A Heartwarming Tale

[Drago]

Those that know me will recall that I love Labradors to bits. In my mind their easy going, loving character sets them apart, but this one particular feller really raises the bar...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-39157773

Just phenomenal, wonderful beyond words.

 

[r04DiE]

Yep, very nice - it makes me very happy for that family. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[cosmicbike]

A nice story, and from my own personal experience of 'not being very well in the head' my 2 dogs were absolute life savers. They have a sixth sense canines, and they were my rock for many months of being trapped at home.

 

[Mrs M]

That's lovely

 

[Drago]

In was never particularly a dog fan, but Mrs D twisted my arm after she retired, and as she would be home all day I thought the company would do her good.

After asking around the Labrador seemed to be a front runner as a family dog, and after much hunting about I found Lemmy at a reasonable price. He's the crème de la crème, five generations pedigree, field trials champions in every generation, but was cheaper than many people were asking for mongrels.

Anyway, one of the best things I ever did. He's a wonderful creature, very loving and protective, gentle, intelligent, playful, and easily trained to do tricks - if I say "ISIS" or "Commies" he runs around the house barking like an angry Rotty

I love him to bits, but what the Labrador has done for the autistic lad in the link almost moved me to tears.

 

[r04DiE]

It's so OTT sickeningly sweet that just clicking the link is enough to give you diabetes...

I don't think that anything about a young person being assisted with autism is sickeningly sweet, but maybe that's not what you meant?

 

[Mrs M]

A friend paid £1200 for a Pug puppy and it died of a heart defect at about 5 months old.
He got his money back and bought another one.

 

[r04DiE]

Its staggering how much some people want for pedigree puppies...

And the autism assistance dogs are even more expensive which is a real shame for those that might benefit from them.

 

[r04DiE]

Why am I not surprised that's what you took from my comment...

I didn't take anything from it, I just gave my interpretation and asked you if I was right (which I am sure I'm not). Just wondered if you'd explain, nothing against you in person as you should know after I have tried to patch things up over our last disagreement.

 

[Drago]

I was finding pedigree puppies were often cheaper than some of the fashionable mongrels like Labradoodles, Poojons, Sprockets etc. Wasn't so long ago mongrels were given away for free.

There are certain breeds I'd be reluctant to have as a pedigree, but I'm not really inclined to have anything other than a Lab anyway.

 

[r04DiE]

... Sprockets etc.

There's a dog called a sprocket? I want one.

 

[r04DiE]

It's just these 'and finally...' stories are presented in such a manner as to be nauseatingly twee and often belie the real issues.

I agree, but most of us on here, I think, have enough nouse to read between the lines. Thanks for the clarification

 

[Drago]

The real issue is this dog has helped a young man manage his life.

 

[Mrs M]

We can hopefully get a dog when Mr M retires, or semi retires.
We love Golden Retrievers and Labs as they always seem to be smiling.
A rescue Greyhound would be something to consider (cat friendly ones are available). A former colleague has had 2 and fostered 7 in total, says they're laid back with a lovely nature
Bit like the Podenco dogs in Lanzarote, used for hunting, then dumped or killed