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Quoting bearsmom:
Wow you have no snow and flowers!
She's a cutie. I have two that look similar. One is a Lab/pit bull and the other is a lab/(and possibly hound?) Funny how that lab coloring prevails.

Thanks! Trix really is almost 50/50 in temperament. She can be as stubborn as the human members of our family, or as gentle and eager to fetch as the purebred labs. She does have 'selective hearing', though! The biggest difference is in her rear legs and haunches. She's a sprinter, not a stayer. She can jump really high, as well. Of course, we went on a trip when she was 6 months old, and found a wonderful kennel for her to stay at...where a greyhound rescue operated! She came home howling and 'talking' just like the hounds, and started jumping really high. I think she might have cleared a 4 ft chain link fence. :) We did have flowers and no snow. Winter 2009, Trixie saw her first ever snow, I think there's a pic in here somewhere. Sadly, those marigolds were some of the last flowers of the year. 2011 has been horrible. No rain since...well, a very long time! We've had more than 80 days with 100+ degree (Fahrenheit) days. That broke a record set almost a century ago for the Austin, TX area! We also haven't gotten any moisture from tropical storms like we usually do. We just got some strong winds which fueled the Bastrop and other fires the past couple weeks. Not a good thing at all. I'm used to long summers and short winters, with nothing in between, but this year is just unbearable! We have to keep very close tabs on Trix or she'll stay out in the heat, and then get sick when she drinks water. :( I really can't wait for cooler temps and RAIN!!!

Quoting 5dogsnow:
She looks similar to my pit/lab mix. pits can jump very high. Our Sally is the most protective in the pack of us and the others. We had our living room remodeled and she got quite upset at the builders taking the old stone fireplace down and away "stealing Their stuff" in her eyes. And when grandchildren visit she lies in the doorway of the bedroom to protect them. Another funny quirk she smiles a huge grin when I come home. Aren't dogs just great ?!!

Absolutely! Dogs are awesome! Trixie is (most likely) a black lab/bull terrier mix, but most people shy away when we say 'bull terrier' (probably like mentioning a pit bull!) so we usually don't specify. Regardless, the lab temperament and desire to please seem to breed true. My two nephews are just old enough to interact with Trixie and Ruth, and my foster Sassy (officially BonBon, but I just couldn't call her that!) It amazed me that Trix, who loves to 'nip' at anyone who's ignoring her, was SO gentle taking treats from my almost 3 yrd old and just 1 yr old nephews. Their mom isn't fond of big dogs (they're the best, I think!) but even she agreed that it was safe for the 3 year old to play w/Trix. The one year old is just now walking, so he gets bowled over just by her tail, never mind the rest of her! I know what you mean about the dog being upset that strangers were allowed in to change things. When we moved here (10/2009) we had to keep her in her wire cage or in another room while the movers unloaded. She wanted to make sure they knew who was boss, and not to bother any of her people! Just a couple months ago, we had a new fence put up (professionally, so no leaning). The workers didn't mind the dogs as long as we took them outside on leashes (all three would have either run up to the men, or made a dash for 'freedom' otherwise) but when they barked, and the workmen couldn't see where the bark was coming from-well, they made sure to put the fence between them and the dog! My first dog, which was a lab/golden retriever/border collie mix who also looked a bit like a newfie (picture black fur like a golden's, double coat like a lab, and herding instincts and white spot of a border collie), was a very large girl. Winnie weighed about 95 lbs, and was waist high on me! She had the loudest, deepest bark, and was very good at scaring away door to door sales people. :) We trained her to bark when the doorbell rang...it made people very polite! But we used to joke that if anyone ever broke in, the worst she'd do is lick them to death! She lived to be 13, which was pretty old for a dog born back in 1990. Every day with my new labs is like an adventure, that's for sure!