Wilson goes everywhere with the couple and is a fixture at Mr Teasdale's garage in Kaikorai Valley, Dunedin, where he has his own "office" next to the workshop.
"He goes home with me at lunchtime and if the boys go out in the truck he hops in for a ride."
But the 18-month-old pines if Mr Teasdale goes anywhere without him, so on the few occasions the couple go out at night, they get a family member in to babysit so "he doesn't get lonely".
"He doesn't like being left at home, even with my wife Lynne.
"He sits on the bed looking out the front till I come home."
The going rate for dogsitter?
"Same as a child, $50 or $60," he said.
"We're terrible softies."
As Wilson was still a puppy and prone to bad behaviour, a sitter was able to keep an eye on him, he said.
Otherwise the couple made sure their activities and holidays always involved dog-friendly venues.
He was a permanent fixture on Mr Teasdale's fly fishing trips and was being trained to spot fish.
"I have to tie him to me and a couple of times he's dived in the river taking me with him."
Wilson was the second curly coat retriever the Teasdales have owned.
The first, Elliot, died from cancer aged 8.
"We were devastated when he died."
So their family did not blink an eyelid at the Teasdale's behaviour with Wilson which even extended to sharing their bed with him.
"They just accept it.
"It is what we've always been like."
The friendship dog owners received from their pets was "incredible", he said.
"They're a lot more giving than cats."
