An unusual pickup at a reptile breeder’s…

M2788 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-17-2010, 02:06 AM

This little beastie is what has been limiting my forum usage recently, and I thought it was time that I finally gave him a proper introduction. This is Bentley; he is my Labrador Retriever puppy and future jogging partner. A friend of mine who happens to be one of the better reptile breeders in this area also occasionally breeds these wonderful, mellow, healthy, bench-bred Labradors. Of course when I decided that a Labrador would be the best fit for what I was looking for in a dog, they were the ones I called.

I just brought him home the Monday before last, and he has been doing great. I tend to refer to him as ‘my little stalker’ due to his penchant for following me around like chocolate colored shadow (though in all fairness I don’t think that most shadows actually run into people’s legs when they stop moving, which Bentley does to me on a regular basis). He LOVES the other dogs and the cats, though it took a day or so for him to realize that despite them being fun to chase, the cats have these sharp things attached to their paws that they use freely that makes that entire process less appealing to him. By the time I picked him up at eight and a half weeks, he already knew his name, was mostly housebroken, and knew the commands ‘Sit’ and ‘Shake’. He is a complete blast to train and after he got here it took him no time at all to also learn ‘Lay Down’, ‘Off’, ‘Spin around’, ‘Fetch’, and ‘Leave it’. Not bad for a puppy that isn’t even 10 weeks old yet.

Overall I am completely thrilled with this little guy, he has been an absolute joy to have around and has been fitting in with my ragtag bunch of feline and canine miscreants quite well. Now enough of my gushing and on to the pictures.

Bentley at six weeks; I met him for the first time and picked him out at three weeks, but I unfortunately forgot my camera for that occasion:

.

Bentley at eight and a half weeks:

Playing with one of his favorite toys. Please excuse the bit of water on his face, he had just finished ‘swimming’ in the water bowl:

.

Showing off his mastery of the ramp to my bed:

Making sure that my bed skirt lives in constant fear for its safety:

Meeting my cat for the first time:

Trying to incite my Terrier mix into playing with him:

Thanks for looking!

Stargazer · #2 (**permalink**) 06-17-2010, 02:10 AM

Aww, look at the pure, unadulterated cuteness! That will surely scare the stalkers away. They will be fended off by the cuteness.

SandwichFace · #3 (**permalink**) 06-17-2010, 02:14 AM

Looks like you got a new best friend.

Tom · #4 (**permalink**) 06-17-2010, 05:52 PM

Bentley is very cute. Chocolate Labs are my favorite breed of dog. I have two Chocolate Labs now Hunter and Matilda and my first one named Bosco live for 14 years. I even have a Lab X Shar Pei mix named Ginger. All four of them where recues to.

Take care
Tom

nitram · #5 (**permalink**) 06-17-2010, 10:07 PM

epic puppy

M2788 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-15-2010, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stargazer

Aww, look at the pure, unadulterated cuteness! That will surely scare the stalkers away. They will be fended off by the cuteness.

Thank you! I think you’re right, the cuteness beacon will shine too brightly for the stalkers to come near.

If that fails, then if he gets anywhere close to the size of his 110 lb father it should also be helpful on that front.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandwichFace

Looks like you got a new best friend.

That I have, he really is a great puppy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom

Bentley is very cute. Chocolate Labs are my favorite breed of dog. I have two Chocolate Labs now Hunter and Matilda and my first one named Bosco live for 14 years. I even have a Lab X Shar Pei mix named Ginger. All four of them where recues to.
Take care
Tom

Thank you very much! Chocolate Labradors are one of my favorites as well. He is such an interesting mixture between cuddly brainiac and goofball. That is great! Do you have any pictures of your Labs by any chance? If so, I'd love to see them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitram

epic puppy

LOL, thanks!

Here is a new picture for you guys of Bentley at almost 14 weeks old with my two other dogs, Doom (left) and Harley (right). It is harder than it looks to get all three of them to sit still and not wiggle long enough to grab the camera and take a picture.

Please excuse Harley’s somewhat scruffy appearance; he is due for an appointment at the groomer’s.

Bentley is doing great, he is growing like a weed and has been learning new tricks like crazy, and according to the vet he is almost ready to start going to town with me and being socialized around strangers and other animals not currently in my house.

Ironically, when I am not around Doom at 10 lbs is very much the boss of the other two that are more than double his size.

Advertisement