Have you ever lived with a dog? A big one, that thinks he’s a person? We’ve had many dogs through the years, mostly the small-to-middling sized Shelties that I’ve bred and trained for over thirty years. But a few years ago we returned to the breed of my childhood, Labrador Retrievers, and I’m beginning to realize our lives will never be the same!
At 80-plus pounds, our current two-year-old male Lab has a puppy mind in a powerhouse body. While he’s mentally sweet and gentle, physically he’s like a wrecking ball in demolition mode.
“Wild dog coming through,” I bellow as he hurdles into the house to greet everyone and slides precariously across the kitchen floor. “Grab your coffee mug (or wine glass, as the case may be),” I yell as his tail swings in a happy arc that clears the coffee table. “Watch out!” I warn as he cavorts through the room flinging his toys in every direction. “Sorry about that. Here’s a towel,” I say when he’s planted an apologetic kiss on hand, cheek, or even mouth (yuck!), and drooled on someone’s clean outfit. He can’t imagine there’s anyone who doesn’t welcome his enthusiastic attention.
Granted, we only inflict him on those who adore him, and he isn’t always on the move. Like most youngsters in their Terrible Two’s, he’s quite angelic when he’s asleep.
During those moments I’ve been known to say that a second dog might be nice. After all, we haven’t had a singleton dog around the house for years. We lived with as many as five Shelties at one time.
That roar you heard was my husband. “One is definitely enough!”
MUSINGS 
Labs are like potato chips! Must have more!
I agree. Now if we could just convince DH! 😉
Ahaha! Could you imagine if I had two “Macs”?! (Actually, I must admit he’s settled down greatly over the last year.;))
One dog is lovely….especially when your DH wants a second in a breed that’s not on my top 10 of breeds to own!
We have a Siberian Husky who I love dearly, but wish would stay home. He’s either attached to a 50′ rope that is in turn hooked on a 50′ run, or he’s on the couch watching Cityline. It breaks my heart to tie him up, but he won’t stay home. In the summertime, there are too many bobcats and bears in the area.
My sympathies, Joylene. By nature Sibes are designed to have that go-go-go attitude and it’s virtually impossible to break them of it. I’ll bet yours loves the couch part of his existence anyway. 😉
lol, yes I’m sure Bandit loves watching TV and laying on a comfy couch instead of a hard floor. Every few months he’s off to Tchentlo Lodge at the Nation Lakes with his dad, where he’s able to run through 40 acres of wilderness. A very happy puppy, indeed. He has 4 cats that adore him because he lets them cuddle.
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