Visiting with friends this week, I met Kugel, a 14-week old Chocolate Lab. (I only knew what a "kugel" is because I tried it at my friend Adam's suggestion at this diner he took us to in NYC--it was good!) As you can see, Kugel the Chocolate Lab is adorable. He's also extremely affectionate and excited to see you. That made me feel really good. I sat on their kitchen floor and he wagged and spun around and sat on my lap.He does this adorable thing where he takes the mat out of his crate and then he sits on it (see photo above). I guess he's trying to avoid the cold kitchen floor since it is finally acting like winter here in RI. He sits on it sphinx-like with his ears at attention. You look at him and it melts your heart.
But there's another side to Kugel, and it is a biting one. After he has cuddled and sat with you for a while, he starts biting at you and your clothes. He grabbed onto my sweater hem several times and my pant leg at both the bottom and mid-leg. He also managed to nick my hand and neck. It seems he thinks he is playing, but some of it isn't fun for the human participant in the "game." Kugel's mom showed me the red marks on her hand from him biting at her. And she told me about the various outfits of hers he has ripped, like the new suit with the black lace hem he tore the first time she wore it.
We are all firm with him, telling him "NO" and putting him in a submissive hold after incessant tugs on a pant leg. The effects only last a little while and then he's at it again. The trouble is, he's just too darn cute. Everything he does is adorable, but right now he's only 30 pounds. When he gets bigger, he might actually hurt his parents or someone else! The family is working with a trainer, and are considering sending him to camp to help harness the extra energy. I suggested that they talk to the Dog Whisperer and see if he'd like to do an east-coast special.
