Then I Saw Your Face...Now I'm A Retriever!

Hello!

Both of my fur-suited helpers have been retrievers. Kind of like double-duty retrievers at that~ half yellow lab, half golden retriever. The hybrid dog sites have christened them 'golden labs'. This cross is an on-purpose type of thing. With a cross between lab and golden, you get the strength and stamina of a labrador and the unparalled empathy and personality of a golden. Separately Goldens and Labs also are used as service dogs, but labs are very strong and must be kept on a strict diet regimen. Like me, they never met a food they didn't like. Goldens tend to take the weight of the world on their doggie shoulders and are easily hurt emotionally if their handler is unintentionally interpreted by them as being upset. By crossing the two breeds, you get the best of both.

This picture is of Jet, who loved to retrieve my freshly washed neck pillow. Frax has kept up the tradition of retrieving the neck pillow, but with a twist. If he feels I need help, and my hubby is in a different part of the house, he scoops up the neck pillow 'a la Jet' above, and scampers up to Bill 'talking' in his yodeling voice. Jet was a traditionalist, giving a classic 'alert' with his nose flipping up Bill's hand, or if he was very serious about things, a good swat to the chest with a paw!

This is a perfect illustration of how each dog applied his creativity to assist me on a day to day basis. It amazes me still the difference in personalities....each approaches a problem with a different 'spin' if you will, or insight. The neat thing is, it always works out flawlessly to help me. I am one lucky girl.

Later.

LV, FX & JT

#retrieving #servicedogalert