Friday, May 25, 2007

Hot, Happy Labs

  • One beach umbrella and a filled, plastic, kiddie pool = $40.00
  • Two canine hammocks = $22.00 (on sale)
  • Three bowls brimming with cool water and ice cubes ($6.00)
  • Four frolicking Labrador retrievers ...


  • ... = priceless!

(not to mention one, big, sloppy, wiggling, delightful mess)!

'Til next time,
Joan

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay, I have to know where you got those elevated dog cots for 20 bucks!! I need two for my labs.

Unknown said...

Hi,

Awesome Blog! My life circles around my one dog and she is a handful - envious that you have four of them and four times the fun!

Cheers
Bala
http://balashankar.wordpress.com

Joan said...

Tania,

I found these clearanced at Walmart two seasons ago for $11.00 each (50% off their original price of $22.00). My May 31st post gives the details.

Happy cot hunting!

Joan

Joan said...

Bala,

I'm tickled you enjoy your one -- yes, four is a handful, but not as much as you might think.

Though it's not really four times the work, it IS four times the fun. :o)

They keep me smiling!

Thanks for commenting.

Joan

Mrs. Kenagy said...

Joan,
Do you think that these cots would withstand a chewer?(Lab-mix)

Joan said...

Hi, Nikki,

Chewers...hmmm...tough question.

I have no doubt the cot frames will hold up (tubular steel). And the mesh is stretched tight enough that a chewer can't really get a hold of it (unlike a poly-filled dog bed).

Kenya, even as a puppy, wasn't interested in chewing these cots; she'd pick up other things to chew (like a bone or rope or chew toy) and lie down on the cot and contentedly chew on her chew toy. And that was key: having chew toys in abundance available for her to pick up.

Remember, Kenya had chewed on stuffed dog beds, the coffee table, carpets, throw rugs, shoes, deck railings, the picnic table, hoses, lawn chairs, trees, etc. - BUT she's never bothered these cots, and still doesn't. I can't say why.

None of our gang ever chewed on the cots, so I really can't say how they'd hold up to chewing for sure. But, looking at some of the other cots/hammocks on the market, I think these would probably hold up better than some of the more expensive ones, just because there isn't much to grab (short of the steel frame).

If you were going to give a cot/hammock a try, I'd at least opt for a less expensive one (and these are really nice and well made for the price). If you do opt for a less expensive one (other than these), just make sure it's stable (not tippy or easily collapsed) and safe (not with small parts that a Lab could ingest).

Having said that, I don't think ANYTHING is truly Lab-proof if a Lab (or Lab mix) sets his mind to chewing it.

I wish I could be more help. I just really don't know since, though all our guys are chewers (as Labs will be), none chewed on these.

FYI, nearly all Labs give up insatiable chewing by they time they're 3 or 4 years old (sometimes even after they reach just 1 or 2 years old). Elsie quit chewing inappropriate things at 18 mos. Baxter was closer to 2. One of our former Labs took until he was 4. Ever dog is different, but the chewing stages are worst in the first year or two.

I hope you find something that works.

Blessings,
Joan