Khai

Hello! My name is Khai, and I'm still a baby, even though I'm already quite big and strong.

One of my absolute favourite things in the whole world is water. If I find a muddy puddle, a creek, or anything wet and splashy, I'm in heaven. There is nothing better than charging through dirty water, splashing everywhere and having the time of my life. My human doesn't always appreciate how much mud I can bring home, but I think it adds character.

I'm also a champion cuddler. Every morning I like to snuggle right up close to my human and enjoy a proper cuddle before the day begins. Sometimes, when she's relaxing on the sofa watching TV, I'll sit on the landing at the top of the stairs and quietly keep watch. I like knowing where she is and making sure everything is okay.

My nose is one of my greatest talents. I love sniffing absolutely everything. Every walk is full of exciting smells and important investigations. The problem is that when I'm following a really interesting scent, I can become a little deaf. If you call me back while I'm in the middle of important sniffing business, I may decide I need just a few more seconds. Apparently this is something I'm still learning. I've heard that little bits of cheese and sardines might help convince me that coming back is worth my while.

Speaking of food, I am very fond of raw meat, which is very good for me. I also love cheese, sardines, peanut butter, and frozen carrots. My human puts peanut butter in my Kong and freezes carrots for me as special treats. I think she's pretty clever.

I love making friends with other dogs and playing with my four-legged mates. I'm still learning all the social rules, though, and sometimes the older dogs have to remind me about my manners. I don't mean any harm—I just get excited. The good news is that I'm getting much better every day.

If I had to choose, I think I slightly prefer male humans. They're usually bigger and stronger and can handle my enthusiastic play a bit more easily. I love female humans too, of course, but sometimes I forget just how strong I am.

I absolutely adore children. They're fascinating and fun and I always want to say hello. Unfortunately, because I'm still young and excitable, I can sometimes be a bit too much for them. I'm learning that not everyone wants to be greeted with quite as much enthusiasm as I have to offer.

My human has taught me lots of important things. I know how to sit, stand, and wait very politely for my dinner. If she needs to take my food away, I let her because she is my leader and I trust her completely. She's taught me good manners and helps me learn how to make good choices.

I would never intentionally hurt anybody. Sometimes, when I get very excited, I do little nips, which I know isn't ideal. I'm working hard on that. Please remember that I'm still a baby, and babies make mistakes while they're learning.

Because I'm still young, I need quite a lot of attention and things to do. I think that's the Labrador side of me. If I get bored, I may decide to entertain myself, and apparently chewing things that don't belong to me is not considered acceptable entertainment. Keeping my brain busy helps me be my best self.

One thing I especially love is my human's scent. Sometimes at night I'll sneak into the bedroom, pick up her pyjamas, carry them to my bed, and curl up beside them. They smell like home, and that makes me feel safe.

I'm very proud of how far I've come with my walking. I used to lunge towards people and other dogs because I was desperate to say hello to everyone I met. Now I've learned to walk calmly beside my human on the lead. I stay close, pay attention, and try my best to be the good boy she knows I can be.

I'm not perfect yet, but I'm learning every day. I'm loyal, loving, playful, clever, and always ready for an adventure. Give me a muddy puddle, a cuddle, a frozen carrot, and the people I love, and I'll be the happiest dog in the world.

Love,

Khai 🐾