In the summer of 2022, we introduced Chuck to the pool. He was hesitant at first, but with a little coaxing, he entered the pool to swim to mommy. (I took many “claws to the body” during this process.) We next taught him how to exit the pool safely, and then attempted to have him swim with a tennis ball in his mouth so that he would not drink all the chlorinated water. These days, if you mentioned the words “swim swim”, Chuck leaps into the water with reckless abandon to do his “laps”. I think it is safe to say that Chuck is a water dog.
Throughout the summer of 2022, Chuck had the opportunity to improve his swimming skills in the reservoir at Sly Park, Lake Coeur d’Alene, the Pacific Ocean, Flathead Lake, and in Jackson Hole. Chuck even got the chance to go boating, with his “emotional support person” by his side.
I happen to be quite enamored with the concept of “dock diving”, so in the May of 2023, Chuck had the opportunity to take his first “dock diving” lesson which was probably the funniest thing I have ever witnessed.
To be a good “dock diver”, a dog needs to be able to look up and out when jumping from the dock. Chuck does not do this, so needs to improve on some things before he is ever going to be on the pro circuit. Regardless, he was (at least) courageous enough to leap from the dock to chase after a tennis ball, he just wasn’t all that graceful at it. After a thirty minute lesson, Chuck was thoroughly exhausted though and slept the rest of the day. So that made it a “win” in my book!
