labrador

Lab of Love. Steals My Heart Every Morning.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Lab of Love. Steals My Heart Every Morning.

The minute I open the bedroom door, this is the face that I get to see. The one that steals my heart each and every morning.

This is the place that Kylie reserves for her morning ritual – her own sanctuary of zen in the wee early morning hours sitting upon the over-sized burgundy chair in the living room.

A place she waits patiently as John makes a pot of coffee. Once he is ready to put his work boots on, he gently squeezes in next to Kylie in the chair built for two – a Lab and her papa.

This is what she waits for all morning. One-on-one with John as he rubs her ears and strokes her fur — and an ever deepening love that passes back and forth between them in those precious, suspended-in-time moments.

A Lab and her papa. A love like no other.

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Kylie: The Helper Dog

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_2228 eIn case you are new to following my online journal, in fun, I sometimes refer to my husband, John, as the Gingerbread man when he is all bundled up in his winter bib overalls and coat which is a ginger color. And Kylie, normally a strawberry colored Lab in the summer, her coat turns almost the same ginger color as John’s bibs and coat during the winter months. Hence, the reference below as Gingerbread man and Gingerbread dog.

The Gingerbread dog has very important tasks at the end of each day. Rain, snow, or sleet, she is needed.

Her job—assist the Gingerbread man.

Being a Gingerbread man running his own construction business of remodeling Gingerbread houses, this calls for an attentive assistant.

One that can be at his side to help haul materials from the Gingerbread work shed to the Gingerbread van.

Kylie, the Gingerbread dog must be on her toes, ready to assist and give a lending paw.

So you see, this is the idea of the Gingerbread man.

But the Gingerbread dog has other plans.

This should come as no surprise when you are a Labrador.

There is no time to assist the Gingerbread man who is struggling through the snow to carry work horses.

Oh no! Gingerbread dog must sniff the ground, burying her snout deep, to sniff out intruders that come upon our land.

Then she must fall to the ground, rub her head in some disgusting dropping left from the intruder as the Gingerbread man tries to stop her. The operative word here being tries.

But Gingerbread man loses…. every. single. time.

Gingerbread dog, happy with leaving her scent behind to stop the intruders and let them know this is her territory, trots off down the path, full of happiness that only a Lab can know.

Gingerbread man shakes his head in disgust, but also smiles, for the love of a dog who is his best friend.

The Tail that Didn’t Wag.

Posted by Barbara Techel

kylie nov 2014

When we brought Kylie home as a young pup from a breeder over nine years ago, it wasn’t until several weeks later that John and I realized we had not seen her wag her tail.

It would take a few months before she would wag her tail. We really have no idea why this was.

I recall one day Kylie pushing her way through John’s legs while he was standing in the kitchen. We would come to realize over the months that this is a sign of affection from her. But as she grew and is so strong, you best be prepared when she pushes her way through at knee high level to make sure you hold your ground.

She would never mean to push anyone over, but her zealous way in which showing her love can have you toppling over if you are not careful.  I remember one day when she did this to John and we’d not yet seen her wag her tail. As she stood between John’s legs waiting for a butt rub, he picked up her back end and moved it back and forth encouraging her in a fun way saying, “This is how you wag your tail, Kylie.”

I don’t recall exactly when her tail finally did wag for the first time, but I do remember it happening as both John and I saw it and we excitedly said, “You wagged your tail, Kylie!”

Now it is a fun game with her. Just this morning as she lay on her bed in the kitchen I sat down next to her as my water was heating up for my tea. I pet her for awhile and then said what I’ve come to say often to her as a game, “Does your tail work today Kylie? Does it work?”

Just the tip of her tail will come slightly off the ground, wagging just a wee bit. Then the more I say, “Does your tail work today? Oh, I think I see it working!” it begins to wag bigger and faster.

It is such a sweet time with her and such a fun little game that we play and I relish in these precious moments with her.