Misty Mountain's Chariots of Fire

In concert with a Movie Theme for Alexander's litter, this title of the English movie "Chariots of Fire" was chosen for Alexander's AKC registered name not only for the imagery of the ancient chariots driven by horses, but because the movie was set in England and had to do with the first Summer Olympics in Paris. The poem "Jerusalem" was the inspiration for the original title. Alexander looks forward to his first competition and I am sure he will do well. This handsome Labrador is full of confidence and spunk.(To see a larger print and read the poem "Jerusalem" please click on the poem and it will enlarge).

For The Record

This is little Alexander when he was about 4 months old. Now at closing in on 6 months old he has doubled in size and weighs almost 70 lbs!!!(more recent photos coming soon).He is now a big strong boy with attitude to spare. Learning the show ropes after tagging along on a couple of Hummer's shows, he is now King of the Grooming Table and will show his pretty teeth and stand in a very nice stack.... for TREATS, of course. The big test will be to Stand for Exam with a Judge, and he will have a chance to practice at his first show on Memorial Day weekend as well as at a Fun Match in June. He had his first Hotel experience last weekend and was so good, I was so proud of him! After a long day at the show and a few walks in the evening, he was so tired he slept all night and followed the lead of his Big Brother who knows how to conserve his energy in an air-conditioned hotel room. He even went voluntarily into his crate for a snooze. We are making huge progress!! What I am so happy about is that he eats, anytime and everything that I give him, and he does all of his "business" outside!!

More Friends

Wired for hunting, Alexander and his friends like to retrieve and hunt water fowl. They are naturals in the water and do not even flinch when it is their turn to retrieve through the wet and deep pond. This is a Retrievers' "Nervana".

Friends

Here are some photos of Alex's littermates and friends. They are all full of fun and love the water-life. Several of Alex's friends will also find themselves in the show ring!! Alex has his first official show at the Hangtown Kennel Club show in Placerville, California during the Memorial Day weekend!

SWIMMING IS FUN

"Fetch-it-Up"

Along with several other young puppies, Alexander got a chance to swim for the first time and practice some retrievals of a bumber and a real pigeon. It didn't take but about two tries and he was happily pouncing into the water to fetch the bumper and swim it back to the shore. The activities put on by a local Labrador Retriever Club, were all for practice for the Working Certificate, just one of many titles a dog can obtain through the AKC. All of the puppies had a great time and were practically giggling with joy at their first chance to carry a bird in their mouths. We look forward to another chance to get out in the country and do what Labradors do best which is to retrieve water foul and swim.

4 Months Old

Alexander is 4 months old tomorrow! He is growing so fast and weighs almost 45 lbs already. I can hardly carry him in my arms anymore. He is walking well on a leash and is coming along well with his ring training. He has lost some of his baby teeth and is chewing on anything and everything so I have to make sure he gets the right kind of chews. He is socializing well while accompanying me to every store, park, and mall that I go to and he enjoys meeting other dogs and people. One of the biggest issues we have now is trimming nails and that is not going as well as I would like. Otherwise, he is still his independent and fearless self and tons of adorable fun. This weekend we will go to a dog show to socialize and see how all the grown-up dogs behave!

A New Meaning For "Big Brother"

Hummer immediately accepted Alexander into his home and family. He is sweet and gentle and gives the puppy wide margins in his behavior. Hummer's calm demeanor teaches Alex to be calm and confident. Recently Hummer is teaching Alexander to walk nicely on a leash and to greet other dogs and people politely. If a dog could have perfect manners, it's Hummer, and it can only benefit Alexander in his puppyhood.It is amazing how dogs communicate without words but with body language and eye contact. Dogs can learn words, but it doesn't take a sentence and mostly just a look to get their point across. Hummer and Alex share everything from bones to food bowls. Not all dogs are like this; Hummer has an exceptional temperament and is well suited to accepting another dog into his pack. Someone once told me that he was an Omega Dog, the most submissive type of dog in the pack, but I think on the contrary, he is the best kind of ALPHA, the Leader, the calm and wise Mentor and Head of the Pack. Hummer knows that Alex is a puppy and is confident in himself enough to know that Alex cannot challenge his position. Hummer is also the true Gentle Giant, the Natural Nanny with a Heart of Gold. Newfoundlands and Labradors have similar temperaments and are generally happy, content, fun-loving, and willing to please.This is probably why Labradors are one of the most popular family dogs around. I think they are a great compliment to each other and will be friends and brothers always. Alexander's positive energy is good for Hummer and they play happily together. There are a few aloof dog breeds who are content to be alone,like the Akita and maybe a strong Malamute, but not the Newfoundland or Labrador who enjoy each others' company and the company of people and other dogs. Hummer is a "giver" and knows nothing of jealousy or possessiveness. He is a teacher, a friend, and protector. Sometimes the beauty of dogs in general is their definition of Relationship. If anyone knows how to set a boundary, it's a dog. I am proud of Hummer for being such a good brother to Alexander.

The First Month

There were 13 puppies in Alexander's litter, 7 boys and 6 girls. The first month of the puppy's life is mostly sleeping and eating and keeping warm next to Mom and the other puppies. Occasionally one moves away from the pack and finds a cozy place to sleep all by himself. The puppies have different colored collars to tell them apart. Alex had the turquoise collar, one of my favorite colors, the color of Mediterranean oceans and beautiful gemstones. There is nothing cuter than a puppy and watching the many stages of growth.And there is nothing like the day you bring your puppy home!

Misty

This is MISTY, Misty Mountain's Miss Independence, and Alexander's Mom. She is a wonderful Mother and beautiful sweet Labrador. I am so happy that I got a chance to meet her when I came to take Alexander home. Misty was very attentive to her 13 puppies and she did a great job feeding them and making sure they were safe and clean. She and Zeus created some really pretty puppies and I'm sure she will continue to produce great puppies in the future.