Living with a Labrador

September 5, 2014: Brodie Brown Turns 5 years old

Today is the day my brown baby turns 5 years old.  The birthday isn’t special to him, not that I can discern.  It is special to us, or more correctly, it is special to me.  It reminds me of all the anxiety I built up telling Mark I wanted a new dog (after promising him I would ‘take a break’), the anticipation about visiting a breeder, the overwhelming cuteness factor while looking at multiple liters of puppies.  I knew without a doubt that I wanted a chocolate male puppy.  The breeder didn’t allow you to touch her puppies, but I saw this baby boy with beautiful eyes and a nice block head – exactly what I wanted.  Then we got to meet his ‘parents’ – Angie a sweet smallish black female who was just docile and loving & Turbo a sturdy yellow male with a block head and what appeared to be endless energy (first clue!). Both champion field Labs continuing distinguished blood lines.   

I wasn’t first pick of that litter, so I had to wait…. Those who know me know that patience isn’t a virtue I possess, but I waited with no other choice.  At six weeks she allowed for litter picks, and I was second.  She called and said ‘the chocolate male is your boy, the first couple picked a black female!’ – I was ecstatic and I went the next day to touch my puppy!

Perfect Baby Boy!

We didn’t pick him up until he was 10 weeks old.  A product of finishing some work on the east coast, personal commitments and wanting the breeder to crate train him before I picked him up.  If anyone has every crate trained a puppy it is a painful process; they go from the comfort of their littermates and mother to a plastic box and they cry…boy do they cry.  It takes a few days, sometimes a few weeks, and they learn their crate provides them their own space in the world, no one will bother them, they can sleep, rest, and be safe.  But the process is painful and the breeder offered a crate training service I was more than willing to pay for.

I flew home from New Jersey/Philadelphia the Sunday before Thanksgiving that year, Mark picked me up at the airport and we drove straight to the breeder to pick up “Kennedy”.  I had decided to name him Kennedy (after President John Fitzgerald Kennedy).  The minute I met him for the second time I knew it didn’t fit (second clue, he wasn’t going to be regal).  We called him ‘puppy’ for a few days, then went out for Sushi the night before T-day and started brainstorming names.  I LOVE football, as much as I love Labs…so we tossed around football inspired names.  I thought ‘Montana’ was too long, ‘Rice’ or ‘Jerry’ wasn’t a fit, I rejected ‘Romo’ right away (Mark is a Cowboys fan).  I wasn’t ready to use ‘Walsh’ yet, using Bill Walsh’s name will come at a time in the future – but it really didn’t fit either.  Then Mark came up with John Brodie, the quarterback for the 49ers prior to Joe Montana.  It clicked immediately and because he was also brown – “Brodie Brown” was given his name!  He wasn’t near as excited as I was to have a name, but it truly fits his personality. 

It’s been 5 years now – and we can’t imagine life without him.  He makes us laugh, he makes us mad, he loves us, and we love him – he fits our lives perfectly.  Brodie lives the life of riley; trips, boats, swimming, running, tennis balls, devoted dog sitters, rice & chicken dinners, walkabouts, neighborhood kids to play with, expensive doggie beds, a spot on the sofa, and every toy possible in his toy box.  He is also high energy, requires a lot of exercise, can be obnoxious and stubborn, is definitely spoiled, and at times looks at you like you are the devil.  Every day a learning about what it means to share your life with a high energy Lab. 

On Labor Day each year I throw him a birthday party with cupcakes & a candle, mostly it’s about the kids in his life, but everyone gets a cupcake including Brodie – AFTER we sing ♫♪♪♪♫♫ Happy Birthday to you ♫♪♪♪♫♫… to Brodie Brown.  As we celebrated year 5 Brodie enjoyed his annual vanilla cupcake with all the kiddos he loves!