongue!
In the crate – ready to go to work!
That Face!
First Bike Ride!
13 years ago to the day – November 5th
Meeting Lily (the Dog we got for our Cooper!)
He taught her the ropes
And she was at his side…
always…
Shared his spot looking over to see when his boys would come out to play
Majestic in his play
Entertaining the neighborhood
Loved car rides!
Visit with Bubby! (That is Lily with Coop under the table)
Chilling at Martin’s Run
Taking a stroll to dinner.
Playing in the grass at Martin’s Run!
Visit to PA with dog cousins!
We sprung Bubby!
Snow is the best!
Love the snow!
Not the snowballs!
Putting up with our shenanigans
Snow Suites are soooo much better
So much better with snow suites!
We love visitors! Murphy and Finnigan!
We love visiting family in Plainview!
Visit to Sarah’s in Rhode Island
Keeping a watch on all those who came to live with us.
Best walking buddy!
On the road to Florida!! It was a full car.
Rest stop…
Boynton Beach Weather!!
Boynton Beach walk!
Gentle with all his toys!
Babies are the best!
Chasing Lady May!
After love to curl up and rest…
Always Doing Good!!
But then he lost his bested bud.
He still loved his spot – but he was not the same.
But a few months later his nephew Bamba came home.
He tolerated him.
Taught Bamba how to cuddle.
How to ride in a car…
How to handle random children…
How to share space on Yael’s bed…
And Mommy and Aba’s bed!
He taught Bamba how to photosynthesize!
He taught Bamba how to behave while vacationing at friends when Mommy and Aba are away!
AND then – Milo moved in…they tended to tolerate each other…
When things started to settle – in July 2025 his little brother Otis joined the family. This is their first meeting at a neutral location.
And Cooper had to start the teaching all over again!
He taught Otis how to handle a car ride.
How to chill…
How to find a soft place to rest.
How to walk on a leash…
He showed Otis how to great friends on the block…
How to look pitiful so he could get a treat!
How to enjoy a Friday morning at Norby’s
And as Otis got bigger, Coop shared
He wasn’t happy, but he shared…
His little minyans loved him…
He even showed Otis how to photosynthesize..
As Otis continued to get bigger…
But Coop was slowing down…
We made the decision to end his suffering…
He slept in bed with us last night…with his head perched on my leg.
And today, his spot is now empty…

Cooper’s first few days at home!

Lily joins the chaos!

Playing in the best backyard ever while visiting Plainview!

To play in the snow is the best!

Bamba learns the lay of the land!

Cooper teaches Otis to wait…or does he?

Back in December J and I spent a week without children! It was a great week. J and I had to work, and the kids had break. Lolo and Unc drove down on a Thursday night, stayed with us through Sat night when they drove the kids in our van up to my parents’ home. The four of them juggled the four kids for the week.

The next weekend J and I went away to a bed and breakfast for New Years and met the kids and my parents back at our house on Sunday. It was the longest time we have been without our children in the almost 11 years at that time we had been parents.

Sometimes when couples do this they come back pregnant…or thinking about a baby. Not us. We decided we were going to adopt a dog!

I had said for years, “we aren’t responsible enough for a dog.” And at the time, we weren’t! Our kids were young and we traveled often. But as te kids gave gotten older and we watched how they loved and were so good with J’s parents’ dog, Oliver. And then we heard about how great the kids were with Lolo’s new puppy, Oliver….and my mind was set.

I set out in search for a rescue. A doodle of some sort, golden or lab. We researched breed, temperament, need for exercise, and mixes. Our preference was a goldendoodle f1b- 3 parts poodle, 1 part golden retriever.

While the family watched Cesar Millan ad nauseum, and J and I read books….(well J read and I skimmed), I filled out applications and forms and referrals.

But each time we were next on the list, our names were passed over. We have 4 children, between 6 and 11. We didn’t make a good forever family on paper. But we had made our decision, and worse yet, we had told our 4 children!

So I started researching breeders. Making sure we found one that wasn’t a puppy mill or a backyard breeder…one who didn’t cross more breeds than the two we wanted. One who did genetic testing on the parents and line for breed known issues. One who did temperament testing on the pups to match them with their homes.

And we found a breeder! And she helped match us with the perfect pup for us!!!

Meet Cooper (We have started taking pictures like he another child!):