Laid Back Puppy

I just read a fellow raiser's blog about her dog being excitable and it got me thinking about Lyric and her lack of excitement...............over anything.
My three previous puppies all had helicopter tails when they were happy or excited. You know, where the tail gets wagging so fast, it starts to go in circles, high in the air. The words: car, food, treat, cookie, ball, kid, work, cottage, and play time would cause them to jump up in anticipation with tails wagging and their little butts swaying back and forth.

When I mention these same words to Lyric I get a sideways glance and a casual stroll over to the door or the treat/food/toy container. I don't think I've ever seen her tail wag more than back and forth a couple times. But... just the tip wags, not her whole body. I've even tried the high pitched sing song voice that whipped FPs 1,2 and 3 into a frenzy. All I get from Lyric is a look that seems to say "what the heck is wrong with you? You're crazy"
Back in April I had a friend watch the three dogs while I was in Toronto for a week. Her comments about the gang were bang on, especially the one she made about Lyric "she seems old before her time". My 6 month old puppy was better behaved and less active than the two older dogs.


Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about having a nice, quiet, mellow dog. She is a fantastic dog with so many amazing qualities and definitely a keeper if she doesn't make it through training. It just seems odd that I haven't found anything yet that truly gets Lyric excited.
I suppose she'll be a good guide dog since she's so subdued and not excitable in the least.

Anyone else ever have a dog this laid back?

Fortune's Family

7 females (4 yellows, 3 blacks) born in late 2002
It was fun getting to know some of Fortune's sisters and their foster families. We formed our own little group and shared the ups and downs of raising one of these special puppies. It was a great support system for the two 'first timers' (and for E and I as well as we struggled through raising puppies that weren't so easy to handle). Recall soon approached and so we decided to have some fun and make the day memorable for all. We dressed the four sisters up as characters from the Wizard of Oz and had the staff in stitches when we walked through the door.





Recall day Oct 2003-Dorothy, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion and The Scarecrow

Our girls were disqualified one by one over the course of 9 months and three of us adopted the puppy we had raised, keeping the sisters together as best we could. As time progressed our friendships blossomed and we began to share more parts of our lives with each other as three of us again fostered littermates. Our foruth member couldn't wait for the litter we hoped to foster so she took on another puppy immediately after recall. It's been an interesting few years with many trials and tribulations along the way. We've supported each other through breast cancer, other serious medical problems, disqualifications, break-ups, deaths of loved ones and other trying circumstances. We've also shared some special occasions such as graduations of puppies, milestone birthdays, retirement, a daughter's acceptance into vet school and the always enjoyable puppyfests, which included a roadtrip to Florida with 5 dogs and 3 women in a van!!

The sisters brought us together and they still play an important part in our lives. The "F Troop" girls are as different as we four humans from across the province, yet we all seem to make it work and have a blast when we get together.

Tagged

I was tagges by MoonShadow and Erynn and Jake
Here's how this tag is played: The player of this game starts with "5 weird things/habits about yourself." Then you tag 5 friends and list their names. The furries who get tagged need to write on their blogs about their 5 weird things/habits, as well as state this rule clearly, then tag 5 more victims. Don't forget to leave your victim a comment that says "you're tagged!" in their comments and tell them to read your blog. We've been tagged twice so all the dogs have made lists.

Fortune's weird things/habits:

1. I like to walk in circles... a lot
2. Santa is NOT my friend
3. When I want to play with Molson, I pull his tail and then run really fast...over and over again until he finally chases me.
4. I love to launch into the water to retrieve a ball and I won't come out of the water until I find it. A spare must be kept handy otherwise I swim in non-stop circles looking for the ball (Circles are my thing)
5. I sound like a Beagle when I bark (or so I've been told)

Lyric's
1. I don't want to come inside at night because I like to chase fireflies
2. I am a black Lab(with a few splashes of white) but in the sunlight I look like a dark chocolate Lab
3. I love to have my ears cleaned and teeth brushed
4. I am very uncoordinated when I play fetch
5. I like to pull Molson's tail. Unlike Fortune I stand there (running would take coordination)

Molson's list
1. I whine if my master is out of my sight
2. I don't like to swim-I have a "bad fur day" afterwards.
3. My canine teeth are worn down because I carry a tennis ball around just in case somebody wants to play with me.
4. When I was young I got car sick all the time. Just sitting in a car made me feel sick. Now I love to go for car rides
5. My tail used to be nice and fluffy

We've tagged:
Labtails, K9-Crazy, Working With Cindy, Brown Dog Adventures, Poppy the Hearing Dog

WAMBO

Don't ask me what it stands for-I have no idea! I do know it has something to do with antique boats, motorcycles and automobiles.

Lyric and I headed to the big metropolis of Wallaceburg-not usually a 'happening' place but it sure was yesterday. A handler had set up a booth promoting the organization I raise for, and it was only fitting Lyric and I attend since we are one of two families in the extreme southwestern part of Ontario who foster. There were three handlers with their dogs (a black Lab, a chocolate Lab and a Golden) and Lyric and I manning the table.

Lyric was absolutely amazing. She laid calmly beside the three 'working' dogs, didn't bat an eye when other dogs passed by and handled the crowded streets and sidewalks like a pro. Low flying airplanes didn't bother her at all, nor did the fire truck that went screaming past with siren blaring just as we were about to cross the street. At one point a little tyke, no more than 2 and a half approached and wanted to pet the doggie and 'horsie' (the golden retriever that was in harness and off limits). My three previous pups were kid crazy and would literally bend in half with tail wags and knock the kid over as they planted kiss upon kiss so I was somewhat apprehensive about how this would all go but I need not have worried. Lyric stood quietly and let the little guy pat her head, hug her and nuzzle close for a kiss which she offered up so gently I was stunned. The tyke offered her a cookie and it was incredible to watch this huge Labrador take the cookie from between his fingers without so much as a whisker touching him. I think everyone who witnessed that moment was in complete awe. Kid and Labrador laid on the ground and snuggled a bit before the mother had to pry him away.

It made me feel pretty darn good to read a handler's comment about Lyric "special thanks to Lyric who was a complete angel and behaved better than any other 10 month old pup i've ever seen. I know a few people who fell in love with her yesterday lol...." Lots of other people had postive comments about her as well.

Way to go Peanut!

3rd Annual Puppyfest

Luna, Essex, Lyric, Fortune, Trillium, Frites and Molson

We spent a week up at the cottage and had a wonderful time. The youngin's (Luna and Lyric) kept the oldies entertained and well exercised as they chased each other around the yard. The dogs went for hikes and boat rides, played fetch, swam, rested briefly and then started all over again.

The three amigos-Fortune, Lyric and Luna

At the end of the day, our gang of 7 gave new meaning to the term "dog tired" as they laid scattered around the livingroom sound asleep.

We had one funny little incident during our holiday. Elizabeth put the dogs to bed... my three in my room, Fran's in her room and her two in their usual place. She said Lyric was a bit hesitant to go into her crate (she's usually very good) but I didn't think any more about it and went to bed a while later. I got up the next morning, let everyone outside for a quick "hurry up" before breakfast and met up with Elizabeth who was outside chuckling away. It seems her night wasn't as restful as mine because Luna was making strange sounds during the night and would not settle on the puppy pillow beside Frites. In the morning light she discovered the dog in her room had a splash of white on her chest. Yes, indeed, the puppies had been mixed up. Imagine that!!!

Collars are taken off at night to dry out

FP #4 Lyric (AKA Peanut)

Lyric was born late in 2005. She arrived just in time to celebrate the holidays and Christmas Puppyfest at the cottage.

It was evident early on that Lyric was going to be one of my easiest, if not the easiest puppy to raise. She has been a calm, quiet and responsive puppy from day one. In fact, she's been so good that I often call her my little angel. She has her typical puppy moments but they are far and few between.

Lyric is very similiar to her sisterLuna, both in appearance and temperament. In fact, they are as identical as Eddie and Egan were. Thank goodness Lyric has a tiny white dash of fur on her chest and white patches on her paws (which definitely stand out) otherwise she may get lost in the sea of black Labs on recall day and during puppyfests at the cottage. There is no mistaking Lyric, that's for certain.

She's been a joy and I'm thankful to have been able to raise such a wonderful puppy. I can honestly say, other than playing too hard in the house (and one little incident in the spring), she has been a perfect puppy.

I dread her recall more than any I've experienced so far. Lyric wormed her way into my heart early on and it's going to be very, very difficult for me to say "See Ya".

Luna on left, Lyric on right (one month difference in age)