bradleysmum  Offline
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 Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:27 pm Post subject: September's 'Lab of the Month' |
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Well, as you probably all know, each month we get many nominations from members who feel their Lab or someone else''s Lab, deserves that little bit of extra recognition. This is where we have set up the award for ''Lab of the Month'' and i''m very happy to tell you that this month, we have chosen Dudley, to win this special award.
Here Becs tells us why.
Becs writes:
I would like to nominate Dudley -my last DftD (Dogs For The Disabled) pup as Lab of the Month, not because he has done anything heroic (yet!) nor for battling through hardship or an illness, but just because he was unfailingly cheerful, always made me laugh and was my best mate for the year that I spent with him.
Dudley didn''t come to me to start his puppy socialising year until he was 11 weeks old, which is late for a DftD pup. This was because his breeder had ''ran him on'' with a view to him becoming a stud dog. However, due to a funny jaw line, Dudley was destined never to be a ''love machine''! Dudley came into my life like a little bomb-proof tank! Nothing ever fazed him - To Dud''s the world was just one big playground packed with besty- mates just waiting for him to say hi to. Every dog he met had to be subjected to one of Dudley''s full face-washes. He loved his friend Knuckles - a bulldog, as he had the bestest wrinkles. Knuckles used to stand there trying his utmost to remain dignified as this hooli-pup methodically smothered his bull-dog face in licks and kisses! Dudley was clumsy - in fact he was worse than clumsy -he was a health hazard! I remember one day when out free-running the dogs with my partner Dave, who is unsteady on his legs at the best of times. Dudley came running towards us at full speed and just forgot to stop. I stepped out of his way, but Dave wasn''t quick enough and Dud''s took Dave''s legs out from under him in a move that would have made England''s Rugby squad proud! Dudley hovered around Dave as he lay spread-eagled and winded on the ground. I tried to console Dave by pointing out that at least Dud''s was concerned about him, until I realised that the reason Dave was still lying on the ground was because Duds was stood on Dave''s head!
Dudley was very much ''my'' dog. He wouldn''t do anything that Dave told him to do and had perfected the art of looking blank and gormless when issued with the most basic request. Other people kindly described him as ''a character'' but my brother - who doesn''t mince his words - called Dudley ''the worst behaved dog ever'' (although it was said in a joking way - I think!) Yet for me, Duds was an angel. He won his Gold Good Citizen when he was less than a year old and was always a pleasure for me to take anywhere. He used to come to work with me and was fantastic with a client who''d had a severe stroke, gently putting both his paws on the man''s lap and allowing the man to play-wrestle with him.
When Dudley left to go into training, I lost my best mate. I''d cried so much the week before he left that it was almost a relief when I took him to the training centre to hand him back to them. Dudley went without a backward glance -he''d given his heart to his new trainer already (the fact that her treat bag was bigger than mine could have had an influence on this!) Dudley is now in the last stage of his training and will soon be matched to his new partner. I am so excited for him. I think he will thrive and grow in the love and adoration that his new partner will surely feel for him. And as for Dudley''s partner - how lucky will they be to have ''my Dud''s'' to share their life with? Their life will certainly never be dull, and Dudley will bring to them his wonderful humour. I still smile whenever I think of him or look at his picture. So there you have it - my nomination for lab of the month, although for me - Dudley was my Lab of a lifetime.
Dudley
UPDATE: The latest update is that Dudley is with a foster family in Leeds while they look for his ''special person'' who will be his perfect match.
They want to be sure that the person they match him with will understand his slightly ''wacky'' sense of humour(!) and have a strong enough personality to give Dudley the guidance that he needs in order to get the best out of him. His trainer said to me that he task work can be a little haphazard as he is too busy grinning at her over his shoulder as he performs - that''s my Duds!!!!
Love Becs and the gang
Thanks Becs, what a lovely story. We wish Dudley all the very best for the future, and hope that he finds his special person soon - whoever it is, they will be lucky to have such a wonderful companion to share their life with.
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gillie  Offline
Ruby roo
Joined: Jan 27, 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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Welldone for Dudley!
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Angelsmum Offline
And the Kernow Krew
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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Thats lovely Becs well done Dudley for being such a superstar
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Sonia Offline
Leader of the loopy lot
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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I wish I had met Dudley - he sounds such a superstar! Well done Dudley
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Lorri-Ann Offline
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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Awww what a lovely story about Dudley.
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Lorri & Abbey x x
Abbey's Album
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