We tried everything

There were two important things we discovered about our furry friends once they moved in: (1.) They loved running wild, and (2.) they were absolutely committed to escaping.

We just had no idea HOW committed they were! As we soon found out, every chance they had, they would bolt through the smallest opening in the sliding glass door ...


...and go tearing off down the middle of the street...


Sometimes, we could catch up with them in the car and lure them back with treats, but more than once, the Animal Control officer would be called to pick them up literally miles away from our house.

We knew they had a history of running through an invisible fence so that was not going to solve our problem. We tried everything we could think of to let them run around, including taking them jogging on leashes and letting them out to play ball with us on very long leads in the back yard, but as you can see from this picture, they were not very enthusiastic about this arrangement, as they just kept getting tangled up in the lines.


The last escape was the scariest. They were gone for hours and hours, and after driving around ourselves for a few hours in two separate cars, we couldn't even find someone who'd seen them. It was so awful having no idea if they were still alive. Finally, a family that had taken them in called the police and we picked them up at the pound.

That was our wake-up call. There would be no way for us to keep them safe and happy without literally imprisoning them, and we just couldn't do that to our two wonderful friends. We had to face the fact that we were going to be Grace & Gunner's foster parents but not their permanent home. With great sadness but clear conviction, we called Kathy at Labrador Retriever Rescue-CT, Inc. (LRR-CT) and told her the story. A few days later, Grace & Gunner were running free in huge fenced-in yard with another foster family.


It certainly wasn't a complete loss for them or for us, however. Grace lost lots of weight and got rid of her panting problem (turned out to be weight-related). Although he never liked it, Gunner learned about the leash and could actually be taken on walks without tearing your arm off. We also contributed to their future safety by helping identify their need for a large open space with a good strong fence, which is what LRR-CT was working on finding them.

We will never forgot these two wonderful characters and remain hugely grateful for the gift of their friendship in our lives. May they find the wide open space they long for.

A little fatigued

Today was our second training day with Peg Munves of Step In Time Training, and *wow* did we learn some new things! We learned about not pulling on the leash, coming when called, waiting at doorways, and most important of all, paying attention to the person who has all the great treats!

Our two new friends are a little tuckered out, as you can see, but it was *so* worthwhile! We feel we have a truly useful model we can use to teach our friends a zillion fun things that will make all of our lives easier.

Two dogs, one ball

For the most part, Grace & Gunner settle their differences amicably. On occasion, there are tiffs about toys or who gets the softest bed or special stuffed toy, but typically, these two are model pals. The great majority of their "battles" are massive playtimes, with Gunner chasing after a rolling ball and Grace just waiting him out and stealing it from him when he brings it back. Whenever they both have the same grip, as in the game above, Gunner invariably yields to Grace, allowing her to saunter off in triumph--only to circle back and taunt him for yet another tug-of-war. Such fun friends!

Training time

Gunner & Grace grew up in a country setting where they didn't need to go on too many leash walks. Where they live now, in addition to running around the back yard chasing balls, toys, and the occasional squirrel or mouse that happens by, leash walks happen three times a day. With a bit more car traffic in our neighborhood, good behavior on leashes is a new idea for this pair.

Enter our new trainer, Peg Munves. Peg came by on Saturday to teach us the most gentle and reward-motivated approach we've ever seen! We watch in amazement as our rambunctious duo were charmed into being attentive, waiting for doors to open before bolting through them, and not pulling our arms off on the leashes. Quite a morning of learning!

There's more to do, of course, and Peg will be back to see us soon, but we're definitely off on the right foot with her guidance and experience. If you're in the Westchester/Fairfield area, you can reach her at pmunves@panix.com. Highly recommended!

A happy pair

It's been two weeks since this frolicking couple joined our family and they seem to be settling in nicely. We just took our first road trip to our house in Rhode Island, which was exciting, if just a bit disorienting. A few more trips will help them recognize their summer abode, and with fields and beaches galore, they'll soon look forward to it anytime they're invited to jump in the back seat. We so enjoy Grace's infectious smile and Gunner's gentle kindness.

Ferocious tussling at all hours...

One of the great joys of a bonded pair is watching the passionate playfulness that breaks out between them. It could be sparked by the discovery of a stray sock or toy or sneaker, but once the battle begins, the object in question is often forgotten. Gunner, the black male, is several times stronger than blond Grace, but he mostly allows Grace to stay in the dominant position in their play-fights. They growl and roll all over each other, gently gnawing and growling at one another until, as if on cue, they simply stop -- only to start right back up seconds later, gnawing and growling on and on until one of them signals it's time to quit, at least for the moment. Built-in entertainment!

As long as these two are together, all is well.

The depth of their connection to each other is truly amazing. They spent about three weeks apart right before they arrived in our home, and from the way they are glued to each other now, I can only imagine the agony of that separation. When they were finally reunited, they couldn't stop romping and jumping all over each other!

During a recent visit to the vet to look at one of Grace's front paws (just a small abrasion that healed quickly), Gunner was beside himself for the five minutes Grace was out of the room getting a pedicure!

There was a time we were uncertain about having two new friends come live with us, but now, we can't imagine them apart.

Welcome to Grace & Gunner's blog!

Grace & Gunner arrived in our home on Saturday, January 26, 2008, a few weeks before their 4th birthdays. Born just weeks apart in separate litters, Grace is a frisky, endlessly playful blond female, while Gunner is a powerful, richly handsome black male. They came from a very loving home in southeast Connecticut where their family just couldn't keep them, but thanks to a wonderful organization called Labrador Retriever Rescue-CT, Inc., they were able to find a way stay together! We hope you enjoy their posts and pictures, and warmly welcome your comments and questions.