Dogs Don't Look Both Ways

How much do you know about your dog’s breed?  How much do you know about your dog’s family tree? Why do you think dogs were bred to be hunters and fishers? You can learn about your dog’s nature by learning about his breed and his family tree.

While I’m recuperating, I thought I’d tell you a little something about my family tree.

First, I’m a Labrador Retriever. Labrador Retrievers have a nickname, “Fisherman’s Friend” and a look at our paws shows that our toes are webbed!  Our powerful tail, which on me is usually wagging, is used to steer us when we are swimming.  Labrador Retrievers were also bred to be used in hunting: We would retrieve, or bring back, the small animal such as a bird to our owner. Fisherman from Newfoundland, in Canada, first brought us to Great Britain in the 1830′s and there we became known as “Labrador Retrievers”.

I was born in Connecticut in 1999.  My father was Buckfold Classical Sir and he was British.  He was classified “Junior Hunter”, a champion hunting dog.  I have many championship hunters from my father’s side, such as my father’s grandfather Bradking Cassidy, and his great- grandfather Armadha Mad Hatter and his-great-grandmother, Bradking Black Charm,and her parents Follytower Merry Brook Black Stormer and Bradking Bonny My Girl, and not to forget my great-great-great grandfather Charway Ballywill Will, and my great-great-great-great-grandmother, the famous Sandylands Tandy, on and on it goes, back and back in time to the great Banchory Bolo.

My mother was Cocoa and she was American.  I loved her. She was my mother.

In my litter, things were doing just fine. I had brothers and sisters born with me! My mother was only 3 or 4 years old when I was born.  However, while I was still a little puppy, my mom got sick and died.

All of us brothers and sisters found new homes and parents to love and take care of us.  Fortunately, Phil came along and brought me to his home and I had a whole new human family, with two parents and a sister who loved and love me very much.

Here’s a funny story about how my littermate sister and I met by chance one day:  One day Jane and I were together, she was bringing me to a kennel for a few days, and in the lobby a she saw another chocolate Labrador Retriever that looked just like me and she went up to her parents and asked, “Where was your dog born?” and “How old is your dog?” and it turned out that this was my sister and littermate! You see, Rosie, one of my Labrador Retriever sisters, lives in my town and finally, after  9 -1/2 years, we were in the same place at the same time.

You can see, in the photo to the right, how we have a family resemblance.

Since that day, Rosie’s mom and my mom Jane have been communicating.  They want to get together with us two Labrador Retrievers and we will all take a walk together when I get better and am allowed to walk for longer distances and to be around other dogs!

Here’s a funny story about how my sister and I met by chance one day:  One day Jane and I were together, and she saw another chocolate Labrador Retriever that looked just like me and she went up to her parents and asked, “Where was your dog born?” and “How old is your dog?” and it turned out that this was my sister and littermate! You see, Rosie, one of my Labrador Retriever sisters, lives in my town and finally, after 9 -1/2 years, we were in the same place at the same time

You can see, in the photos of Rosie both to the left and right, how we have a family resemblance. We even have the same grey hairs!

Since then, my sister’s mom and my mom Jane have been communicating.  They want to get together with us two Labrador Retrievers and we will all take a walk together when I get better and am allowed to walk for longer distances!

I have a lot to look forward to.