Clover the Lucky Lab Puppy's brother, Chance the Lucky Lab Puppy (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Clover the Lucky Lab Puppy's brother, Lucky the Lab Puppy (adopted) can also be seen on our website.

Description:
Clover is white with brown markings.  His coat is softer than his brothers’ and a little longer.  It has been described on more than one occasion, as “bunny rabbit soft.”  But Clover is no bunny rabbit!  Clover is the tough guy, smart as a whip, and macho!  Here are some examples:  He likes to carry his own leash in his mouth, and he will also take his brother’s leash in his mouth and lead him around the house or yard.  When I got them, he was the most aggressive about his food, but when I started to teach them how to take a treat gently, he learned instantly (oh, nuzzle the hand and the treat appears—bite the hand, and no treat!).  Now he is the most calm when I hand out treats, he doesn’t even jump up.  It is as if Clover can assess the situation and right away do what works.  When we go walking, he will sometimes wait at the edge of the yard to see if we are really going walking, or if we’re going to turn and come back to the house.  Like he’s not going to waste his energy for just a walk around the cul-de-sac!  And, if I am in a hurry, trying to get them in the pen quickly without giving treats or showers of affection, he ALWAYS calls me on it.  He will stand outside of the pen and look up at me.  He knows he’s supposed to get something, and it does not appear to be forthcoming.  With his intelligence, he will be very easy to train if you are consistent and logical in your training, but if you are inconsistent, or if you don’t make good behavior the easiest way for him to get what he wants, he will figure you out right away!   Oh, and also, one day we were driving with the puppies, and my daughter had Clover on her lap, the other two in a crate.  Someone was crying, and it seemed like the sound was coming from Clover’s direction, but I couldn’t believe it.  “That’s not Clover crying, is it?” I said.  “No, but how could you tell?” She asked.  “Well, I just realized, Clover doesn’t cry.”  He’s like the Chuck Norris of puppies!

These puppies are the most roly-poly, big butterballs you’ve ever seen.  They tumble over each other, bite each other on the butt, try to climb their brother’s head, then fall off into a summersault.  Then you kneel down and pat the ground, and all three heads turn your way, for one, two seconds; then they’re off, stampeding toward you, because as much as they love annoying each other, they love people hugs and kisses even more.  All three of them are big kissers; if they can reach your face, they’re gonna try to lick it.  They’re very people oriented, and would rather follow you around than go exploring.  If you stand still, they’ll try to untie your shoes for you and paw at your leg until you kneel down to pet them. 

We take them for walks in the neighborhood by letting all three of them follow us down the sidewalk with their leashes dragging behind them.  If a car or another walker comes, I pick up the leashes, but for most of the walk they just follow like little ducklings.  I think they’ll be great leash walkers because they’ve never been pulled on the leash—if they fall behind, I just click my tongue and they catch up.  They don’t try to get ahead of me, and walk just behind my heel whether I’m holding the leash or not.  We are quite a sight in the neighborhood.  It’s the puppy parade!

They were very easy to train to eliminate outside.  They knew to poop outside right from the very beginning.  With pee, they mostly go outside, and they certainly know they are supposed to (every time I take them out, they pee within seconds), but they do still have accidents in their pen.  I really feel that when you have only one, they’ll get it very quickly.  It’s just that with three, like having little kids, someone always has to pee! 

When I got them, they had, like a lot of humans, some “issues with their relationship with food.”  Specifically, they were worried there wouldn’t be enough.   They eat separately, frequently, and as much as they want.  I think now they are getting the idea that the food will be there when they feel hungry, and they can relax about it.  We also petted them and touched their food while they are eating to make sure they would not be aggressive with humans near their food.  I’ve used petting and praise to reward good behaviors (instead of treats), and it has worked out well.  I just recently started giving treats again.  They seem to be much calmer and less frantic about eating.  Still, you will want to keep an eye on them at dinnertime if you have other pets.

The puppies live in a pen in my kitchen unless someone is supervising them.  They don’t have free run of the house, and if they did, they would chew on shoes or wires or whatever they could get their teeth into!  They are not exactly crate trained, because they’ve been in the pen where they’ve got a little more space, but they do understand the concept of this one place being theirs.  If you want to crate train, you’ll have an easy time of it, and it will make housebreaking a snap.

 

*** According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Labrador Retriever is a loving, affectionate, lovable, patient dog. Once known as the "St John's Dogs," the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in the United States. Originally from Newfoundland, Canada the Labrador was trained to jump overboard into the icy waters to haul fisherman's nets to shore. Specimens were brought to England in the 1800's by English ships coming from Labrador, where the dog's fine retrieving instincts were honed and developed. One of the best family dogs and canine companions because of their gentle, loving disposition, the highly trainable Labrador also excels in drug detection, as a guide for the blind, and service dog for the disabled. The breed is also an outstanding obedience and field trial competitor. Highly intelligent, loyal, willing, and high-spirited. Lively and good-natured, they love to play, especially in water - for they love to swim. They have an excellent, reliable, temperament and are friendly, superb with children and equable with other dogs. They crave human attention and need to feel as though they are part of the family. Labs are easily trained. These dogs are watchdogs, not guard dogs, although some have been known to guard. They have a life expectancy of 10-12 years.