Buster Brown!
Our good friend, Kathy, who worked at our veterinarian’s office warned us about keeping a third puppy. “Three dogs are too many,” she said. We ignored her.
Considering ourselves tried and true “dog lovers”, we decided to add “Thunder” to our menagerie along with his sire “Buster Brown” and our original Golden Retriever, Koa, Buster’s dame. From the beginning, we knew it was a mistake. Thunder never learned the behavioral skills which were instinctual in the first two generations. He pestered Koa until she decided to put him in his place with a snap and a growl.
Buster was more patient and could only be described as an indulgent parent. Tough love was not his style. One day Thunder wandered off from our three acre parcel in the country. He didn’t respond to our calls and whistles so I started on down the gravel road leading to the neighbor’s papaya farm in search of the lost pup. It wasn’t long before I saw the mischievous six month old running with his tail between his legs whimpering in distress chased by a big black Lab, growling and biting on his heels.
Thunder barely made it to the top of the hill. I’ll never forget the image of what happened next. There, at the entrance to our driveway, stood Buster Brown, long golden hair flowing in the breeze, his huge chest puffed out defiantly. Thunder smartly dove in between his father’s legs cowering in terror from his flight. The big black lab stopped dead in it’s tracks. The two male dogs faced each other. I froze too, not knowing what to expect and thinking wild thoughts about how I was going to separate two 100 pound plus dogs.
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But then something wonderful happened. It was as if there was some unspoken understanding between two warriors. One who was staking out his turf, the other who was protecting his son, prodigal though he might be. The lab seemed to nod in respect, turned and trotted back down the road. Thunder, emboldened by his father’s presence, barked repeatedly at his retreating attacker as if he had scared him away all by himself.
Good parents will always rise to the occasion to protect their young. It’s instinctual. It’s a shared value. It’s just common sense.