My two yellow labs are always a source of comfort and entertainment-it’s never boring when they get in the act. Ziggy and Zeke are full brothers from two different litters. We hadn’t had a dog in about 10 years and after the kids were hounding us we finally decided to get a puppy. We knew some people who had beautiful, sweet yellow labs and decided to go with the same breeder. In 2007 we brought Ziggy home and aside from the usual puppy things, he was perfect. He had a quiet disposition and was like a little old man! About two years later we were boarding Ziggy with the breeder (who better to watch him?!) and she told us D (Ziggy’s birth mom-I’m his mom now!) was pregnant from the same dad and it was the last litter they would have. The kids begged and my husband said no, but my kids and I asked the breeder to hold a male for us when the puppies were born and that’s how we added Zeke to our family! My son wanted to name him Damien, after the Marley family, after all we already had Ziggy Mar Lee (our last name is Lee!), but I didn’t want a devil puppy so we all agreed on Zeke. The name may have changed but the devil was still there. For weeks Zeke the puppy tormented poor Ziggy. I honestly thought we’d have to give Zeke back, but he finally mellowed out and is now as sweet as his brother.
Sweet and smart! Zeke’s had his share of health issues including a few hospital stays in the past couple of years, but he seems to be doing well now. A few months ago he began limping. We thought it might have been arthritis in his hip and the vet agreed. We have him on supplements and are monitoring it. After another visit to the vet, they thought it might be his knee. Well, the other day he was running around outside like crazy and it was great to see him having so much fun. My husband called out to him, “Zeke, I thought you had a limp.” Zeke stopped, turned to him, tilted his head and started to limp!! True story and I still can’t stop laughing!
Ziggy is just as much a character as his brother. Usually the two of them are always together. When one goes out he waits until his brother joins him. So imagine my surprise when Zeke was hanging out near me when I was in my usual spot on the couch, but Ziggy was no where to be found. I searched the house, then went outside-first to the backyard which is fenced in and then to the front yard. I’m calling and calling and nothing. I run back inside and wake up my husband, who was napping, and we both look again for Ziggy. Finally, we got in the car and started driving around looking for him. My husband said he still thought Ziggy was somewhere in the house-“Why would he want to leave? He’s got it good there!” So we turn around and drive home. We’re searching the house again and all of a sudden I hear my husband say “there you are!’ It seems Ziggy got in to the pantry and closed the door behind him (when the door closes the light goes off so he was sitting in the dark!) The weirdest part was that he didn’t bark when I called his name and Zeke didn’t walk over to the door to let me know Ziggy was in there. Maybe he just wanted some alone time?! Surprisingly enough, Ziggy did not eat one thing while in the pantry (which is a big deal for piggy Ziggy!)
One thing both Ziggy and Zeke have in common is that they don’t know they’re Labrador Retrievers-retriever being the key word here. Sometimes they’ll bring over a toy and we’ll play tug a tug a with them (you know they hold it tight, you try to pull it out of their mouth, you tug, they tug). Once I get the toy I’ll throw it for them. Now most dogs will run after the ball or whatever the toy is and bring it back and the cycle begins again. Ziggy and Zeke play this game in a different manner. The tugging part is the same, but once I throw the toy they run after it and pee on it!! Yup, that’s my dogs!
Like I said before, this typically bored housewife is never bored when the puppas are around!
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