For those of you who read this blog for the gardening adventures, please don’t be discouraged. Yes, I did have a change of topic with my list of great things about Maui, and yes, this is about my wonderful Labrador Retriever, but I will get back to gardens, gardening, and garden clubs soon.
Picking up the baby, February 15, 2003
On Tuesday, December 21, Holly the chocolate lab will be 7. She is ‘Holly’ because she was born so close to Christmas. She was nearly Blitzen and I’m very glad I abandoned that ridiculous idea. I still remember clearly the day we went to go and get her at White Robin Kennels in Princeton. These guys are excellent breeders and we were keen to have a puppy from Maximillan and Chocolate Sundae because our very good friends had a puppy from the same combination from the previous year and their pup, Maggie, is a wonderful dog.
When we went into Cindy, the breeder’s, kitchen there were two chocolate lab puppies in a big Tupperware sort of container. Both were females and we could choose one or the other. Holly just looked at me and I was hooked. I’m sure the other pup is the light of someone else’s life, but I knew Holly was my pup at first sight.
We knew we had a special dog when we drove with her in my lap all the way from Princeton to Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island with only one stop for a pee. We did stop in North Van so my parents could meet the new additon. Did I tell you my family are dog nuts? Holly just snuggled in on my lap, slept most of the way or looked out the window in contentment.
Mom welcoming Holly to the family.
From that first day to this, that dog has been a joy and a delight. Think I’m crazy? Honest, there is nothing that dog wouldn’t do to make us happy and I am genuinely delighted to come downstairs every morning and see her wagging her tail off glad to see me for one more day.
Like all Labs, she took to water like a duck. She was only 12 weeks old when we went to visit a friend who lives on Shawnigan Lake. It was March and it was cold but when the friend’s much bigger and shaggier dog jumped off the dock to get a ball, Holly went right in after her! She was just a little pup when she had her first canoe ride. Sat down (we did bring a chewie with us) and didn’t rock the boat once. She’s since had thousands of canoe and power boat rides and she’s calm and loves it.
Canoeing on Shawnigan Lake
Am I gorgeous, or what?
From the moment we got Holly, she embraced every aspect of our semi-rural life. We life on just under 2 acres and she knows every square inch. A fairly large stream runs through the property and she patrols for anything interesting constantly. We also have a man made pond which isn’t the greatest swimming hole, but she goes in if her ball goes in.
Well, she is a ‘retriever’ after all. Even as a very small pup and right up to this day, if you will throw it, she’ll go and get it. She’s had a few surgeries for cruciate problems so she can’t last as long as she used to, but if you throw a stick or a ball, she’s all over it.
I call her my $10,000 dog, but I don’t regret one cent. Holly is one of those dogs who fusses if her skin is a little itchy, will get something in her eye, or her ear at the drop of a hat, and if there is an opportunity to scratch her ears off, she’ll do it. Throughout it all, though, she is calm and patient, and so what if I have a pharmacy in my desk drawer for all of Holly’s little ailments?
Close to Holly’s second birthday we surprised her with a companion. It came in the form of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and poor Holly’s life has never been the same. Ivy (well, it had to be Ivy, didn’t it?) Holly and Ivy…..get it?? took one look at Holly upon arriving and was in permanent love. I imagine she thought Holly was her mother or sister. Holly rolled her eyes and really has been doing ever since. The two breeds are dramatically different. Corgis are inquisitive, bold, high-energy and love to herd. Labs apparently put up with all of that.
Always provide labs with something to chew...
Ivy terrorizing Holly.....but Holly never bites back.
Not only has Holly never once harmed Ivy (although from time to time she puts a much bigger paw on her to stop her from too much rough-housing), she has endured her tail being chewed and constantly herding. This involves Ivy nipping at Holly’s heels plus occasionally trying a big run at her to direct her in another direction. Still, Holly remains steady and kind. Holly does, however, not permit any messing with her food and whatever she said to Ivy on the first day must have been effective because Ivy defers to Holly completely in terms of food distribution!
To be honest, I have never, ever seen Holly bare her teeth. Ever. We walk every day, often on trails where we don’t encounter anyone, but often when we meet several dogs along the way. Holly mostly ignores them all and she never really becomes engaged in the exchange or bum sniffs unless she suspects Ivy may need help. Having said that, Holly thinks Ivy is OK, Ivy loves Holly. It isn’t a perfect balance.
But Holly loves Maggie. Maggie’s owner and I have debated this endlessly, but I seriously doubt the dogs know that they are sisters, much less the same breed. But, they are genuinely happy to see one another, are pleased to sprawl all over one another in front of the fire, and are happy to share everything…even food (with some exceptions).
See how alike they are?
Holly on the left, Maggie on the right
Both are best described as mild-mannered dogs. They get to see each other fairly regularly as we switch off looking after each other’s dogs when we go on vacation. Its not an even switch as I have two dogs and she has one, but it seems to work out and the dogs love it fine.
Like just about everyone else on the planet, I read Marley and Me a few years ago. It’s an excellent book that isn’t just about a dog and I surely loved the book much better than the movie. In the biggest stretch of my imagination I wouldn’t have seen either empty-headed Jennifer Aniston or suicidal Owen Wilson as the lead characters, but that’s Hollywood, I guess.
After finishing the book, however, I had a great urge to write the author, John Grogan, and patiently and urgently explain that his Lab was a freak. The type of dog that pulls cement tables over, chews insulation and takes food off the counter has NOTHING to do with my Holly and, I expect, most of the Labs in the world. Holly wouldn’t even dream of doing any of the above. We had to discipline her a little about chewing things up – although we provide chewy things so she doesn’t do it anymore – and a bit about food. Which brings me close to the end of this love letter to Holly……………..
Just to remind you, Holly is a Lab. She will eat anything. Dirt’s good, cardboard, plastic, ah well………….anything. I have hundreds of stories about Holly and her food obsession. Here are two of the best……
Last year, in her sixth year, Holly’s best dream came true. We were hosting an intimate dinner party to honour my Mom and Dad’s 60th wedding anniversary in early August. We kind of went all out. A very special table setting, 18 guests, fancy flowers and steaks for everyone. (Dad’s favourite meal by a long shot is steak) We have a beautiful outside patio we call the Parthenon and we set it up complete with music from the speakers………..you get the picture.
My husband is a great cook. It’s a hobby, not his profession, but he’s known far and wide for his cooking skills. He had carefully seasoned the steaks and set them on the barbecue ledge. He was in the kitchen working on other parts of the meal and I was ensuring everyone had a drink (I know, role reversal, another topic for another day). Somehow no one noticed that the shelf on the barbecue was exactly Lab nose high.
To make a long story short, we were one steak short when it came time to do the cooking. We were certain it had been taken when the T-bone bone was found on the lawn. My husband and I chastised Holly and called her a ‘bad dog’. She looked at us with a big grin on her face as much to say ‘I’ve waited six years for this and if you are stupid enough to put steaks at my level, I’m going to eat at least one!. ‘ We all laughed and refer to it often.
The second best only happened this month. We returned from Maui and I had purchased some dried starfish to decorate our Christmas table a la the seashore that we all love so much. I took the starfish out of their package and set a few of them around to compliment the Christmas balls and greenery.
While I was sitting at my computer doing my day job (I’m a social media recruiting consultant for retailers) I heard a crunching sound and was barely able to save the third starfish from Holly. She had eaten two others………..sigh. Over the years we have snuck leftovers off the edge of the kitchen table, eaten shells on the beach, rolled in a dead seal and then eaten………whew, enough information!
Holly in the forest at 4 years old
Holly, like every dog on the planet with the possible exception of Paris Hilton’s purse dog, loves to go walking. She passed as head of her class in a set of beginner, medium and advanced obedience classes and is entirely reliable when you walk her on the lead or call her to come. Except, of course, if there is something edible or gross on the path and then we will risk all ends of disapproval to either eat or investigate.
Like every dog owner – whether you own a hunting dog or a purse dog – I love my dogs excessively. On rare occasions I worry about my state of mind when they pass. But today, this blog is for Holly. For her lovely loving nature, her patience, her sense of fun, and her steadfast companionship. (Holly pines when I leave on a business trip or vacation, the corgi couldn’t give a hoot). I’ve often heard ‘there is nothing quite like a Lab’. Well, the corgi may dispute that, but I’d be inclined to agree.
Two labs and a corgi waiting for apres walk biskie
My beautiful Holly
Gardening in Cobble Hill 