Who Needs a Pony When You Have a Black Labrador?
Who needs a pony when you have a Labrador? A cheerful black Lab trots across the backyard with its mouth open in a happy pant, and perched right on its back stands a little tan and white baby goat, balancing on all four hooves like a seasoned rodeo rider. The goat's floppy ears and alert eyes say it is fully enjoying the view from up top. Behind them, the yellow siding of the house, potted plants by the steps and a wooden fence frame a sunny late-afternoon lawn scattered with fallen leaves.
Baby goats are natural climbers and love to hop onto anything higher than the ground, including rocks, stumps, hay bales and, apparently, friendly dogs. Labrador Retrievers, with their famously patient and good-natured temperament, are often tolerant of this kind of thing, but it is not something to encourage for long. A dog's back is not built to carry weight, and sharp little hooves can scratch. Better options for a climbing kid include sturdy platforms, wooden spools or a low ramp in a safe enclosure. Labs themselves are active, social dogs that thrive on daily exercise, games of fetch and plenty of time with their people.
This ride will probably end with a hop and a skip back to solid ground. Until then, the Lab is the most good-natured taxi on the block, and the passenger seems perfectly delighted.
