I fully realize it's been quite a while since I wrote a Fletcher update. It seems like this summer is flying by and I'm unable to keep up. I swear it was just yesterday that we brought Fletcher home as a little pup. He's no longer a little pup, but no where near full grown yet either.
I guess if I were to put him in human terms, he's become a tall, gangly teenager. Unlike my last Labrador retriever, who was more of a blocky build, Fletcher is thin and his legs seem too long for his body. Like I said, a gangly teenager. Nonetheless, he has that special way of being adorable even when he's in trouble, like all puppies.
Fletcher's health has been great and he hasn't had any issues at all. His visits to the vet went well and I was quite proud of him. He warms up to people quickly and, like most puppies, gets plenty of attention from strangers wherever we go.
Training is going nicely as well. Fletcher seems to learn much quicker than I anticipated and his instinct to retrieve is strong. He learned "sit" and "stay" within minutes, and he follows these commands better than most pups. However when it comes to the command "here", well he's a little stubborn at times but we're addressing it and it won't be a problem much longer. He's made a lot of progress and again, I'm really proud of him.
Fletch has rode in the kayak and been fishing with me a few times and...no surprise here since he is a Labrador...loves the water. Just like in the truck, Fletcher tends to ride for a while and then get sleepy. When he gets tired, he just walks over to me and crawls up in my lap for a nice snooze. I don't how well that will go over when he's full grown and 85 pounds, but right now I enjoy it. I hope he never outgrows that habit.
While I'm trying not to compare Fletcher to my last lab, Kody, I can't help but to do so. Whereas Kody was a bit more timid as a pup, Fletcher is less so. He charges into tall weeds/grass to hunt for anything I toss in there and on a few occasions has jumped right out of the kayak without hesitation to get in a quick swim before I scoop him back up. This brave trait will be great when hunting, unless of course we come across a porcupine or skunk. Things might tend to get interesting then.
Fletcher has become my best buddy. And that's his most important role in my mind. I needed to smell wet dog fur and have a black dog at my side again after losing Kody, and I am really looking forward to our first hunting season together. Fall can't get here soon enough.
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