We're at a forest preserve which requires dogs to be leashed. I've got 120' of light rope attached to Tessa's harness (which the forest preserve police tell me is an acceptable interpretation of their rules).
I throw a tennis ball. Tessa bounds after it, catches it, covers the ball with dog slobber, and brings it back to me. We repeat this over and over and over again, and like a typical 2 year-old lab, Tessa gives every indication she could keep playing fetch all day.
Then, just as I release the tennis ball, two deer step out of the woods. If Tessa doesn't reach the tennis ball before it stops bouncing, the ball will probably end up within ten feet of the deer.
I change my stance slightly so that when Tessa starts running after the deer I can maybe keep my feet under me as she jerks my arm and dislocates my shoulder.
"Tessa, COME!" I yell, knowing full well that we're not that far along in her training.
Sure enough, she ignores my call. Then, with single-minded determination, Tessa lunges for the tennis ball, catches it, and sprints back to me.
Ahhh, Labs - you gotta love 'em, don't you?
I'm Rob Fish. In addition to Tessa, the two-year old Chocolate Lab puppy, I've got three kids and five grandkids. I also get to dog-sit my daughter's two dogs from time to time. I have a small, family-run business, and live in Ohio. I am, without a doubt, a "dog person." To mangle a Will Rogers quote a bit, I've never met a dog I didn't like.
I throw a tennis ball. Tessa bounds after it, catches it, covers the ball with dog slobber, and brings it back to me. We repeat this over and over and over again, and like a typical 2 year-old lab, Tessa gives every indication she could keep playing fetch all day.
Then, just as I release the tennis ball, two deer step out of the woods. If Tessa doesn't reach the tennis ball before it stops bouncing, the ball will probably end up within ten feet of the deer.
I change my stance slightly so that when Tessa starts running after the deer I can maybe keep my feet under me as she jerks my arm and dislocates my shoulder.
"Tessa, COME!" I yell, knowing full well that we're not that far along in her training.
Sure enough, she ignores my call. Then, with single-minded determination, Tessa lunges for the tennis ball, catches it, and sprints back to me.
Ahhh, Labs - you gotta love 'em, don't you?
I'm Rob Fish. In addition to Tessa, the two-year old Chocolate Lab puppy, I've got three kids and five grandkids. I also get to dog-sit my daughter's two dogs from time to time. I have a small, family-run business, and live in Ohio. I am, without a doubt, a "dog person." To mangle a Will Rogers quote a bit, I've never met a dog I didn't like.
