People usually think that Asbjørn is a German shepherd mix, but he’s actually a Norwegian Elkhound/Labrador cross, and he’s lately discovered his inner retriever.  A couple of months ago he started greeting anyone who comes to the house carrying an offering of one sort or another in his mouth.  Often it’s usual entryway stuff–Tage’s rainboot, one of Olof’s shoes, a stray mitten or sock–but when he’s caught off guard he just grabs whatever’s handy before rushing to the door.  It might be a toy or an empty cardboard box, a stick of firewood or a plastic pencil sharpener or an old fuse that someone’s forgotten to put away.  Yesterday when Lydia and her friend Alicia came upstairs, he met them with an orange Batman tumbler.

It’s an endearing habit, and I’m doing my best to encourage it by heaping lavish praise upon him and urging the recipients of his gifts to do the same.  Every time I come home myself I look forward to seeing what he’ll have for me.

This new trick is not without potential pitfalls, however.  While he so far hasn’t fetched anything we’d rather he didn’t, I do have a friend who used to have a golden retriever, and more than once her dog met guests at the door with a pair of her underwear hanging out of his mouth.  I admit, if Asbjørn ever starts up with that, I’ll likely be rethinking the charm of the whole thing.