Back at home (my parents' house up in the mountains), we have four dogs (two Beagles: Abby & Daisy; two Black Labs: Hugs & Kisses). We got the Beagles when I was a teenager because I adore Beagles and I always wanted one.
My parents didn't get the Black Labs until after I had moved out. The Black Labs were rescued from an animal shelter. They had been severely abused as puppies. The smaller one, Kisses, has a permanent scar of a cross that someone carved into her stomach when she was a puppy. Needless to say, these girls did not get through that situation without a few "ticks."
All Kisses wants in the world is love and food. Love me, feed me. The only time she'll ever get bitchy is if you somehow interfere with either of those two things. And she's never out of line with people, just the other dogs. She can be a royal brat to the Beagles.
Hugs is different. Hugs is special. Out of all the dogs, I have this deep connection with Hugs. Hugs is quiet. She's a big beautiful dog, an almost perfect looking Lab in my opinion. She is the Protector as well as the Giver. She babies her little sister Kisses. No matter how much food we give them, Hugs always leaves a little bit of food in her bowl for Kisses (they have their own bowls). If anyone messes with Kisses or gets on Kisses bad side, watch out, because Hugs can get vicious in the blink of an eye.
She's extremely protective of her people as well. My mom is her mama. She doesn't do well with visitors. It's been a long process. But she does really well with me. I think it has to do with the fact that I'm an extremely relaxed and calm person so it makes her more comfortable with me. I'm also tall, so that helps.
Hugs is racist. She doesn't like short people, she doesn't like brown people, she doesn't like men. So I'm guessing the person that abused her was a short Mexican/black man. Her prejudice is what worries us most, though. She has snapped a couple times. My sister's ex-boyfriend (short Mexican guy) was not allowed to so much as breathe in our house without Hugs jumping up and barking at him. She has also severely injured one of our Beagles. Kisses and Daisy (Beagle) started getting into it over food and Daisy lunged at Kisses... but Hugs was faster. Hugs picked up Daisy by her neck and flung her against the wall. She had some deep punctures on her neck and had to get stitches.
Fortunately, my parents live in the mountains in a pretty secluded area. They don't have a lot of visitors, so of all places, this is pretty much an ideal home for Hugs. But her aggressive temperament is a worry.
It makes me sad because I really really love that dog and I know my mom does, too. Hugs is our guardian. She always checks on us to make sure we're okay throughout the day. She's the only dog that will give you a kiss if you ask her, too (and they're the perfect kisses, too, just a little lick on the nose, no sloppy dog slobber all over your face), she loves getting her back and head rubbed, but as soon as Kisses comes in (as she inevitably does) to get pet, she'll back out to let her sister get the love.
I've never felt the kind of attachment I feel to this dog before. It's amazing to me the personalities all four of our dogs have and how different they each are. I really hope that one day I have a dog like her for my kids and my family, just without the aggression issues.
