A Chocolate Lab and a Horse Said Hello the Quiet Way
Two noses meet in the middle, and the whole yard seems to hold still. A chocolate Labrador Retriever with warm amber eyes has stepped up to a big chestnut horse, and the two of them are touching noses in the most polite way possible. The horse's soft, dark eye looks down kindly, the lab's collar glints, and a wooden fence and a leafy hedge stand quietly behind them. The lab's tail is held low and steady, a friendly signal, and the hedge leaves tremble in a light breeze.
Labrador Retrievers are among the most popular family dogs in the United States. They are friendly, outgoing and eager to please, and they tend to meet new animals with a wagging tail. They are also strong and energetic, so they benefit from daily walks, fetch and training. Their love of food means weight management matters too, and a vet can help set a healthy routine.
Nose to nose is one of the most common ways animals greet each other. Horses use scent and breath to get to know a newcomer, and dogs do the same. In real life, a horse and dog should meet at a calm distance, preferably with the horse's handler present and the dog on a leash, so that nobody gets startled.
Whatever they are saying to each other in that quiet, breathy way, it sounds like a very good start. Friendship often begins with a simple hello. A quiet hello says a lot.
