Diane (Jakester's mom) and I have been meeting once a week at the beach with our newfs for a day of swimming, chatting, and just plain fun. Jake and Molly need swimming to strengthen their muscles, and it gives us the chance to get together and chat.
I have always had sporting dogs. They love the water, but they need a reason to swim out - such as a ball being tossed out into the water. In fact they can become a little obsessive about it. They will retrieve and return to shore until they completely exhaust themselves.
How delightful it is to watch Molly sit on shore looking out to sea. She sits alone, enjoying the smells, with her back to Diane and I just enjoying herself. After a while, she'll get up and saunter down to the water, walking in until she can't touch bottom any long and swim off into the distance. She has no set purpose, she swims way out - so far out that you have trouble keeping an eye on her - then swims off to the left or the right and after a long while, she swims back in, shaking off the water as she walks along the beach. She will do this several times while we are sitting at picnic tables chatting. I am amazed by her love of the water.
This past week, Jake, who was on lead at the picnic tables, kept whining to Diane to be let off his lead. He walked past Molly, in her usual spot with her back to us looking out to sea, and went to the water's edge. Diane and I both giggled knowing he had to tinkle and for some reason the water's edge was his favorite place to do this. Not this time.... he walked into the water and swam off into the distance with no particular purpose, just for the joy of it.
I am constantly amazed by these special, special dogs. I wouldn't trade having them in my life for anything in the world.
I have always had sporting dogs. They love the water, but they need a reason to swim out - such as a ball being tossed out into the water. In fact they can become a little obsessive about it. They will retrieve and return to shore until they completely exhaust themselves.
How delightful it is to watch Molly sit on shore looking out to sea. She sits alone, enjoying the smells, with her back to Diane and I just enjoying herself. After a while, she'll get up and saunter down to the water, walking in until she can't touch bottom any long and swim off into the distance. She has no set purpose, she swims way out - so far out that you have trouble keeping an eye on her - then swims off to the left or the right and after a long while, she swims back in, shaking off the water as she walks along the beach. She will do this several times while we are sitting at picnic tables chatting. I am amazed by her love of the water.
This past week, Jake, who was on lead at the picnic tables, kept whining to Diane to be let off his lead. He walked past Molly, in her usual spot with her back to us looking out to sea, and went to the water's edge. Diane and I both giggled knowing he had to tinkle and for some reason the water's edge was his favorite place to do this. Not this time.... he walked into the water and swam off into the distance with no particular purpose, just for the joy of it.
I am constantly amazed by these special, special dogs. I wouldn't trade having them in my life for anything in the world.
I look around my office... Newfie stuff and pictures everywhere. Sometimes, I think to myself that I ought to bring in some more "professional" items. but that would be so cold, so boring... and screw it... this is "my space", my home away from home