Hardy's brother, Laurel (adopted) can also be seen on our website.

Description:
UPDATE: I am so happy! Hardy is in a great foster home and they sent me these wonderful pictures and a terrific update. Finally, as a result of this description you will get a glimpse of the loving dog that we all know to be Hardy. This is so good ~ I can't wait for you to read it! Here it is:
"Just wanted to forward a few pictures of Hardy playing at the dog park and send a status. He really is a "great" dog. We have been working with him on not jumping up (when he's excited to get attention), teaching him instead to sit for attention. He has quickly learned hand signals (sit, lay, shake) and is great on a leash (we take walks 2 times a day with him). He has his own dog bed (which he absolutely loves). He also loves water and when the family is all together in one room. He definitely is a family dog and sleeps with his head on my feet when I sit on the couch. His new favorite toy is a rope pull toy.

We have been taking him on short drives (he loves car rides) to the park, errands, and even Petsmart a couple times. The only time we have been using the kennel is when we run to the grocery store.

We have notice the only time he exhibits any chewing issue is when he is not with someone. Not sure if it's the puppy in him (he gets board) or he has separation anxiety. Two times we have seen it, once we were in the hot tub and he was in the house for 15 minutes (he sacrificed a remote and cell phone....he could see us through the sliding glass door, but was not with us), the second time he was in the backyard (we had guests and let him out in the backyard) and he ripped the foam off a water line on the back porch and chewed on a plastic hose connector.

He really craves belly rubs, but loves any form of attention."

A week later: "Attached are a few portraits we took of Hardy today. As much as he loves
his bed, we had to include it in some of the portraits. He is such a happy dog.
We've had "no" more chewing issues. Every couple days we give him a new
knuckle bone, which seems to have helped him focus his chewing energy. He really
has the hand signals down now. He is also very well house trained (always asking to
go out if he needs to between his regular out side times). He's even got the
daily schedule down, especially knowing when it's walk time.

We noticed he plays with our kids gently and really impressed us with our 2
year old nephew this past week. We were cautious with our nephew being so
young, but he was extremely gentile with him. His favorite toy is still the
rope pull toy, but he really enjoys our daily fetch games and is quite the
car riding enthusiast.

We do need to follow up on his heart worm medication. We were told it would
be due at the beginning of the month. Can you tell us the best way to get it
for him?

"Thank you" so much for doing all you do to help these loving companions."

Isn't that just the best?! I love our foster families ~ they provide so much more than a roof for our pets!

Hardy came to us from Gainesville with his brother Laurel. Get it - Laurel and Hardy. We think we're so funny! Anyway, Laurel has long since been adopted but Hardy continues to wait. He is a big boy, about 60 pounds, and has all the energy and playfulness that you would expect in a young lab. He doesn't have a clue when he does something wrong; he just looks at you with happy eyes wondering, "What's up with you?" He longs for a home of his own; we long for it to be a home where they will take the time to train him into the wonderful adult dog we know he will be. If you are a big-dog person who likes to be active, Hardy may just be the guy you've been looking to pal around with! Hardy was one of the dogs selected to participate in the University of Doglando training in October. Several trainers from around the country were here for a class and our dogs were the ones they worked with!



If you're not ready to adopt,perhaps you will consider fostering Laurel. As a foster home, we provide the food and vet services, you provide the love and care! Whether for a week or until final adoption, we welcome whatever foster care you can provide!!!
*** How familiar are you with the Labrador Retriever? According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Labrador Retriever is a loving, affectionate, lovable, patient dog. Once known as the "St John's Dogs," the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in the United States. Originally from Newfoundland, Canada the Labrador was trained to jump overboard into the icy waters to haul fisherman's nets to shore. Specimens were brought to England in the 1800's by English ships coming from Labrador, where the dog's fine retrieving instincts were honed and developed. One of the best family dogs and canine companions because of their gentle, loving disposition, the highly trainable Labrador also excels in drug detection, as a guide for the blind, and service dog for the disabled. The breed is also an outstanding obedience and field trial competitor. Highly intelligent, loyal, willing, and high-spirited. Lively and good-natured, they love to play, especially in water - for they love to swim. They have an excellent, reliable, temperament and are friendly, superb with children and equable with other dogs. They crave human attention and need to feel as though they are part of the family. Labs are easily trained. These dogs are watchdogs, not guard dogs, although some have been known to guard. They have a life expectancy of 10-12 years.