Just took my two labbies and all our gear to our first Agility classes in the E! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

Lots of room for the dogs and their stuff- water bottles, two collapsable crates, gear bag, etc.

My Elemmat is not in yet so I did not put up the crates for them to travel in for fear of them sliding around. Instead all their gear was stashed behind the back seat and they were allowed to ride in front of the back seat or on the seat. I did use a rug for them to lay on and covered the seat with a doggie blanket. It was SOOOOOO ideal for this! :D

I cannot wait for my first agility trial so I can take my "show" on the road! :)

The two labs on the left are my agility kids:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6db11b3127cce89e4d1bb4cea00000016108IZtXDVu3bM

Another bonus to the Element: The dog on the right is a 6 yo, female rescue dog that is missing her right rear leg. It's so much easier to get her in and out of the E! She loves her new ride, too!

Beautiful crew you have there. ;-)
I have a 7 year old blk Lab, Samson.

Thanks! :)

I do a lot of rescue work and focus on labs. There are so many that are in need. Honestly, the black labs are my favorites. Black dogs being the most euthanized dogs in America really bothers me. I'll never understand "black dog syndrome..." So, I do my part... Annie, the 3 legged lab, sat in a shelter for months before I found her and pulled her- the day before her euthanasia. In fact, all my dogs are rescue kids. Their owner(s) didn't want them for whatever the reason...

In fact, we calculated that the middle labbie had 6 owners before we took her in at 7 months. Poor kiddo lived in 3 states!

are they field labs or full size lab?

good look'n pups.
j.

The male on the left has a known pedigree. His father was an English style/show lab and his mother was an American or field style lab. He is within the AKC standards for male labs- he's 71.5 lbs. The female in the middle weighs about the same and is mixed (I believe with rottie) and the female on the right is a backyard bred 60# lab. I keep her leaner than the rest since she is missing a rear leg. :)

From left to right their ages are 3.5, 2 and 6 years. The two girls began as foster dogs but they ended up as permanent residents! ;)

Those are great looking pups . . . my hat is off to you for the rescues; I think I'll also be doing the rescue thing one day.

Mine is an American Lab - 74 lbs at 16 months. I didn't know about the "black dog" stats . . . that is scary but very believable.

People constantly murmur "uh-oh a black dog" and scoop their kids up or pick their little lap dogs up when we go for a walk . . . Yellows and Chocolates don't get the same treatment :roll:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/Obi_the_dog/Obi_pics/15months3.jpg

Agililty, Your labs are beautiful. Bless you for taking such good care. I wish I had a house for a dog. I'm not a cat person. Sometimes, I wonder who are the real "animals" on this planet.

I have a solid black standard poodle who won't even bite her toys but she scares people anyway. A POODLE for heavens sake - a big poodle but a poodle none-the-less. Our Scottie is more dangerous by far but she's smaller and less intimidating (although also black). It all goes back to the old wives tale of black dogs having a bad tempers, being meaner and biting more than other colors of dogs.
The stats for euthanized/abused domestic animals is topped by black cats - for the most ridiculous reasons (thought to be bad luck, witches companion, evil, belonging to the devil, used in satanic rituals etc). Around Halloween many black cats are killed, shot, mutilated, tortured, set on fire etc. It's very sad. It has gotten so bad that shelters will not allow black cats to be adopted around Halloween. If you want one you have to get approved and then take it home before Oct 1st or wait til at least Nov 15th to take them home.
It's sad that in this modern time people still believe in superstitions and old-wives tales about black dogs and black cats.

Box4Rox- your boy is totally awesome! :) I want so bad to take my crew to the beach. We live about 1.5 hours away from Fort Bragg and Mendocino but I haven't had the time to get away yet this summer. The 3 legged rescue hasn't ever been to the beach yet! :)

Regarding black dog syndome- it really is amazing how many people are afraid of black dogs. Its not a logical thing at all. My 3 walk nicely on a 3 dog coupler and LIVE for playing in the water but people seldom want to come up and pet or love on them. However, when I take my brothers golden with me the people flock to him. Further- the majority of chocolate labs or a yellow labs end up at our local shelter and they are GONE in a heartbeat. The black labs just linger until their time is up or they are pulled by people like me who volunteer with rescues.

I have a solid black standard poodle who won't even bite her toys but she scares people anyway. A POODLE for heavens sake - a big poodle but a poodle none-the-less. .

I have been bitten twice. Both were by poodles. I also had the butt of a pair of jeans removed by a poodle. These were all separate dogs and were all seemly unprovoked. I realize that I must have done something. Two of the three I didn't even see until it was too late. THe third (the pants) belonged to a friend of mine. It bit EVERYONE who came into that house. Sorry, but I'm not buying "it's only a poodle" defense. Those puppies are bred a little too tightly in some circles, I think. SOme of them are just plain MEAN.

Agililty, Your labs are beautiful. Bless you for taking such good care. I wish I had a house for a dog. I'm not a cat person. Sometimes, I wonder who are the real "animals" on this planet.

That is such a true statement...

I love these dogs and don't really how understand exactly how they ended up in shelters and discarded. Same with my foster dogs... they just need love, care and time. :)

Agility, your labs are such beautiful dogs but their stories make them so very special. I think it is wonderful that there are people who foster or give loving home to dogs that need that special TLC. My dad always had labs when I was growing up and they are just big sweet teddy bears. So loving but for some their size can be intimidating.

I didn't realize that black dogs were unwanted more than the other colors until I was looking at a shelter last year for a new furbaby. One of the workers was telling me about that. I guess I'm in the minority since I have looked for a long time for a solid black Pekingese and have still yet found one that is solid black or will not turn gray. And my black poodle was so precious. For me, black is the color I look for:)

I am owned by a Belgian Sheepdog who looks like a small wolf. Yes, people are afraid of the black furball.

I plan to foster Belgian dogs after I retire and get a larger place for dogs. There are so many nice dogs out there who just don't have the right families.

I love black labs! Most trainers tell me the black "models" are more intelligent and easier to train than the other two colors.

I am owned by a Belgian Sheepdog who looks like a small wolf. Yes, people are afraid of the black furball.

I plan to foster Belgian dogs after I retire and get a larger place for dogs. There are so many nice dogs out there who just don't have the right families.

I love black labs! Most trainers tell me the black "models" are more intelligent and easier to train than the other two colors.

You will love foster work, it is SO rewarding. And you are correct- there are soooo many nice dogs that just need a chance. People would rather adopt a "known" dog through a foster that has road tested it rather than adopt an unknown from a shelter. You know that YOU gave the dog a chance. :)

I love black labs myself! :) I have also head that the blacks are smarter but I have to dispell that myth since you can get all 3 colors out of the same litter. Intelligence is not linked to colors- however, poor breeding for money when a color become popular can lend itself to the myth...

Agility,
you should read a book called "Marley and Me" it is the best book for any dog owner and since you have labs you would really enjoy it. It is a quick read and is probably the most enjoyable book I have ever read

Great suggestion! :) I recieved two copies for Christmas and added one to my collection and let students borrow the other one out of my classroom collection. They loved it just as much as I did!

My "youngest" dog, the female in the middle that I do agility with is my own personal Marley. She definitely will keep me on my toes! Just when I think she's grown up I am sorely mistaken! LOL...