Lab Work

28. August 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Ginger Snaps, Special Events · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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With Labor Day coming up, I got to thinking.

For most of us, Labor Day is a “bonus day,” as I like to call them. These are days when most of us (present company excluded) get to spend the whole day with our Moms and/or Dads when normally we wouldn’t be able to because they have to work.

This got me thinking about the love we share with our working Moms and Dads and the love they have for us. Even though working Moms and Dads might not have as much time to spend with us, their love is no less than those who don’t work.

Love (so I have heard) is a two-way street.

Some of us fellow dogs and Labs, like our Moms and Dads, also work.

Many of us work as Guide, Hearing, Service, and Therapy Dogs. Our “work” is to be dedicated and loyal and to help those who are sick, lonely, and helpless. Our job goes far beyond helping and making their lives easier, for we also provide them our friendship and unconditional love.

There are some of us who work (and whose work is often forgotten) on farms as herding dogs or as Livestock Guardians.

Lest we forget to mention our fellow dogs who would lay down their lives for us and our Moms and Dads. Dogs who do anything and everything asked of them and never waver. Those who guard and protect–search and rescue dogs, detection and police dogs, fire station dogs, and the military dogs of our Armed Forces.

The love working dogs share with their human companions, co-workers, fellow servicemen, and all the rest, and vice-versa, truly is a Labor of Love. See, I told you love is a two-way street. That said, what better way to give back to your loving human, or, if you are a human reading this, then to give back to your loving dog, then to participate in Labrador Life Line’s annual fundraiser the Labour of Love Auction  (quite fitting, don’t you think?)

The auction starts August 31st and runs through September 15th.

I’d like to conclude my blog with the following. The author is not known (I’d like to think it may have been a Lab, or if not a Lab, a fellow dog writer.)

Until the next time…

Love, Ginger

A Working Dog’s Oath
I will lay down my life for you
and expect nothing but love in return.
I protect my officer with my life,
and would gladly take a bullet in his place.
I am sent in to find lost children
and fugitives on the run.
I find drugs and weapons and even bombs.
I am the first sent in
and sometimes the last to leave.
I am the nose and ears of my officer.
I will protect and serve him.
I would die for him and for you.
I only ask for compassion and a kind word.

Things That Made Me Smile

20. August 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Did You Know? · Tags: , , , , , ,
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Trying to come with a topic for this week’s blog, my mind started to think of my yellow Lab Ginger. This Wednesday it will be six months since I lost her and she crossed over Rainbow Bridge. Anyway, while reading some fun doggie facts I read this: did you know…94% of pet owners say their pet makes them smile more than once a day? After I read that, I knew I had my topic for this week’s blog.

I closed my eyes and focused all my attention and energy on Ginger and my black Lab Shadow. Before long, I was remembering all the good times I had shared with them both. Before long, the tears came, but so did the smiles.

I first remembered Shadow sleeping in what I affectionately called the “cockroach position.” This entailed her sleeping on her back with all four paws sticking straight up in the air. I was always amazed how she never fell over. I also recalled how she would always tilt her head from side to side (what I called the listen look) whenever you spoke to her.

The memories soon came of Ginger. The memory that made me smile the most was remembering how she knew all of the names of her toys. Whenever I bought one for her, I would name it, and “introduce” it to Ginger. For the first week or so, that new toy was played with exclusively with the name being said often. The other memory that made me smile was when I bought her booties one year for her birthday/Christmas (her b-day was on Christmas Eve.) Living in the middle of Lake Effect Snow Country, we tend to get a lot of snow here, so I thought it would be fun to buy her some booties. So, we both got down on the kitchen floor and I strapped them to her paws. Well, the poor thing got up and looked like a person who had never stepped on an ice rink. With all four paws going every direction, she never was able to walk in those.

It is because of the love shared with Shadow and Ginger that I applied to become a member of Labrador Life Line.

So, how about you? What are some of the things your dog does that puts a smile on your face?

Until the next time….smile.

Wendy

Still want even more Lab? Click here to subscribe to Labrador Life Line’s newsletter Lab Gab.

 

 

That Makes “Sense”

15. August 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Did You Know? · Tags: , , , , , , ,
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While trying to think of something to write about for this week’s blog, I stumbled upon this interesting tidbit of information. Did you know that a puppy is born blind, deaf, and toothless? After reading this, I was curious to learn more about each of a dog’s five senses. Below is an interesting fact about each of a dog’s five senses.

So, without further ado…

A dog may be able to assist the visually impaired person, but did you know a person standing still 300 yards away is almost invisible to a dog? However, the same dog can easily identify its owner standing a mile away if his/her owner is waving his/her arms.

Most dog owners know that their furry friend can sense a thunderstorm long before it comes. Did you know dogs can hear sounds four times farther away than a human can?

Many people have reported that their dog somehow “knew” they were sick long before their doctor ever told them. Did you know dogs are able to detect cancer that is too small to be detected by a doctor? Additionally, did you know dogs can also detect lung cancer by sniffing a person’s breath?

Okay, we know that all dogs love to eat (especially if it is table scraps.) However, when it comes to taste, humans beat out dogs. Did you know dogs have about 1,700 taste buds while we have approximately 9,000.

We all know nothing makes us feel better when we are feeling down than when our dog places their head in our lap. Did you know touch is the first sense developed in dogs?

Okay, personally I would like to add a sixth sense. The uncanny ability of dogs to know when we are in need of sponge to soak up our tears. Or the inner alarm clock that tells them to wake us with that cold, wet nose. There many, many more of these “sixth senses” that all our dogs possess. These are just a couple of my favorites, but how about you? Share with us some of your dog’s “sixth senses” that you enjoy the most.

Until the next time,

Wendy

No Lab? Click HERE to get Labrador Life Line’s monthly e~newsletter Lab Gab.

“Pet” Names

11. August 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Did You Know? · Tags: , , , , , ,
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Okay, after much deliberation, you and your family have finally settled on the perfect pooch for your family. If you thought that was hard now the hard part–picking out his/her name. Want to avoid the same old names like Brandy or Fido that everyone else uses? Here are a few ideas to get you started in finding that perfect name for your precious pup.

Top 10. Want to see how trendy your possible name is check out your possible name choices on statisticbrain. With information provided by the American Kennel Club, the site lists the top ten dog names for the past year for both sexes.

Does he or she have “the look?” Take a long look at your pup. What feature(s) stand out to you? Is it the color of her fur? Maybe it is his size that stands out to you.

“Pet” names. More times than not, the cutest nicknames turn out to be the best pet names. This is how I almost came up with Ginger’s (my yellow Lab–who many of you know blogs occasionally on here) name. Growing up I always called our family dog my best “pal.” Eventually, the name became Pal Pal. While, it never did make to the final cut for any of my dogs’ names when I got older, it does adorn the license plate on my car.

Me and my Shadow. Okay, this one I actually did use. For my black Lab Shadow. During her first few, nameless days with me, she followed me everywhere. I always would joke that she was my “Shadow.” Thus, she now had a name.

Still can’t decide? Let’s hear from you! What is your dog’s name and how did you pick it?

Until next time,

Wendy

 

Got Lab? If not, click HERE and subscribe to Labrador Life Line’s monthly newsletter Lab Gab.

 

Color My World

03. August 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Did You Know? · Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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Did you know…contrary to popular belief, dogs aren’t colorblind! In fact, dogs can see in color, just not as well as humans do. While the debate of whether or not Fido sees color may be over, the debate now is which colors they can detect and decipher. A 2008 Psychology Today article reported that, like many humans, dogs tend to be dichromatic (or red-green colorblind.)

What does this all mean?

It means that you may want to buy more blue and yellow toys, and less red and green toys.

Doggie toys, clothes (for humans and dogs), treats, and much, much more will be up for bid soon. Starting on August 31st, Labrador Life Line’s yearly Labour of Love Auction kicks into full gear with all proceeds going to purebred Labs in need of medical care and treatment. More details to come….

Until the next time…play hard…and safe!!

Wendy

Still need more Lab? Click HERE to subscribe to Labrador Life Line’s monthly e~newsletter Lab Gab.