Just wanted to let you know how Jake is doing – Jake has red collar on – We love Jake – We have come to the conclusion that he reminds everyone of Goofy – He’s such an odd duck you can’t help but love him – Jake has settled very well with our family – He’s happy and content and thinks he gone to heaven – Sam and Jake are still respecting each other’s space – They act like they don’t like each other but recently Sam had minor surgery and Jake missed him terribly – They really are a comfort for each other – He weighs 97 pounds now and loves every bit of his life – Jake thinks he’s a such a tough dog but he’s just a big cupcake – He barks at everything and anything but from a distance – Even when I get home at night, Sam’s waiting at the door and Jake’s barking in the living room where he can’t even see you – He loves going for rides, short walks around the yard and sleeping on my coach - Nice life!!

Profile of a Happy Lab
-Duke Skywalker
-Age: 3 years old
- Born: North Carolina, USA
- Home now: New Hampshire
- Color: White with yellowish ears and a pencil eraser nose
- Weight: 99 lbs with a 6 pak abs showing nothing but muscle
- Length: I’m a very long guy for a Lab. The Vet says I’m of the “American bloodline” as opposed to the blockier “English style”.

- Hobbies: Sticks……..!!!!! Love em. Retrieve em and eat em. Eating stones. Eating leather gloves. Swimming in my own lake. Walks with my mom. Runs with dad (Big Boss).Rides in BB’s pickup. I sort of lay right across the center console and occasionally help with the steering. Big Boss says that’s not a good thing. My real joy is just flat out running as fast as I can and then making quick turns on a dime. I run straight at mom or Big Boss and scare them. Big Boss hides behind trees sometimes and then jumps out and scares me. I love that game. I love it too when the adult daughters come home because I get to lay on the couch. They spoil me even more than mom and Big Boss. I get to hang out with my cousin, Pudge the blind Beagle, sometimes and that’s pretty cool. He comes to visit for overnights and stays with us at “camp” when his mom and dad have to go away. Being the gentle giant that I am, I let him play with my toys and even sleep in my crate. He snores something wicked, and I have to cover my ears with my paws to get any Z’s.

-Favorite Food: Sometimes I get a mini hamburger from the barbecue. I usually get a few scraps from the dinner table but not nearly as much as I would like. Seems I have a sensitive stomach and when I put anything other than my ZD Ultra Allergen Free in my stomach I get the whirlies and my stomach gurgles. Then it’s grass eating time. Big Boss says my food costs nearly ten grand a bag. Is that alot? He says I’m lucky he’s just turned the big 62 so he can collect something called Social Security to pay my food and vet bills. Let’s see. 62 x 7 = 434 in dog years. Wonder if I have to wait that long for my social security? Big Boss says I have all the security any dog could ever want or need. I think he’s right !

-Favorite TV show: Animal Planet
-Favorite Sports team: Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox AA minor league team)
-Last Book read: Marley and Me
-Greatest fear: Lucy, the cat that lives in my house. Something about she was here first and gets to stay. She traps me in the bathroom, and I can’t get out. She hisses and that sends me right over the edge. Someday I’m gonna stand up to her. But not today…….

-Wish List: A girlfriend……..Big Boss says it would be strictly a Platonic relationship…….whatever that is.

-Goals in life: To meet more dogs, pee on more trees, go for more rides, eat ice cream out of a cone, catch a fish by myself from the lake, love everyone, and live here forever.

Ruby is doing well. She is still a bit timid around new people and in new situations but getting better every day. She still follows us around everywhere looking for attention and a bit of reassurance. We have been trying to introduce her to new situations everyday to build her confidence. We took her to the ocean to swim and although she was very excited about the idea she hasn’t figured it out completely. So for now, she splashes around a lot with her front legs. She loves to go for walks in the woods, and to run through streams and mud. We have found her to be incredibly sweet and gentle yet playful and assertive too. She is eating well and getting plenty of exercise by running, walking and playing with her new brother Jett. She will see our vet tonight for an introduction/initial visit. She’s a fantastic addition to our family.

Maggie is just a wonderful dog. A few months ago, we were approved to do foster care (for children) - and Maggie has been wonderful with the children. She is very maternal, gentle and patient. She plays with the kids when they are awake, helps to clean up after they are done eating, and guards them whenever they are asleep. Maggie’s first boy was a three year old who was with us for three months. As soon as we said “story time” Maggie was on his bed and ready for cuddles. Now we have a one-year old boy and Maggie is never more than a few feet away. She is always calm - even when being crawled on. Most of all - she loves waiting next to the high chair for “treats” or for a little hand covered with food to wave by for licking. We are still hiking in the woods every day and Maggie is swimming in the ponds whenever she can. We are still thrilled that Maggie is a member of our family. Thank you again NEARR for a wonderful dog.

I probably post to much Labrador photos….but what the heck ….Here’s a pic of the pack ….Zeus(Nearr Lab) front left (15 months)(Still a chocolate missle ….) tennis ball retriever extraordianary! Sadie-mae, Front Right(10 y.o. English couch potato!) Brandy, Upper Left(3.5 y.o.Alpha female…)speed demon,Thats why she has the bell !). Kobe, (Neighbors dog, Upper Right)111 pound american male lab ,a big baby . 9,y.o.
We just got back from the beach….they are behaving because I have P.B.dog cookies in my hand ….Lexi the neighbors Lab/Rottie also went ,but it would appear she is afraid of the camera …..along with all her other fears ,so she is hiding in the rear seat of my truck. As you can see they are all doing well,a daily walk to the beach and playing ball is what life is all about …..they meet a lot of people and other dogs. Last weekend I was throwing dog toys for eleven dogs, only Lexi and a Rodesian ridge back (Simba)were not labs ….Barkley, a Chocolate lab kept stealing my toys and tried to bury them(lets see retrieve it then dig as fast as I can and bury it …..I think thats correct????) ..Kobe takes a tennis ball in the water ,punches holes in it with his teeth and then makes it bob under water up to the surface until it so full of water it sinks, then he digs like a mad dog trying to find it …..Zeus is a retriever of the toys, sticks etc…..run down the beach,splash like mad dog to deep water ,then swim to ball stick etc…..then return to me,and do it all over again !(Whats a torn ro-to-cuff feel like ???) Sadie-mae is the smart one,she wades in the water holding a tennis ball and watches the whole confussing mess !

Zeus’s time is “play time”,yes there is sleep time, and eat time ,and counter surfing time,and dump over the trash time,and all other time is play time ….He is doing fine here,and he really is a bouncing baby lab,full of energy and ready to go at the drop of a hat ….there really is no issues ……he’s what I expect from a field lab,and having him keeps my wife and I going ,for walks,throwing toys,sticks,etc …..once he figures out were done for the evening and all the toys are rounded up he’ll settle down next to me or on the ottoman and go to sleep…..sometimes after nine pm,he slips off to bed in his bed and we never hear him do it ….
As stated earlier he gets to meet lots of other dogs and people on our walks and he has been great with everyone…..he is so focused on the balls,toys,sticks ,that there is no time to drift from his mission of returning whatever it is we throw…..he’s a joy to own,and everyone gets a kick out of his drive,energy and ability to get along with everyone…..

I can’t believe we have had Duke now for one month. Duke is becoming more and more a family member. Now after I take the kids to the bus and I return home by opening the garage door I hear him barking and crying. When I get into the house he is dancing all over the place because he is excited to go for his walk.

Duke just keeps surprising me with how sweet he is. My son received stitches from a skate boarding accident. When my son was laying on the couch (upset) Duke came right over to him and laid on the floor next to the couch!

Duke has been busy, running around outside with Otis. Playing hide and go seek with my daughter and catch with my son. When I’m gardening and Duke has had enough play time he comes and keeps me company by laying beside me.

Duke is truly a wonderful dog. I believe he is very happy! Thank you again for giving us Duke!

Time has flown by. It is both difficult to believe Quita has been here 3 years and at the same time, it feels like she has been with us forever. Quita remains active as a therapy dog and gets very excited when her vest comes out and is told “It is time to go to work!”. Quita loves our hikes and swims with her pack of 7-10 doggie friends-she is all smiles on the outings and completely tuckered out once we arrive home. Quita is becoming used to all the new items that are entering our home and seems to know that a new member will be joining our family shortly (just over 3 weeks now!). Thankfully she is EXCELLENT with children, and we have been working to prepare her since the moment we knew we were expecting. We realize there will be a period of adjustment (and have put assistance and special times just for her in place) but we are confident that her new sister will be accepted (if for no other reason than the spit up and dropped food-Quita is a lab after all!). To sum it all up, Quita is a healthy and happy girl and our lives are SO much better since having her as part of our family.