Hi Everyone! I have been reading the Labrador site since my little girl was born. Mocha is now 18 months. (yes she is a choc lab) She is from the working line. I've consulted the site from time to time but I never looked into the forum. I didn't know the resources I was missing out on. I have now read every single thread under Behavior and I am working now on training. I love Pippa's book Total Recall and it is like my bible for dogs. Besides the recall itself, I have gleaned how my dog was rewarding herself and had way more points than me as to importance, so this has changed and we are very close now. I don't mind hitting challenging road blocks. It keeps you growing and brings you and your baby closer together. I've made plenty of mistakes and trained for 3 months with an old school trainer who punished. I was naive but it never felt right in my gut. She was/is addicted to footballs and I was feeling absolutely desperate. I am trying to heal and correct the damage done during this time. I'm 55 years old tomorrow and since I am a long distance open water swimmer, a labrador works well with my life style. Though we live in a city, there are plenty of forests and parks for our dogs and the doggies are well socialized. now and then a nut job crosses your path, but it works out pretty well. Many of us have built a social network and we help each other out and our dogs love to play together. I look forward to getting to know some of you better. Thank you for all of your advice and stories that have lifted me up and carried me to higher levels of understanding and brought me closer to my dog.
Welcome, lovely to have people from other countries. Glad the forum helped, it is a great place to go and get help and reassurance.
Hello and welcome! I also have a football addicted Chocolate Labrador! (When I say 'addicted' I mean he is seriously obsessive. Not just your average Labrador just being extremely keen on footballs ). I also have a yellow girl who, so far, is very much more conveniently addicted to food.
Hello and a very warm welcome to the forum from me, Willow and Shadow. We'd love to see photos of Mocha!
I know Julie! I read your funny comment about once a ball.oholic always a ball-oholic. Loved it. You become such an expert about quality balls.
Hi and welcome from me and Harley. Look forward to hearing lots about yourself and Mocha Happy birthday for tomorrow
Welcome Dawn Treader from me and big Pongo in south Wales! (Dawn Treader ..... do I detect a fan of Narnia?)
Rosie, I think in my head in long swims that I am a special and magical ship, which will reach its destination.
