Sonic - 11 months old!

[Berna]

How time flies, soon we'll celebrate a birthday and leave the puppy section!

Sonic is a big boy now, but still behaves like a puppy, like a stubborn teenage brat of a puppy.

Our show is in two weeks!

[smartrock]

He's looking great. I like that "stubborn, teenage brat of a puppy" description and wish it didn't (sometimes) still apply to Joey! Good luck with the show. I just watched Westminster this week and I could not possibly judge one over another.

[Berna]

He's looking great. I like that "stubborn, teenage brat of a puppy" description and wish it didn't (sometimes) still apply to Joey! Good luck with the show. I just watched Westminster this week and I could not possibly judge one over another.

Yes, I saw it! All great dogs!

[Jeff]

I just watched Westminster this week and I could not possibly judge one over another.

Same, 100% would snuggle, walk, play, and share a steak with all of them.

Oh but I could be the judge. Me as Labrador judge, first we get to rub the cheeks while we look deep in the happy Labrador eyes. The tail wagging the whole time. Then they get to run and get treats. It is great reward for Labs to see me as judge they get treats and pets all they want. Then much chagrin to the owners as I declare them all winners. Secretly I won.

[Berna]

Well Sonic had a little incident at the dog park last Saturday, he ran up to the wrong dog who cut his ear. It's not a big cut, but it's the tip of his ear and it's healing so slow and bleeding like crazy (when he came to me he looked like he ripped apart a hedgehog, blood all over his head). No more dog parks for us ever. I don't need this sh** in my life, really.

Went to two vets and both said no stitches. It's a small cut but it will leave a mark unfortunately because the ear is split in half.

And with all that, we'll have to show for the show next Saturday. I hope it'll look decent until then.

Oh, and took the opportunity to weigh him. 68 lbs. I also cut the portion of his breakfast and he seems to be doing fine. I don't want him chubby.

Other than that, we are continuing with our training!

[barry581]

Glad Sonic is ok. Ear cuts are awful. Seems like every time they flap their ears there's blood all over the place. Finger crossed he heals quick.


I gave up on dog parks years ago, to many potential problems that outweigh any benefits.

[Berna]

Went to our first show yesterday and we loved it! Sonic got 'excellent' on both the regular show and the labrador retriever specialty show. He didn't win his group but he didn't stand a chance against the world junior winner dog who is also 6 months older than Sonic. However Sonic simply nailed it in the ring! He was a natural, didn't mind the other dogs and the people around. He did jump a bit on the judge of the specialty show but the judge laughed and described Sonic as a 'cheerful personality'.

The only thing they found as 'fault' is Sonic slightly sloping back towards the tail.

















Judging of Sonic at the specialty (and jumping on the judge):

[Berna]

Went to another show with Sonic! He also got 'excellent' (different judge) but also got 'Best Youth', 'Junior Best Of Breed', 'Best of Breed', 'Best of Group - 3rd place'.

No pictures from the ring unfortunately, we went alone this time.

[Snowshoe]

Way to go, you two.

[JC001]

Congratulations! The cute puppy has turned into a handsome dog.