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I’m offering an updated November 2008 post today, followed by a few others from the archives during the next two weeks. I’ll be taking a brief blogging hiatus, but will be back with a fresh post on November 13th.
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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, trained and exhibited 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 almost 90 pounds, our current five-year-old male Lab still has a puppy mind in a powerhouse body. While he’s mentally sweet and gentle, physically he’s sometimes 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. He loves to crash periodically with his toys, and like most youngsters 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!”
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MUSINGS 
Oh Carol, I’m finding our Lab puppy to be more than a handful. He apparently thinks that momma is a chew toy, and I can’t get him to stop biting me, among other things. I don’t know if either of us is going to make it five years ((groan))
Carol, enjoy your time off. I laughed at this. I know JUST what you mean. Cute.
oops, Carol I didn’t change my comment address on the above comment. So here I am. 😛
And don’t forget he is a CANADIAN CHAMPION! And he can charm my daughter into getting him cookies (doggy ones) and a new toy almost every visit :>.
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Carol, you brought back such wonderful memories of our blonde lab. We lost her three years ago, but her wonderful face continues to reach out to us in her pictures, just like the ones of your great pal. Enjoy the hiatus and see you later this month 🙂
Tell Dad….one is never enough! I could oh so be tempted to get another one too!
Dogs (big ones) are more of a handful than raising kids. I just came in from cleaning my slider and a dozen other things. My daughter and her 65lb puppy just left, and left me with a huge mess. I honestly don’t know how anyone does it. He’s cute as all get out, but when he leaves, I’m exhausted. Since I like big dogs, if I got one, it’d have to be old.
Been There, Done That!!! Your story reminds me of “Neka” the German Shepherd I had!!! She was a “Bull in a China Shoppe” … but one of the very best dogs I’ve ever had the privilege to share my space with!
I remember this post, these adorable photos. Makes ya just want to hug, hug, hug!