White Widow

Widow is a lot of things. An awesome dog, a loyal companion, a great friend, and soon to be a mother!

 

In a basic sense, Widow is a white English Labrador Retriever from Charleston, SC that currently resides with her owner(me) in Clemson. English Labs are quite different from the American Labs that are common in the US. English Labs generally have blockier heads, shorter snouts, broader chests, and slightly shorter legs, giving them a very proportional appearance. As far as temperament, English Labs are generally more laid back around the house, however still have the energy labs are known for. This makes English Labs one of the most versatile breeds of dogs. You can do pretty much anything with them(check the "Cute Pics" section for proof of this)! Widow has a distinctively shorter and narrower face than her mother and the rest of her siblings, she carries her grandmother's appearance(see the "Lineage" section).

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Widow's temperament is probably her most unique feature. Even at a young age, I could tell she was more intelligent than the rest of her litter. While the other puppies would mill around sniffing whatever came in front of their nose, Widow would be looking around, observing her surroundings, and then look at you with a knowing gaze. Although she was the only puppy that fought with her mother, I knew she would be a good dog. Despite her smaller size making her the "runt" of the litter, she was still the first born, and took a protective position over the rest of her siblings. Reaching into the whelping box would usually be met with her tiny, razor sharp teeth in your hand while the rest of the puppies hid in the corners. One day we took her and her 8 siblings to the beach. A snarling German Shepard ran up to the puppies, baring its teeth and barking. Sure enough, the tiny 7-week old Widow ran in front of the rest of her siblings while they instinctively cowered behind her. The sight of a tiny Widow baring her teeth and defensively barking back at a dog 10x her size is something I will never forget.

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Her temperament comes with a ton of pros and cons, but mostly pros! Anyone that has met Widow will tell you how she thinks she is a human. She likes things to be on her terms and will let you know when they aren't, usually with a series of grumbles or a yip. She is friendly to everyone and everything, but not nearly as "cuddly" as her brother Bowen, who loves constant attention and will parade around with toys in his mouth. Despite being easy to train in a sense of understanding, her independent nature did lead to many instances of chasing after her down the street as a puppy, while she greeted my neighbors and explored each yard.

 

Widow is extremely loyal. She will follow you around the house and lay at your feet, and every time I have to leave her with another person I come back to reports of her missing me. 

 

As a friend, Widow is ready for any adventures you throw at her! From backpacking to overnight canoe trips to life on the road to simply hanging around the house, Widow adapts to it all with a signature grin on her face. There's nothing these dogs can't do and I'm elated to give others the pleasure of having a dog similar to Widow in their life! 

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