We missed out on an eye-candy overload!

“THIS moment is all there is.” 

~ Rumi

“He’s NOT fat.  The breeder said ‘true’ Labradors are built that way.”

A rather rotund Cosmo, Chocolat and Sam

He's a LARGE boy.

So said the owner of a rather large, rather rotund Golden Lab this morning.  What was scary about his size was that he was the same age as Sam the Man, a month younger in fact.  

He might have been the same age and the same colour but that was ALL they had in common.  

This chap was as roly-poly and round as Sam is lithe and lean.

What a contrast in Labs.

Carol couldn’t resist it.  She had to go and find out where he was from and WHY he was so round.  That was the answer she got.  This young hound weighs in at 50kgs, that’s over 12kgs heavier than the hound and a whole 20kgs heavier than Sam the Man!!

He might be loved but his weight is a death sentence.

It’s behaviour more than anything which determines a true Lab.  These guys are meant to be muscular and athletic with a strong nose and a gentle mouth.  They were bred for the water ... to haul nets, fetch ropes, to retrieve fish that escaped the nets ... as well as be a family dog.  They’re smart with a capital ‘S’.

They found a log ... that I had to carry

History proves their usefulness and versatility as they’ve easily shifted from fisherman’s companion to field retriever to show dog to modern working hound.  Is it any wonder that they’re one of the most popular hounds in the world. 

I think she wants it thrown .... but it's too big for me to throw!

Yes, they LOVE to eat but they’ve been bred for physically demanding jobs and they have the high energy that goes with that.  They NEED exercise ... lots of it .... as Carol and I well know.  Poor Cosmo NEEDS to lose weight if he’s to have any chance at a long active life.

... so Gareth threw it!

Carol was still muttering away about Cosmo’s weight as we headed back up the beach with hounds and balls and a log in tow.  

Fergus joined in the log chase and we heard all about HIS adventure this morning.

He was RESCUED by some DISHY fire-fighters!

Moira should have phoned us ... after she’d phoned the fire-fighters, of course. 

 We’d have been their in a heartbeat to ‘help’ if we’d known Fergus was in trouble. 

He’d got himself trapped in some scaffolding at the house next to Moira’s.  

The owners have builders in and Fergus ... typical terrier .... was ensuring that everything was in order.  

He’d gotten himself into a hole and couldn’t work out how to engage reverse gear.  

There was Moira clambering up and over scaffolding in an attempt to extract her hound

 .... all to no avail.  Poor Fergus.  

She had to call in the experts .... and we WEREN’T there to see them in action.  

She did wonder why I’m NEVER around when a camera’s needed.

The reflections were amazing yesterday too

FIVE fire-fighters turned up .... yep FIVE .... for one small terrier.  

Typical of New Zealand’s ‘all or nothing’ attitude.

It would have been eye-candy overload though!

Yesterday's skies were beautiful .... reflections, rainbows and NO rain!