Wednesday, May 17, 2006


Blogs are so popular that I thought it would be fun to provide some thoughts on living life with our Labradors. Every day is an adventure of some kind. Some are good days with lots of laughs and smiles, while other days leave me wondering why I ever decided it was a good idea to have 12 (or more) Labradors. You can read all about how we got started by going to the scrapbook page and clicking on the article about us that was published in the Labrador Quarterly. I'll try to provide some humor here and give you a real taste of dog shows, judging dogs, breeding dogs, and living with dogs. The photo above more or less captures a good reason for having a dog blog. How else can you convey their sense of fun and adventure? Labradors are the king of comedy and are always inventing ways to make me smile.
Just this morning I was out to clean the kennels. The dogs were out, barking and bouncing around the paddocks. We have four large turn out areas where they play, dig, poop, and generally amuse themselves. In the small puppy paddock, I watched Pink and Vera, our 12 week old puppies from the breeding of Stella to George (go to www.surry-labradors.com/puppies.htm). They were running around the base of two large pine trees, playing hide and seek. One would stalk the other and pounce. I could watch them for hours! Sometimes, one will strike a pose that just takes my breath away--perfect top line, great reach of neck, wonderful angles--and I start to get really excited. I have to remind myself that there's a long path to having the next champion. Maybe Pink or Vera will make the grade. Time will tell. Well, enjoy the information. Hopefully, it will be entertaining to a certain degree.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Betty: This is such a clever idea and I have always known how creative you are, so this should be fun - love it!

It will be interesting to know what will be the popular subject that pops up. Right now, in the "autumn of our lives," Jack and I have cut back considerably so that we have more freedom to travel together. Wonderful plan!

Then circumstances came about that we will be whelping Cash's last and final litter in that he turned 13 years old yesterday. Our best producing bitch will retire after these pups due next week.

After rebuilding the torn down whelping box, guess what happened. When we brought Nutmeg in that same ole' feeling came back and now we think we will go all the way with the litter rather than to let Lab friends raise and place them. Neither one of us ever expected to have this turn of events.

Bottom line - once these Labs are in your lives it is almost impossible to change one's feelings under any circumstances. Has this happened to you?

Wonder how this happened? It is a feeling that will never leave a Lab breeder as long as they are alive and able!
--Dot

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sending me the link. I'll enjoy visiting the blog just as I enjoy keeping up with the website. Eddy's doing fine! Dee
--Dee Avard

Anonymous said...

Great idea. Will check in often. Reminds me of the "Diary of a Bonnie Dubh Lass" that I kept of Neilley when she was a pup.
--Ann

Anonymous said...

congrads on barrett's major the other weekend.
--Amy

Anonymous said...

welcome to the blog world! Look forward to seeing more stuff! :)
--Eugene

Anonymous said...

I have to admit that the picture of the little yellow puppy butts makes me laugh each time I see it. I hope some of the other pictures I took during our trips to Wadmalaw Island, or ones from Jacksonville, might also be of some use to you. I am just a weekend photographer but do surprise myself on occasion when I capture one of the dogs/puppies in a way that makes me proud and gives me years of enjoyment each time I see the picture in my photo album.

--Karoline

Anonymous said...

What a darling picture!! More please..
we can't wait to watch our very own puppy.

--Pam

Anonymous said...

I have found with my labs that as annoying such as when they have just ripped apart one of the pillows from the porch furniture you can not help but be in love with those eyes! Oh yes and those wonderful tails that thump when you walk by them.
--flamingo