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Tucker's Story.......so far

New Sister!

Tucker got a big surprise a couple of weeks ago....a little sister. We'd decided to add another lab, and found a local labrador breeder who had some pups available. We picked one that's five months old, brought her home, and named her Tipper. She's a little gem, a great puppy!

Tucker didn't quite know what to make of all this, but he's been just great. They share toys, play well together, and she's learning fast from him...he's such a good boy.

Tucker is 2 years old today!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy Tooo Youuuu.........

Today, Feb. 7, 2007, is Tucker's birthday...he turned 2. Where has the time gone? He continues to be a wonderful dog, everything we'd hoped for when we decided to look for a breeder, and get a puppy.

He now has a regular buddy to play with --- Sadie, a Golden Retriever that lives next door. Sadie plays the way Tucker, and most labs, do...bitey face. They run, chase each other, and play bitey face...and neck and legs... throughout the day when Sadie comes to visit.

It's been an exciting couple of months around here. I entered Tucker in the Dog Show USA online contest, for fun. He was chosen as a finalist in the sporting group. The public then voted for the winners in different categories of entries. Tucker was running neck and neck with a lovely Cocker Spaniel. The Cocker Spaniel won, which we were happy about....he had a wonderful story, and deserved to win. I wasn't sorry that Tucker didn't win; I'd have had to fly with him to Chicago, and I'd have been a nervous wreck, worrying about him being in a plane. But it was still a thrill to have him chosen as a finalist! He got a nice big juicy bone as his prize from us; the best prize he could've wanted!

Also, the magazine Labrador Retrievers (a specialty magazine) requested pictures of labs to be submitted for the magazine. Again, for the fun of it, I sent some pictures of Tucker. I received an email, saying he's a finalist, and a picture of him will be in the March, 2007 issue of the magazine. We'll receive a complimentary copy. We're really tickled about that!

Today I sang "Happy Birthday" to him twice....while his tail wagged like crazy and he squeezed between my legs for butt scratches. We played ball outside for awhile (in the freezing cold!), and he and his buddy Sadie played for a long time. A great way to spend a special day!

The story continues.....

Tucker is now 15 mos. old. We have a huge 1 acre yard, with a 2-3 acre field next to our property. We only have 5 homes around us, with neighbor dogs, but Tucker never leaves the property...that's one of my biggest delights about him. Our property's pretty private, with pine trees bordering one side, and the field bordering the other. He has a Brittany Spaniel buddy that comes around most days to play. They have a great time of running and playing..but when his buddy Chance goes back home, Tucker stays right in the yard.

There are 2 ponds at neighbor's homes, which Tucker has permission to swim in any time. He loves swimming in the ponds! It's great having them...we just walk about 1000 yards to swim. We take him to the ponds frequently.

Tucker has turned out to be a very gentle guy. When he was 6 mos. old, he came out of the field one day, with something in his mouth. I asked him to drop it, and very gently he laid a baby bunny down in front of me. The bunny was unhurt. I wondered where the nest might be, and how in the world I'd ever find it, but a thought occurred to me. I'd always played 'find it' with him..having him find a toy or bone that was hidden. So I held the bunny in front of his nose, let him sniff, and asked him to find it. He took off running, and led me right to the nest in the tall, overgrown field. I put the bunny back in the nest. Tucker had made the connection with my wish to 'find it'!

Now this spring, he found a baby robin in the yard. He sniffed the baby, but didn't hurt it. I let him sniff it for awhile, to satisfy his curiosity, just reminding him to leave it. He never hurt the baby robin. I was so proud of him. A week later, he had something in his mouth when he came out of the field. When I asked him to drop it, it was a bird egg. He hadn't cracked it at all. I asked him to find it, and he took me right to the nest, so I could put the egg back. One other day, he didn't come when called, and was standing with his nose on the ground, intent. He was sniffing another baby bird...it had fallen from the nest. I put the baby back into the nest, and praised him like crazy. Just a few days ago, again he didn't come from the field when called...he was staying in one spot. He was sniffing a tiny baby bunny. It had crawled from its nest, and Tucker found it in the tall grasses. The baby was crawling toward Tucker, and he was sniffing and backing up from the bunny. I put the bunny back in the nest, and I asked Tucker to 'find it', hoping to find others from the nest. He and I searched the field for others, and he'd go back to the nest to check on the bunny, sniffing it, then he'd set out again on his serach.

He's such a sweet, gentle guy.....I love it that he doesn't harm other animals, and the fact that when he finds one where it shouldn't be, he'll take me to where it should be.

He loves being outside in the nice weather. He'll lay on the front porch or on the deck, just watching all the birds and rabbits that run in the yard...but he never bothers them. We've even had Canadian geese and ducks with babies stroll along the front of the yard, on their way from the pond to a nearby field; he never gives chase, but just watches them.

When he's swimming in the pond, he sees the geese and ducks swimming, but
doesn't pay much attention....he's focused on his bumper!

He has his weekly chore now....helping to carry in groceries. Every Saturday when I get back from the store, I honk when I drive up, and out he comes. He takes a bag, and waits for me to get mine, and up the steps he goes, onto the front porch, into the house, and into the kitchen. He's such a help....and he loves doing his part.

You're such a good boy Tucker!