Colorblind...

Cupid is the last of the boys still available. He has the sweetest face and one of the calmest temperaments. I know he is going to make some family very happy. Tonite someone messaged me asking about the puppies, as her friends lost their Chocolate Lab last week. They are set on another chocolate, and I sent the link to a Connecticut breeder who breeds mainly really nice chocolate dogs, I spoke with years back when looking for Bella. I actually had my heart set on a Chocolate girl, not knowing a thing about colors, just that I had always been a total sucker for Chocolate Lab puppies over the other 2 colors! I didn't know a thing about English versus American, silver (don't even think about it!) versus Fox Red (just a very dark version of yellow, and one i LOVE!) Little did I know that most breeders who breed for yellow, dont breed to Chocolate with their yellow girl, due to a genetic crossing that makes puppies lacking in that dark pigment (black) Lab noses "should" have. (this lighter brown nose and pink eyes dont change a thing though of their temperament and health!) So, a chocolate wasn't available that spring of 200 when Bella joined our family, and wouldnt change a thing! I couldnt ask for a sweeter, more loving dog, and remember that when my heart melts at the Chocolate puppies I see often on Instagram accounts. Or yesterday in town, when the blue eyes of a Chocolate Lab 12 week (or so) puppy almost caused me to DRIVE OFF MAIN STREET. OHHHH, the cuteness!!! The good news is, I couldn't or wouldn't love my little 10 year old boy, Luke, any less if his squinty eyes were hazel instead of their icy blue. My 17 year old's curiosity would still be as sweet if Carly's thick locks were blonde instead of brown, (but it would probably just mean she had to PAY for that like her momma!!) I wouldn't be as envious of my college girl's amazing hair if it wasn't as gorgeous red as it is, but Joce would still be witty and a great listener. And, my youngest daughter's - high school freshman -- WAHHH! - dimple would still melt hearts (especailly boys, DANG IT!) if her skin had Joce's freckles, but instead it is creamy smooth and quick to let things roll right off of it with a laugh. What matters is on the inside. Imagine a life where that ruled. We could throw out our scales and our make-up, eat whatever the hell we want (!!!), stop doing our roots, burn our high heels. I know that isn't reality and has nothing to do with dogs, but I would like to believe it does. LESS SHALLOW than my love of dark chocolate and cookies, Does a persons light or dark skin change who they are? Why does it matter whether someone is wearing a Yarmulke, a Topi or a baseball cap? What would the world be like if our initial reaction to someone was the SAME, regardless of what we see? All we can do is start with ourselves and our children to get that world. DANG, its slow going, but so are ALL important things. In the meantime, remember your dog's color should be the very last thing on the list of factors in deciding on a new puppy, EVEN IF those blue eyes are COMPLETELY irresistible!!!