Otis

OTIS, 18 month old black male, was a stray who found his way to the Chesterfield County (VA) shelter. From his first moments with LRR, we knew he had a winning personality and would make a great first lab for someone. As Susan is good at doing, she was able to get a couple who was convinced they wanted an older female to look at Otis. Sure enough, it was a great match, and we were pleased to get this anniversary letter from Otis:

Dear Susan and Mark: Well, my first year at this duty station is just about up, so I figured it was time to file an evaluation report. Overall, it has been a lot of work as this couple needed much training, but slowly they seem to be coming around. I guess I'd grade them out at a B or B+ because they do seem willing to learn. I don't usually rub my own belly (I think you would say 'toot my own horn'), but I thought I would include a few examples of my hard work here.

Example 1: They had no sense of direction before I got here. When I first showed up, I had to lead them around by a string, especially when we went into the woods or down by the Potomac River, to keep them from getting lost. After a few months, they seemed to learn their way around the yard OK, but still needed help when I took them off the property. The guy seemed to catch on a bit faster than the woman-within 3 months he was able to be in the woods (even out of sight) without getting into trouble. I had to work with the woman for 6 months or so. It's best when I take them out together because they seem to amuse each other, which gives me more time to visit with the squirrels and deer.

Example 2: They had no sense of sleeping arrangements. The first night I stayed over, they made me sleep in my study (you'd call it a crate). I got that foolishness straightened out the next day. Everybody knows that the study is where I prefer to do my deep thinking during weekdays ONLY-everybody but them. Soon, I had arranged to have two beds-one up near where they sleep, and one down in the family room. That process didn't take long, but it took me over 9 months (almost 5 dog years!) to get them to realize that I would be much more comfortable sprawled out between them on the big bed. Yeah, they occasionally snore-but hey, I'm pretty easy going. After all, I am a Lab!

Example 3: They require a lot of supervision. The man needs much more attention than the woman. It seems like I always have to be leaning against him or wrestling with him to keep him out of trouble. The one exception is when the woman is in the kitchen preparing a meal-she needs to be monitored quite intently then. It isn't like I would eat their food if it was offered (it isn't!!), she just needs my input on her creations. Needless to say, whether it is yard work, home improvements, or chores, I have to be ever vigilant around this pair.

Example 4: They don't know how to keep a house. I guess of all of my training efforts, in this area I have been the least successful. It is widely known among my brethren that a comfortable, cozy home is one in which you have liberally distributed your fur. Without fail, whenever I feel like I'm making a little progress in decorating the house, one of them will walk around with the loud box, and all my hard work disappears! At this rate, I'll be bald before I get this place set up right.

I could go on and on, but I don't want you to think I'm whining (unless it is time to EAT-is it??!) Anyway, despite their shortcomings, I think I'll re-up for another year.

Lots of Licks,

Otis