Niques

The only permanent no-go zone is the bathrooms. He'll steal any underwear off the floor and go in the shower and gets wet paws.

A few of the carpeted rooms are kept with doors shut when not in use simply so he doesn't get up to any mischief, but he's allowed in under supervision.

Sort of. Others refer to me as his Mum but I don't say "Come to Mummy" or things like that'. I'm not sure if he actually connects me with the word "Mum". It doesn't get said all that often.

Although he frequently gets called "Baby boy". And if my family are around him then they get referred to from his perspective - Grandma, Uncle Andrew, etc.

Never seen a reaction like it from James. It woke him up and those ears were cocked to within an inch of their life. It was very much confused interest but he came over and sniffed the computer and didn't leave it - his interest in online dog barks is comparatively much milder.

Yeah, I just youtubed some barking dogs and he hasn't moved from his resumed nap. His coyote interest isn't as strong the second time around but it still got him up and looking.

Other. He generally stays on the back deck. Technically he has access to the yard but he won't go down the stairs.

If I'm only popping out for a little bit and he's already in the yard then he's left out there.

James is called many things:

Bear (including Baby Bear)

Puppy/Pup

Jamie (-Bear, -Boy)

Jam

Smelly Bum/Dog

Baby Boy

A woman in a dog park once started calling him Jimmy. She was then concerned that he wouldn't listen to her. I couldn't get the "wtf" expression off my face long enough to explain that he's a DOG and doesn't know that Jimmy is a diminuitive of James :laugh:

James didn't go to the vet until he was 10 or 11 weeks, but he walked in. The plan was to carry him but he was extremely excited and squirmy so that plan sort of went out the window after 2 seconds.

I know both hazel and brown are accepted eye colours, but in terms of frequency, are chocolates prone to having lighter coloured eyes? I don't know if it's lighting, coat contrast, coincidence or what, but many of the chocolates I've seen in photos (I've only met a couple in person) appear to have hazel (and sometime even fairer shades than that) eyes.

To me there is a genetic marker with this colour they tend to be more so crazy then your average lab.. As discussed there is a reason why guide dogs don't have them in the mix.. I loved the boy I was showing but never again would I go chocolate..

We had a chocolate guide dog puppy attend some of our puppy preschool classes.

I had a look at this breeder's website. They're amazingly seal-like dogs - would be a little more interesting seeing them if they weren't carrying so much weight. And "rare short thick otter tail" (my bolding) is bewildering.

Sounds very steep. I paid $1200 two years ago for an 8 week old black boy. If I were currently in the market, I probably wouldn't pay more than $1500, let alone $3500. There are plenty of good labrador pups out there.

My Labrador seldom jumped in his. It leaned rather perilously on the odd occasion that he did, but never fell so I wouldn't think that a Cav could tip one but I'd be training him not to jump up, just in case, and go off his behaviour when deciding whether he can be trusted alone in it.

My boy is now 2 years old and still sleeps in his at night (if he's not in my bedroom) and knows not to jump - at his size now, it would easily topple if he tried. One thing to take into consideration is their ability to push the pen around - I used to brace mine with old roof tiles and a rock or two to stop him dragging it about.

I have a laptop so I'm usually on the couch. James has trained me to throw toys whilst using the computer; you only need one hand to use a computer. On the other hand, I've finally trained him to return the toys within arm's reach (and to pick it up and try again if it rolls away). We have a system

Aside from Labrador (stocky, "show" type), of course.

Scottish Deerhound

Rough Collie

Giant Schnauzer

Airedale Terrier

Chow Chow

Generally in my bedroom, either on or under my bed. If it's hot (e.g. last night) I put him in his pen in the garage where it's cooler.

Dawn is adorable!

I didn't attempt Christmas photos last year and now I know why - keeping a Santa hat on is hard!!

Not impressed:

I suspect I'm a little allergic to his saliva - face licking always leaves me itchy.

I don't tend to limit his licking a great deal. Prolonged facial licking is undesirable but he rarely does it unless he's decided to pounce on you. I'm trying to teach him "give a kiss" at the moment. And foot licking is much too tickly.

As a general species, I don't particularly like cats. I can quite easily grow fond of individual cats but those feelings don't transfer to my opinion of the general population.

Yellow, I would think.

Toys:

Italian Greyhound

Bichon Frise

Miniature Pinscher

Terriers:

Airedale Terrier

Irish Terrier

West Highland White Terrier

Gundogs:

Labrador Retriever

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Welsh Springer Spaniel

Hounds:

Deerhound

Basenji

Borzoi

Working Dogs:

Rough Collie

German Shepherd

Old English Sheepdog

Utility:

Samoyed

Kangal

Bernese Mountain Dog

Non-Sporting:

Shar Pei

Standard Poodle

Great Dane

Twice a day. Dry food in a treat ball for breakfast and bones for dinner.

Baby James:

Baby James @ Home:

James @ 7 months

James @ 15 months (I think?)

Current James (just shy of 2 years)

I think it certainly depends on the dog. I am of very little value to my dog outside the house. Anything is more interesting to him than me. Ignoring his "requests" inside the home environment leads to a drastic improvement in how much he will respond to me outside. As I want control over his behaviour both at and away from home then he's not allowed to have to every whim fulfilled right when he wants it to be.

If you are still able to call the shots whilst permitting their requests and that works for you then I don't see a problem.

Aww, I'm still waiting on a pre-free shipping order that was posted on the 19th. And the neighbours have had two separate delivery trucks already today which keep getting my hopes up.

What I've never understood is when people say they have a Labrador X Retriever. I've heard a few of those! So I tend to ask them if they have a Lab Retriever X GR or ?

Generally its a Labrador x Golden Retriever...or more commonly these days...a golden labradore

You get some who think you have a cross when you say you own a Labrador Retriever. There are a fair few out there who don't realise the full name of a Labrador Retriever! But I never actually say I own Labrador Retrievers I own Labs, good enough for me!

I've not yet been able to work out why things like pet insurance and council rego drop-down breed lists have both Labrador and Labrador Retriever. I mean, I know my dog is a Labrador Retriever, but if I mark it as such are they going to think it's a Lab x Golden?? I've spent too much time pondering this question

That is very cute! He is such a handsome dog -- makes me want a giant breed.

How thick/puncture resistant are the iSqueak balls? Along the same lines as the Cuz toys?