Bark: The abrupt explosive cry of a dog

As a young puppy Banta barked lots. We thought our previous puppy had barked more than optimal but Banta barked more in the first week than Apex had in the last year. When she didn’t get her way she had the funniest little trill. She would point her chin to the sky and let out this half whine, half bark that was unique. As she matured Banta rarely barked except when she wanted to play with another dog.

[photo 1: Banta’s Litter – two yellow lab puppies just a few weeks old – one facing forward the other with its nose up looking like it is howling – in the whelping kennels at Guide Dogs for the Blind with shredded newspaper in the background; photos 2 & 3: close-ups of Banta in Bill’s arms just after she got off the puppy truck – 8 weeks old] 

Balance: a state of bodily equilibrium

Banta is such the little athlete. Many times she reminds me of a gymnast turning in mid air and landing 180 degrees from where she started. Some times she even makes a little pre-jump move that looks just like she is getting ready to do a tumbling run.

One day Banta did a hand stand when she slipped off the stairs and got stuck between some boxes and furniture. I will always remember the day when she was still a young puppy. I told her to sit and instead of sitting she did a little 360 spin maneuver. It was so cute that I had to laugh when I should have been correcting her behavior.

[photo 1: Banta standing at the bottom of our stair in by the open front door with a tug rope at her feet, photo 2: close-up of Banta just starting down the stairs, photo 3: side view of Banta in our family room – she has been playing tug and just lost her grip on the toy]

Banta: GDB Puppy #2
Female Yellow Lab
Born: 26 July 2009 to Jenkins & Sunrise, San Rafael, California
Raised: 23 September 2009 to 3 November 2010 by Bill & Raelyn

[photo: this photo was taken by Lisa Thompson in a studio setting with a white background in December 2009 – Banta’s head and shoulders from the side with her head facing the camera – she has a serious look on her face and wearing her puppy jacket]

When each of my pups finds there career in life I put together a book to remember their puppyhood. Over the next several days I will post a new part of Banta’s book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Banta: a lemon flavored Soda pop popular in India
[photo: close-up of Banta with a happy look on her face, her mouth open and some of her pink tongue showing]