Both of them got into something on their run at the polo field -- maybe something dead, or just the usual horse poop. Anyhow, they are both sick and I've been washing crate pads over and over again -- but it's worth it because they are SO affectionate.
You can figure on Blue and Belle beginning to settle down around age 2 and to be the Perfect Dog by age 3 or so. Once the Labs get through the puppy sillies, they are the best trained and most reliable dogs around. Until dogs were banned from our local Home Depot (not all were as well behaved as Shelley, I fear) I used to take her shopping with me and she would walk at heel and carry my purchases for me. When we met somebody in the aisles, she would politely sit and grin around whatever was in her mouth. She really was a favorite among the employees.
Is Belle still a sweet quiet thing, or has she gotten through her adjustment period? ;-)
:) I think Belle’s adjustment period lasted 30 minutes. She is a pushy little thing. She finally decided she could live in a crate at night BUT insists that she be released the minute the alarm goes off. She will sleep for hours in Bob’s lap but when put in her playpen or her dog run outside she becomes a terror. She shreds the paper in her playpen, turns over her water inside and outside, drags her dishes around like they are toys, etc. etc. She can howl with the best of them and has now taught Blue to do that too.