Desert Wind Labradors

Hi,

Gracie is settling in well.  She met the horse today, was not quite sure what to think of that giant head nuzzling her but she didn’t bark which is a good thing.  House breaking is of course a work in progress, we mess up on timing but we will get it.  She picked up lease walking quickly and loves to go for walks.

She is a persistent little thing though, she slept in her crate a lot yesterday, alternating between there and at my feet under the computer desk.  Today when she went in her crate to lay down, I closed the door on her, oh my word she barked and howled for a full hour before she quieted and settled so I could let her out.  Worse than my daughters first night in her crib   I think she got the idea though, because when I put her in later, she barked once then quieted down to a barely audible whimper and I let her out right away.

She loves all her toys especially one cream colored stuffed rabbit and the little tunnel we picked up at IKEA.  She won’t be able to fit in it for long but she loves chasing balls down it now.

4/10/13

A quick update.  Gracie is a joy, we just love her.  She has a great personality.  I take her to puppy playtime and puppy class at our local Petco.  The trainers there call her “growly grizzly” because she is so vocal when she plays.  She is not mean or anything but her growly play gets some of the other pups stressed so she is often picked up for a time out.   She is also very vocal when she plays with her toys or chews on her bones, not barking or even really growling but groans and little odd noises.  My husband says she sounds like Chewbaca from Star Wars.    She is one tough little girl.  A friend has a mature great dane who loves to play and Gracie and he had a ball.  Even when he pounced her good she just bounced up and came back for more.  Vet says she is going to be a big girl, she has lab puppies 2-3 weeks older that are not as big as Grace.  The two comments I always get when we are out and about are “she is so beautiful” and “look at those big paws!”

Training is going well.  She is good on potty training, only occasionally peeing in the house, usually when we all have gotten busy and not let her out soon enough.  She knows sit and down.  Has a blazing come and of course she fetches like a champ.  By 8 weeks she was fetching a soft ball thrown down the hall.  Now we are outside with a chuck-it.  Only occasionally does she get distracted by a dandelion or some interesting smell.

Finally she loves her people, she mostly stays where I am but she will do house rounds occasionally, checking in on everyone to make sure where they are and get a little loving.

I will send more pictures soon but here is one of her with my daughter two weeks ago.