Our family had a new addition this week. Joining Marcy, our wonderful Lab and a published writer in Bohemia (see issue Number one from July, 2011), Panguir Ban the giant cat and the true “King of the Household,” and Zoe, a purring machine which wakes me at all hours. Gretchen is a six-week old little girl, who really has a mind of her own. So far, she responds to her name, sort of comes when I call her, loves to climb like a monkey, eat grass like a cow, and already barks at her big sister, Marcy, who weighs about 5-6 times as much!
Gretchen
She did have an excusable accident the night we brought her home. Everyone was so excited at her arrival. Zoe keep an eye on Gretchen from her lofty perch on the back of the sofa, Marcy watched her, but growled at her approach, Panguir Ban simply ignored her.
Gretchen loves to carry sticks, even big ones, all over the back yard. She already knows that after she “does her business” in the yard, she heads straight for the back door. Once inside she tries to steal Marcy’s food, and gets a sharp bark warning her away.
Toes, tails, and tips of shoes are under constant attack. Gretchen is also ready to hunt big game. She thinks by walking in and out between our legs, she will bring down a giant beast so she can thoroughly lick our faces as only a Lab can.
We are trying to crate train her, and so far she loves to nap on her towel in the crate. She already sleeps through the night, thanks to a loudly ticking clock over the crate. She doesn’t go in – unless we put her in – but she doesn’t mind being there. This also gives us the opportunity to feed her puppy food without retaliatory raids on her food bowl by Marcy.
Gretchen is my fifth black Lab, and she is a handful like the other two puppies I raised, but she is adorable, and I know we will have a long and happy time together.
Gretchen and her big sister, Marcy
January 26, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Puppies are a handful and completely worth it. We might be getting one soon too!