Day 2 Puppy Choice

Image by GillBates via Flickr

Hi again.

Well, that wasn't so difficult so I guess I will try it once more.

One thing you really have to keep in mind when you are looking for a new canine member of the family. Never. Never. Never go to look at Labrador puppies unless you are pretty darn certain that is the breed you want in your home. One look at those little puppy eyes and after watching them roughhouse with their litter mates and all is lost. Just look at those little guys. What's not to love? All of a sudden you will find yourself chosen by a puppy.

If you will note the title of my blog, Labs are Golden, you will begin to see how this twig has been bent. My husband and I had decided that it was time to get our 12 year old daughter a dog of her own. Our son still had his old "Trooper" who was a mixed breed (he has a story all of his own maybe to be shared at a later date).

Both of us were leaning heavily toward a Golden Retriever(they are really great,too). My husband, Richard, found an ad in the paper for puppies which were half Lab and half Golden Retriever for $25.00. That was great. So off we went to have a look see. We thought that we would be able to find a puppy that looked at least a little bit like a Golden Retriever out of this litter.

When we got there, we found all of the yellow ones were gone and only the black Lab-look-alikes were left. What had happened was this. A young boy had started a 4H PROJECT in which he planned to breed pure Goldens. Well, it seems the neighbors Black Lab had gotten loose and came to visit the young couple (as in canine). One thing led to another and a match not necessarily made in Heaven, but close as far as I'm concerned, occurred. So much for the 4H project.


Anyway, by the time we got there all of the Momma's characteristics were missing and the Daddy's genes were running and tumbling all over the place. Of the five or six puppies that were left, one of the little males came over and ran around our feet and finally sat down on our daughter's foot. We had been chosen. That is how Shadow came into our lives. I really have to say we never regretted it once for the next almost 17 years.

So, beware, if you are looking for a dog for the family, do your research online before you ever go to meet the puppies. Once you've met the little charmers the choice seems to have already been made for you by a little four-footed furball.

See you next time. Bye

Day 1 Introduction

Hello all you wonderful dog people. This is my first time to say "Hi" as a blogger so be patient if I pull any sort of terrible techno snafu as I expound on a subject that is near and dear to my heart. Labrador retrievers--Golden Labs to be precise. However, you just have to love them all if you enjoy this breed at all.

Let me begin (my husband said it was ok) by saying this blog is in memory of my best buddy, Shadow. He was almost 17 when we had to put him down. It still hurts even after 3 years but I'm certain there are a lot of you that can relate to that so "Here's to you, Buddy".

If you haven't hugged your Lab today go do it and tell him (or her) it's one from Ginny.

I really can't imagine a more congenial breed for anyone who wants a "companion". More than a small breed is capable (of course, this is all subjective but this is my blog, right?), the Labrador Retriever is able to share your life. They are always watching to see what you are going to do next and will jump at the chance to do it with you. They seem to reflect your every emotion. Feeling down? Look into your Lab's eyes and what do you see? There seems to be a sadness in his eyes and a slight frown on his brow. ( I mean that literally. Shadow would frown). Are you very happy about something? Look at your Lab and you will see his entire body on alert, tail wagging and a happy panting going on.

Labradors are easily trained to do many, many things (not just tricks) with and for people. They are wonderful service dogs. Hunting retrievers, you can't beat them. Need a family dog, Labs love kids and are very gentle and patient with little ones. Need a good companion for an older person, Labs are able to be calm and watchful while they live with an elderly loved one, (Probably not a place for a young puppy though.) In my experience, they are very anxious to please members of their family.

I'm going to stop now. Come back and tell me what you think of my "Shadow Blog" and maybe I will be brave enough to do it again.