Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Betsy's dream life


**Disclaimer: That is not Betsy in the picture! Although, I'm sure she wishes it was!**


You can definitely see the retriever instincts in Betsy. If I am not holding onto her leash or touching her at all times she will go and find me something. She never chews it up, but she will bring me shoes, her food dish, pens, papers, book, basically anything she finds on the ground. After she has gotten her item she comes running back to me to show it off. She prances around in front of me until I ask her for the item. Then she immediately drops it in my hand. Or when she gets excited she grabs the closest thing to her to show you. Usually it's a bone or her dragline. When it's her dragline she is extra proud of herself, even though I have to take it away. Although it is not GDB approved, it is stinkin adorable! I am working on breaking the habit by encouraging her to carry around her toys instead of my things. 
A black lab running through the water with a dead duck in its mouth. There is white water flying up around it and its ears are flying back
Betsy would make an awesome service dog! You know, the ones that pick things up and carry them for disabled people. Unfortunately, GDB doesn't let us teach our dogs to carry our things. She would also rock at fetch! She loves to bring you anything and everything.
If she doesn't make it as a guide I can definitely see hunting in her future! 


Maddie and Betsy 

4 comments:

Beth and Alfie said...

That's cool! Alfie also has that natural retrieving urge...we're allowed to play fetch (no chasing, he has to wait for the release command) ... he loves it. Altho he doesn't carry stuff around as you describe Betsy doing.

It's interesting how that love of retrieving is such an inborn thing for some dogs! :-)

Cassie & The Dogs said...

She thinks she is a golden! Goldens are complete pain in the butts with that behavior! One of the main reasons I don't want another golden any time soon! Unless it is something that will hurt her or you will die without, I would totally ignore her when she does it (despite some cuteness being involved). ZERO attention! Empty mouth or appropriate toy is the only thing I would give her attention for. This is a behavior that drives me nutso! Good luck getting through it!

Cassie & The Dogs said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lisa and pups said...

aw - that's one of the fun things of having the option of them going to be service dogs too - we get to encourage that behavior! :D I've become so lazy with Ellie who is my big time retreiver! :D