The Labrador Retriever - part one
Over the years I have had a special relationship with a series of four legged companions, but the 'Lab' tops the lot…
The Labrador Retriever or simply Labrador is a breed of retriever gun dog which was developed in the United Kingdom from St. John's water dogs imported from the colony of Newfoundland - now a province of Canada. Named after the Labrador region of that colony, the breed is amongst the most commonly kept dogs in several countries, particularly in the European world.
The first hound I remember was in my parent’s home, an English Bull Terrier called Pincher. He lived in a bottom drawer in the kitchen of our council house situated at the end of Maysfield Avenue, Radcliffe. The sight of him sleeping there is one of my first memories.
Since then my life has been enhanced by a short procession of Labrador Retrievers.
Sadly I don’t have any photos of Meg, a Golden Retriever who lived with us in Lowercroft Road, Bury or my first Black Labrador Retriever India (Indie) who although technically mine, resided with my Mum and Dad in their farmhouse in Haslingden and later on in Ramsbottom.
At the time I was living adjacent to a main road which courted potential disaster: I missed her, but better safe than sorry.
Indie lived a long and happy life, but as common with the species due to hip dysplasia, her back legs ceased to work and it was I who took her on the last journey to the vets in Ramsbottom staying with her until her last beautiful breath. I have never felt so heartbroken.
Beavis
My lifestyle wasn’t consistent with looking after hounds and there were a lot of gigs, a record deal and two children later before I owned my first ‘live-in’ Lab.
The colourfully named Beavis joined the family whilst we were living in Chatburn, Lancashire and accompanied us on our move to the Isle of Man in 2007.
The name came from the animated series Beavis and Butt-head as my pre-teenage sons thought it would be fun to name her after one of the characters. I was not so sure and even though an antithesis to her personality, it stuck.
Puppies are unpredictable and one day as I was leaving for a gig with my Landrover Defender full of gear, Beavis dashed out of the house and right under the front wheel as I was pulling off. Miraculously, she survived without any ill effects.
The gig was good.
Due to a failed NAS (Network Assisted Storage) drive many of my early pictures of her are locked in digital stasis and hence I only have the ones saved to iCloud. Here she is pictured during her more elegant and sophisticated older years, in her element, by the sea.
Life’s a bitch
I have never been keen on male dogs and apart from ‘Pincher’ my parent’s hound, have never lived with one.
The temperament of a female seems to suit me better, but regardless of sex, Labradors are safe and family-friendly - the only danger coming from being loved and licked to death.
The Isle of Man (IOM)
This wonderful Island is located in the middle of the Irish Sea almost equidistant between Cumbria in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. On a clear day from Snaefell - its highest point - you can see all four countries of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland along with Eire.
The Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin, also Ellan Vannin or Mann), is a self-governing British Crown Dependency. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations and is the homeland of the Manx people, a Celtic ethnic group. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Governor. The government of the United Kingdom is responsible for the isle's military defence and represents it abroad.
The island's parliament, Tynwald, is claimed to have been in continuous existence since 979 or earlier, purportedly making it the oldest continuously governing body in the world, though evidence supports a much later date. - Wikipedia
The damp hound
Labs love water and their webbed paws make them excellent swimmers. Nothing smells quite like a drying Labrador following a freshwater dip. Seawater seems to clean them properly, the salt crystalising to trap that very distinct aroma.
The island has wonderful rugged beaches and seascape which made Beavis very happy and we spent many brilliant hours walking and swimming off the Langness peninsula in the South East.
Even in the height of summer the water temperature rarely exceeds 17°C but the double layer of fur prevents the water from touching the skin of these aquatic beasts.
Suzy Starlite
Beavis first met Suzy in Laxey (IOM) where she was living at the time. The meeting was arranged following a call from one of the Island’s top concert promoters, Lenny Conroy, who told me there was a woman with an unusual name writing great songs.
It was a purely artistic rendezvous as I was married at the time and Starlite was in a relationship.
Her rented house was of single-ply wooden construction, very close to the beach and apparently freezing in the winter.
I owned a Landrover Defender (black of course) and took Beavis (also black) everywhere with me and today was no exception.
Even though of advanced age, she hopped out enthusiastically to greet Starlite as only a Labrador can, hurtling around the garden, snouting around for anything edible and settled in immediately with Suzy like they were old friends.
I sat on an old freshly painted bench table in the garden which, to my considerable embarrassment, immediately collapsed underneath me. Suzy shouted “don’t move” and captured the moment for comedic prosperity.
Anyway, cutting a long story short, Beavis decided it was time to exit having shown signs of hip dysplasia with the associated side effects - yes, again.
We lived on Bay Ny Carricky, which is situated on the south side of the Island between Castletown and Port St Mary and overlooking the Irish Sea. One night she unusually ran outside the house onto the coast road running past the house to be hit by a taxi. Instant, blissful death.
I have never cried so much.
It was unexpected and the day after the accident I contacted Highhouse Labradors who are based in Cumbria in the Lake District (Northern England) and put my name down for a puppy. They are very well regarded and noted for hounds bred for field work and mountain rescue: small, athletic and slim built.
Of course, it took a few months but when she was eight weeks old we travelled across via the ferry to collect her. The breeders, Jan and Dom (who sadly passed away in 2018) were wonderful and we met her mum and dad.
After much toing and froing with names, we left her with her Kennel Club name, Hummock (short for Highhouse Hummock).
Spiritual soul
Many Christian faiths don’t believe animals have spiritual souls. Well, I am not a God-fearing man believing that there is no afterlife, which puts us on an even footing.
I do believe however that shit happens which current science can’t explain. If I had to choose - apart from the non-drinking bit - Buddhism would definitely have my vote.
Many animals display traits that appear to give them a sense of spirituality. It may be horseshit, but my experiences have led me to believe it’s true, bringing me nicely onto Hummock.
Hummock
Although she looks suspiciously like a dog, she doesn't believe it and that’s whats important. I see her looking in the mirror and thinking - I have never seen a dog in the house before.
From the off, she was always out there. Staring into space as though she could see something that wasn’t visible to us. Her energy is amazing, courting attention wherever she goes and positioning herself for maximum visibility.
I am a pub/bar person and one of the glorious things about the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man is that the vast majority actively welcome hounds. It’s the same in France, but we will come to that in the next article.
She has been to gigs, rehearsals and recording studios all over Europe. Oh, and she loves to sing. As soon as I go above the 12th fret on the guitar she prepares herself, like a diva and then starts.
Her tuning may be questionable, but her timing is spot on.
Like a Tarantino movie, we jump forward in the chronology to unique footage (she is camera shy when performing) of Hummock doing her thing in Germany.
Hummock can also be heard barking, not singing, on this recording of It Started Raining.
Next up in part two
We continue the journey of Hummock with our move to France, the pig incident and the romance at the duck farm.
Labs are the best 🐶❤️ had a chocolate lab for many years 🐾