Oreo was rescued from the local animal control. This sweet lab came in with heartworms but has since been treated! We hope to find a loving home for this beautiful lab Blend.

Foster Update:  Oreo is proving to be a wonderful dog.  Here is everything her loving foster home has to say about her:

• Leash Manners.  She is learning to Heel and Sit when I stop walking, so she is improving every day but can panic and pull if something scares her. Was terrified of trucks and loud noises but is improving steadily.
• Crate/House Training.  Is housebroken and crate trained and will go in on her own sometimes to lay down.  She is loose in the house at all times, night and day and has never once been destructive in any way, shape or form.
• Socialization.  Seems very much at ease with everyone. Has been good with children but I would like to see more interaction between them. I don't know how she is with cats in a house because I can't find any friends who have one! I had a six member dinner party on Friday and she was perfect with everyone and after greeting them she fell asleep and was never under foot.
• Energy Level & Exercise.  Oreo is walked three times a day and taken to the dog park 4 times a week. She's good with the other dogs and has a low to medium need of exercise. Not hyper at all in the house and I've only heard her bark once. She has been to the tiny Mt. Dora Port and was excellent there.  She does very well while riding in the car.
• Daily Structure.  She's adjusted very well to my mellow routine. She doesn't seem to like the Holistic dog food with fish in it, but loves Rachel Ray's Beef flavored dry dog food and Publix's large cans of dog food. She gets one cup of dry and 1/4 C of wet twice a day which will increase as her appetite does until she is in good weight, maybe another 3 pounds or so. She actually asked for seconds this morning and loves that Rachel Ray food! The only time she comes in the kitchen is to tell me she's hungry. 
• Confidence Level.  Oreo is extremely submissive and does cower but, again, has improved in her confidence but I believe she will always be submissive. She's no chicken with other animals and will play like a normal dog with them, it's just with humans that she shows her submissive side.
• Obedience Training.  I do not allow her to get on the furniture which she respects and not to come out of the house until she waits. She is learning to sit, heel and come when called. She comes instantly when called, off leash, because she knows she will be praised. I use no food or treats as bribes. She listens to please me. She knows not to beg at the table and, indeed will go and lie down and ignore people eating. She is not fed at the table. Oreo has been learning not to jump up on people, but when I'm sitting down I do allow her to 'sit up' and put her front paws on my leg.  She behaves well during grooming and getting her nails trimmed.
• Personality.  Oreo is the sweetest little thing you will find. I have found no bite in her when it comes to people or dogs. She is so eager to please, so is easy to train. She just needs repetition. One of the cutest things she does is come into the kitchen in the morning and show you in no uncertain terms that she's hungry. I ask her if she's hungry and she does a song and dance, mostly without the song, and twists herself all around with her mouth wide open like she wants to laugh. It's really cute. She is not food aggressive and I have taken her food away from her as a test, given it right back with no problem whatsoever and have taken a large knuckle bone from her, no problem. She did take food too abruptly at first, from the hand, but has gentled right down now. Oreo is a sweetheart and wants just to be loved and understood.
• Ideal Home.  She doesn't necessarily need a fenced yard as long as she can be walked and go to the dog park a couple times a week and run. I think children from 5 on up would be fine. She doesn't run up and is so uncontrolled as to try and knock someone over but it would be better to have a little older children or a retired couple or anyone, really who understands a submissive dog.

*** 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.