i didnt even know my dog could swim. i have had him now approx two months.
the past 4 weekends, one of my local parks: in order to generate some money, they opened up a man made swimming lake up for dogs. you pay $5 and you get a wristband. pure pandemonium. hundreds of dogs all jumping and diving into the lake. the lake is filled with tennis balls. kids with paddleboards head out each evening to gather them up.
i went everyday they were opened, except one.
the first day, my dog was just staring at the water and other dogs, whining. i was reluctant to toss his favorite ball into the water. we did a few paw wetting runs. one of the "lifeguard/end of shift ball fetchers" told me to huck it..if HANK didnt get it, she would paddle out and get me my ball back. ($12 at REI). i chucked it way out there..HANK shot out like a rocket..he ran in awkwardly, and got the ball. GAME ON! he stamina improved rapidly,and his swimming technique got less splashy and more efficient. at first big Labradors would beat him to his favorite ball. this weekend, no way..he was a motorboat!!
that is all he wants to do..he would head fake dogs trying to play..bring me back the ball. for hours. what he developed was a dive from shore. he would got in one body length and jump hard..he would get big air and dive. more than one person told me to enter him into a splash-dog contest. so i googled it at home..
there is a training facility a few hours away..i need a dock and a safe way for Hank to come back to shore. so i am going there.
anyone try this?
oh, i seriously hope they treat the water at that lake..there was some chitnaigans going on in that water..
