Bringing Up Lucca

Most of us remember the hardships of our preteen years - from the jibes of our peers to the uncoordinated growth of limbs and extremities. For humans, it's a time of awkwardness and uncertainty. For dogs, it's a nonissue. Just shy of one year old, Black Lab/Pyrenees mix Lucca is the picture of canine pubescence. She's tall and gangly; somewhere between a puppy and a dog. Her paws are too big for the ends of her legs and her tongue is too long for her mouth. But none of this seems to concern her as she trots along, happily salivating around a plush chew toy. For her, it's all about living in the moment.

Lucca's caretaker, an editor for the Dog Whisperer television show, adopted her at two months old from a breeder in Missouri. She was high energy and hyperactive, but was never allowed to become frustrated. Her exercise regimen began early, with long bouts of running, rollerblading, and Offroad Hiking in Runyon Canyon (so named because of Lucca's tendency to vanish from the trail into the underbrush, tromp around for 20 minutes, and then reappear further on.)

She's a highly social animal, always interested in new arrivals, and is a perfect example of how dogs share energy: Lucca will tailor her style of play to the energy level of her playmate! With Rupert the Black Lab, she is loud and high-energy. With her office pal Dottie the Staffordshire Terrier, she is quiet and medium energy. And with Dottie's surrogate mother Lucy, she is very low energy and reserved.

None of Lucca's little friends seem to mind that her ears have grown faster than the rest of her head. They don't poke or tease her for her minor slobbering problem. And her lack of coordination doesn't seem to phase her at all. She is, like all other dogs, firmly rooted in the now, and as human beings, we would do well to follow her example.