Have you had any dogs before Sulo (family pets or your own)? Because it seems like you have very obvious type.
Ha! I can see why you'd think that... BUT...
I grew up with Labrador Retrievers—Iiris, above, then Sini, who made the transatlantic move to Finland with us.
I begged my parents to go for an Australian Shepherd, and eventually they relented.
Örnbacka Bogi is my heart dog. He stayed in Finland when I moved back to the States—a heartbreaking decision (that I think about all the time), but the best one for him and Sini, who was still around at the time.
Bogi got a brother after I moved away. Bear is the chunkiest chocolate Lab you could ever imagine. Sulo's head could fit in his block of a noggin like 50 times over. It's probably the size of a whole Hilla. Regardless... My mom is back on the Lab train.
Bogi turned 14 years old in March. Hopefully he can stay strong enough for us to get to hang out next month while I'm back in Finland. 💕
I co-own Bogi with my mom, but Sulo was my first "real" dog. All mine.
He raced in Alabama (Birmingham) and I adopted him in Vermont when he was just over two years old. He's taught me a lot, and we've been through a lot. These days, we're battling his near-inevitable, signature Greyhound diagnosis of osteosarcoma.
LOOK AT HOW DARK HE WAS!!!
As for Hilla, well, the sauce packet options were limited to dark brindle (more likely—57%) and black (43%). I wouldn't say dark brindle was a preference for me by any means—in fact, I almost ended up with a black puppy—but she is pretty darn cute with Sulo.
I guess you can call it...
Serendipity.
