Persistence has a way of proving itself, and a tiny Labrador in Jupiter, Florida, showed exactly how far determination can go.
Gracie, a four-month-old pup with plenty of enthusiasm, had one important responsibility that she took very seriously. She fetched her dad’s newspaper each morning, a task she usually completed without trouble.
But this time the Sunday edition came packed with inserts that made it much heavier. Even with the extra weight, Gracie stayed focused on her mission so her dad could read his paper.
Her effort was worth it, and her dad, Peter Schulz, caught the charming moment on video.
A Little Labrador Gives Everything She Has
Gracie never forgot her routine, and picking up the newspaper dropped off in the yard was something she looked forward to every morning.
The latest edition, stuffed with advertisements, colorful comics, and piles of inserts, made her usual assignment much tougher than usual.
Once Peter called out, “Gracie, the newspaper,” she shot across the yard and headed straight toward the driveway.
Gracie tried gripping the bulky paper, only to realize that this was nothing like the lightweight ones she normally handled.
Even so, she refused to give up, especially with her dad cheering her on. Peter encouraged her with a cheerful, “Bring it here, Gracie!” then added, “I know, it’s a big one today, it’s Sunday’s paper.”
She stopped for a moment in the grass, took a second to regroup, then lunged for the paper again as though she had a new plan.
It was almost like she was thinking, “This won’t beat me.” When she continued to struggle, Peter reached over to help.
“Here, let’s do this,” he said, holding the plastic cover. “Here, grab it like this, here, pull it.”
Gracie, determined to finish the job herself, ignored the easy option. She tried once more and finally pulled it off.
Under the weight of the oversized paper, she nearly toppled over several times.
Still, she kept going. Nobody gets everything right on the first attempt, and she was clearly not quitting.
By the end, she completed her task like a champion, leaving both her and Peter beaming with pride.
Following The Footsteps Of The Family Dogs
Peter’s home was filled with dogs, and Gracie was not the first to take newspaper duty seriously.
She lived with her mom Maddie and her grandma Dakota, two dogs who were well-practiced in the morning routine. Now it was finally Gracie’s chance to prove herself.
Even though the bigger newspaper posed a challenge, her motivation to follow the older Labradors carried her through.
A video showing Gracie hustling to fetch the newspaper before Maddie or Dakota demonstrated exactly how much spirit she had. She consistently snagged it first, making Peter proud of her progress.
Today, Gracie has grown into a full-sized Labrador, but she still carries the lessons she learned as a little pup. Now she sets the example for younger dogs, just as her mom and grandma once did.
The bulky Sunday edition no longer causes her any trouble. After all the practice she put in, she knows how to handle it better than anyone.