We have had Lucy for six weeks now. If she were in
school it would be about time for a report card. Hmmm. Let’s see now, I wonder
what that report card would look like?
Gets along well with others. A
Follows instructions. B+
Exercises self-control. C-
Respects the furniture of others. A
Bathroom etiquette. A-
Table manners. A+
Respects landscaping in the backyard when left to roam
freely. F-
Exudes self-confidence upon introduction to new
things. F-
Yes, this amazing puppy only seems to have three
flaws. The first involves her reaction upon meeting guests in our home. It’s as
if she has been transported to the world headquarters of Dog Ecstasy Inc. She
becomes overjoyed to the point of hysteria. It takes her a full five minuets to
calm down from death-com level five to mere annoyance level two.
Lucy’s second flaw is her world class skittishness. I’ve
spoken about this before and it has gotten better. Just the other day an acorn
fell and she did NOT jump a foot in the air in response. But she still flees in
terror at the introduction of anything larger than a breadbox into the room.
Poor thing has a particular problem with the color black, so I suppose I now
own my second consecutive racist retriever.
The last flaw
with Lucy is a new one for us. None of our two previous Goldens suffered
with the predilection for…digging. Yes, Lucy enjoys nothing quite so much as a
vigorous digging session in the back yard. This is especially lovely when it
has recently rained and she presents herself at the backdoor to be let back in,
her front paws covered in mud. Of course the problem is catching her in the
act. When we are with her she doesn’t dig. So, I open the floor to anyone who
has dealt with an excavating dog before for any suggestions for how we can
break her of this habit. My only idea is to pick her favorite dig spot and
place a pressure sensitive, spring loaded boxing glove down in the hole and let
her have at it! I figure that getting unexpectedly punched in the nose by a BLACK boxing glove might do the trick,
but I’m sure that modern dog behavior theory would be appalled at such
brutality. So, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Lucy isn’t perfect,
but she’s awfully close. We love her to pieces.
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