How Air Bud Inspired Me to Adopt My First Golden Retriever, Miley

If you were a kid in the late '90s or early 2000s, there’s a solid chance you thought your future dog would not only play basketball but also solve mysteries, win soccer championships, and possibly lead a double life as a superhero. For me, that dream started the moment I laid eyes on Air Bud. I was instantly obsessed—and that lovable, golden-fluffy face on the screen didn’t just make me want a dog. It made me want a golden retriever.

A real one. One that could maybe dunk, sure, but mostly just be mine.

I still remember sitting cross-legged in front of the TV, watching Buddy take the court in his little red jersey, ears bouncing with every bounce pass. He was loyal. He was smart. He was athletic in a way that deeply offended my clumsy childhood self. But most of all, he was a best friend in golden fur. At that age, I didn’t know anything about breed traits or training styles—I just knew that whatever Buddy was, I needed one in my life.

It took a little while (and a lot of begging), but eventually, my dream came true. We brought home a golden retriever puppy I named Miley—inspired by Miley Cyrus, who was in her Hannah Montana prime. Miley had the sweetest face, the softest ears, and zero interest in basketball, but she stole my heart faster than Buddy stole the show. She wasn't a movie star, but she was everything I had hoped a golden girl would be: confident, intuitive, and overflowing with love.

Miley couldn’t dribble, but she was okay at catching. And once, she got distracted mid-walk by a paper bag and walked directly into a bush. But she was my shadow, my confidant, and my very first “heart dog.” Air Bud may have been a character on screen, but Miley was the real deal. She made every day feel like a movie—even without the Hollywood soundtrack or slow-mo sports montages.

Looking back, I realize that Buddy didn’t just make me want a dog. He sparked something much bigger: a lifelong love of golden retrievers. Miley was the first, but she was far from the last. That little seed of inspiration grew into years of golden companionship, dog grooming, photography, and eventually, building my dream business centered entirely around dogs. Air Bud was the gateway fluff.

So… Can Movies Change Your Life? Yes. 100%.

We don’t always realize how much childhood movies shape our future, but Air Bud truly set me on a golden path. That film made me fall in love with goldens, and Miley was the first beautiful chapter of that story. She wasn’t a basketball player, but she was my champion, and every golden that came after her carries a little piece of that spark.

Which dog movie totally made you want a pup of your own?

• Air Bud — obviously the golden GOAT
• Lassie — a loyal legend
• Homeward Bound — Chance, Sassy, and Shadow forever
• Beethoven — messy, massive, and loveable

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