Basic Instincts

When Toby first came to live with my family, he was just a baby and was still growing into his retriever instincts.

I think he may now have mastered them.

With the gorgeous weather this past week Toby and I spent more time outside then we have for awhile. I let him off his leash, so he could run free in the courtyard.

As he and I walked around the oval path, the bag I had stowed in my pocket fell out. Toby noticed it before I did, trotted back to it, retrieved it and brought it over to me.

Next, I decided to let him walk back inside the building, up the elevator and down the hallway to our apartment without his leash.

Well, without it connected to me.

Toby is a very proud retriever. Like many of them, he enjoys carrying things around in his mouth. The big, plastic leash handle was no exception. Now, he carries it himself all the time. Head up, shoulders squared, walking in a gait more like a trot then a walk.

Self-walking dog?

I’ve noticed this phenomenon in other dogs too at the on Ager Road. There’s one particularly excellent fetcher there named Bynum. He’s white and fluffy and never fails to chase the ball his owner slings from a long plastic apparatus, and bring it back for another round.

I’m not sure what kind of dog Bynum is, but I don’t think he has any Lab in him. Maybe part Golden retriever?

You’ll find all kinds of dog personalities at the park. Maybe Toby and I will give lessons to the other dogs about how to walk themselves.