Hunter - The Bird Dog

The Labrador retriever is a beautiful, strongly built dog breed with a sound, athletic, well-balance conformation. Bred to a working gun dog, the Lab is designed to function for long hours and distances in varying terrains with the purpose of retrieving water fowl and upland game. Designed to be adept in the water, the Labrador includes a short, dense water resistant coat, webbed toes and an otter style tail for advaned swimming abilities.

The labs loving, gentle, intelligent nature makes them a great family dog at home. Their friendly nature, adaptablity and stable temperament also makes them a frequent choice as companions and/or service dogs for children, the handicapped and the elderly. They are also used often as rescue dogs, drug detection canines and guide dogs for the blind. They often excel in both the show ring and obedience competitions.

Labrador retrievers come in three colors, yellow, black and chocolate. Some yellow labs are much lighter than others with an almost white or cream appearance. Each specific dog breed has it's own special physical and behavioral characteristics that were developed for its specific purpose in line.

Even hunting dogs have their own very specific distictions. However, the lab was designed to gently retrieve the object and to so quietly. Two very different functions, two very different confirmations and behavioral characteristics.

The lab originated in Newfoundland, Canada rather than Labrador, England. They were originally "created"by canadian fishermen to jump into the ocean's icy waters to help haul the fisherman's nets to shore. It was the ships from Labrador that took the dog back to England in the 1800's where it was further refined into the breed as we know it today.

The Totem for Dogs:

Faithfulness and Protection

The Dog is a symbol of the small becoming the great. People with this totem have great spirit and a great ability to love. It takes a lot to break a dogs spirit.

Since I love dogs I decided to paint this piece for all you dog lovers, especially for the avid hunter and game family. Hope you enjoy this RiverRock Wall Art as much as I enjoyed bringing him to life. This miniature art piece measures 6 1/4 x 6 1/4 and is $75.00

Pauline Libutti, RiverRock Critters.com

Dogs Are Our Best Friends and with Good Reason

Dogs and Their Faithful Companionship

Why are there so many dog lovers out there? Dogs share our lives in a way that most other animals can't, and they're so commonplace that it's easy to take their faithful companionship for granted.

Dogs are friendly and they love human companionship. Whose ego would not be gratified at the sight of a happy dog that can't wait to greet you at the end of a hard day? Your dog waits for you by the door, face smiling, mouth open and tail wagging, ready to dote on you, his best friend in the world.

Dogs are loyal and, as pack animals, they respond to the presence of a leader - you! Dogs are eager to please you in any way they can. When you're feeling blue your dog will remain by your side silently comforting you. When you're happy and excited, your dog will leap about you and share in your joy.

Dogs are playful. They love physical activity such as going for walks, fetching sticks, leaping into ponds, and racing wildly to and fro. Dogs will join you for a jog or for a day in the park or even for an exuberant game of frisbee. Yet dogs can also be soft and cuddly and ready at anytime for a loving pat and a reassuring hug. They're affectionate and they're soothing to stroke.

Dogs can be trained so that they can easily cohabitate with us in our human-built dwellings. They can also be trusted to act appropriately around other people and in public. Dogs can learn to save nature's call for outdoor walks, to walk on a leash when on public roads where cars lurk, and to sit and to stay whenever and wherever necessary.

The family dog is as much a part of daily life within a home as is any human household member. Our dogs are always there for us, day and night, sharing in every activity from breakfast time through a cozy evening spent watching TV. They can share both our indoor and many of our local outdoor activities, but that's not all. Dogs also play a big part in family life even when the family isn't at home. They can readily go places with us in cars, everywhere from a romp in the local park to a family vacation. Because they can travel with us, they can be a part of our lives in a way that most other companion animals can't. As dogs can participate in many of our most unusual experiences and outdoor adventures, they become forever associated with many of our most treasured memories.

Dogs, in all of their various shapes and sizes, are also beautiful animals to admire and to look at. From their big beautiful eyes and lovely faces, to their soft, sleek, shiny coats, to the tips of their joyfully wagging tails, dogs are a pleasure to behold. With so many different breeds to choose from, everyone can choose the dog whose appearance most appeals to them, whether large or small, short or long-muzzled, short-haired or long-haired or curly or straight-haired, with a muscular build or a slim build, with an elegant face or a comical face, and in any number of colors.

Dogs give us the best of themselves: their love, loyalty, unconditional acceptance and affection, playfulness and companionship. In return, we owe them our best and the best care that we can give them.

Above all else, dogs deserve gentle handling and an abundance of our time and attention. Love can make a dog's world go round as much as love makes our world go round. When we give our love freely to our dogs, we receive their love in return. Dogs can truly be man's and woman's and children's best friends, and we should feel honored to be theirs, as well.

Author: becker

Pauline Libutti, RiverRock Critters.com
Copyright 2008 CraftyCritters Newsletter