Article

2006-05-20 -Short Attention Span Theater-

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by anonymous5089 2006-05-20 05:15|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 good dog!

Posted by 2b 2006-05-20 15:05|| 2006-05-20 15:05|| Front Page Top

#2 "What's that, Lassie? Timmie's in the well?"

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-05-20 15:56|| 2006-05-20 15:56|| Front Page Top

#3 IIRC, Labs as a breed were supposed to be strong swimmers, and during the 19th century were trained as water-rescue dogs... lots of sentimental Victorian paintings to this effect. Zion's native instincts kicked in, and he did what his ancestors were bred to do.

My close neighbors have a rat terrier, who in all her pampered and sheltered indoor life had never, ever seen a rat, until the day they let her loose in the garage, where two roof-rats had taken up residence. She purposfully hunted them both down, and slaughtered them, quite neatly and effeciently... and my neighbors realised just exactly why they were called "rat" terriers.

Posted by Sgt. Mom 2006-05-20 17:13|| www.sgtstryker.com]">[www.sgtstryker.com] 2006-05-20 17:13|| Front Page Top

#4 Yes, Labs = Labrador Retrievers. Originally bred to haul in fishing nets in cold seawaters off Newfoundland, and to rescue fishermen swept overboard.

BTW, here's a pitch for breeding to the breed standard. Labs are NOT supposed to be the big, leggy things that a lot of backyard breeders turn out, or those turned out for "upland bird hunting". It defeats the purpose of the breed. They need to be stocky, more compact animals so that they can swim and haul things powerfully, be able to climb into and jump out of dories easily etc.

Those "breed standards" that serious breeders aim for really do describe the ideal dogs for the breed's purpose in most cases ....

[/pitch]

Posted by breeder 2006-05-20 17:20|| 2006-05-20 17:20|| Front Page Top

#5 Sgt. Mom is right about the instincts being there in many dogs.

Case in point: a Best in Show winning female Whippet (think greyhound, only a tad smaller) was lost at JFK airport in JANUARY. We're talking elegant racing style hound, no warm fur, little body fat -- and in this case, born and raised and used to southern California weather.

She is still alive in the region, spooked and avoiding people, but living off of rabbits and other small mammals she's been catching. A so-called "pampered show dog" from a long line of show dogs, but she can still catch rabbits like her ancestors were bred to do.

And close relatives of hers are Field (coursing) champions as well as a Show champions. Neat dogs.

[/pitch off LOL]

Posted by breeder 2006-05-20 17:22|| 2006-05-20 17:22|| Front Page Top

#6 All I know is Labs love pot - in college one of my roommate's girlfriends gave him a black lab puppy. We came home from school to find all 18 plants torn to shreds and scattered through our rented house....damn

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-05-20 17:28|| 2006-05-20 17:28|| Front Page Top

#7 by the lab or the girlfriend?

Posted by 2b 2006-05-20 18:27|| 2006-05-20 18:27|| Front Page Top

#8 the lab.... kept barking for ding dongs or chips too :-)

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-05-20 20:17|| 2006-05-20 20:17|| Front Page Top

09:52 bk
23:59 Redneck Jim
23:59 DMFD
23:58 Darrell
23:58 mhw
23:49 Redneck Jim
23:44 Bangkok Billy
23:39 SOP35/Rat
23:20 bigjim-ky
23:18 Old Patriot
23:15 bigjim-ky
23:11 Anonymoose
23:04 Frank G
23:00 Manolo
23:00 bigjim-ky
22:56 junkirony
22:53 JosephMendiola
22:50 JosephMendiola
22:49 Manolo
22:45 Frank G
22:41 JosephMendiola
22:36 JosephMendiola
22:34 Frank G
22:33 Frank G