Snow Yes. Ice No.

With doggy daycare just a distant dream, Mr. Lab Brats Daddy has begun taking the girls for a long walk in the early morning hours. Normally both girls are just excited as Mexican jumping beans to go on a walk with daddy. This time was different.

Daddy went to fetch their collars and as soon as he called for Cheyenne, she got up and walked slowly away from him, down the hallway, and into her crate. She wanted no part of what he was looking to do and this was her way of screaming it out to him.

Why the sudden change in personality? From what I understand, their daddy was walking them a few weeks ago and he slipped and fell on a patch of ice. No damage was done physically but mentally Cheyenne has now linked ice with being bad. It scared her and it scared her good.

He told me that since that time Cheyenne has resorted to walking on the high mounds of snow piled on either side of the sidewalk. She loves... no... adores snow! From rolling in it to burying herself alive... snow is her friend. This thing called "ice" on the other hand is the enemy: it hurt her daddy and she wants nothing to do with it. Ok, she will eat it but walking on it is another story!

When we first let her out in the morning, she now judges how much slippery ice there is on the ground. The smart Lab has gauged whether it is safe walking on it or not. If not, then she doesn't care how much she really wants to go with daddy. If the ice is going to be there then she much rather stay as far away from it as her little paws can get her.

So Cheyenne stayed home and played with mommy while Dakota and daddy went for a walk. Although it was great 1-on-1 quality time with each dog, I can't help but feel bad for my little Labbie. Humans mean a lot to Labrador Retrievers and this girl wasn't ready to risk seeing her daddy fall and get hurt again.