Bob M
New member
Eleven years ago, on a slightly chilly late summer day, I took a brand-new Newfoundland puppy to my favorite beach for the first time.
As the little guy looked at the great big lake, just a bit hesitantly, I was overcome with a sudden determination: I want this dog to love to swim.
Grabbing a handful of treats, I walked fully dressed into the water, all the way up to my waist, then hollered, "Nelson, come on out! I've got goodies for you!"
My wife looked at me like I was crazy, but the puppy didn't hesitate an instant. He ran into the water, swam straight out to me, and gladly gobbled the treats I held out to him. He hasn't stopped swimming since.
Today I took that dog back to that same beach, and the minute I let him off leash, he ran right into the water to play. I threw his green squeaky squirrel into the lake over and over, and each time he swam after it joyously. He seemed to be having as much fun as I was, just as on that day eleven years ago.
But oh, how precious each trip to the beach is now.
Good dog, Nelson. Good dog. We’d better head home, but we’ll come back again tomorrow. I promise.
As the little guy looked at the great big lake, just a bit hesitantly, I was overcome with a sudden determination: I want this dog to love to swim.
Grabbing a handful of treats, I walked fully dressed into the water, all the way up to my waist, then hollered, "Nelson, come on out! I've got goodies for you!"
My wife looked at me like I was crazy, but the puppy didn't hesitate an instant. He ran into the water, swam straight out to me, and gladly gobbled the treats I held out to him. He hasn't stopped swimming since.
Today I took that dog back to that same beach, and the minute I let him off leash, he ran right into the water to play. I threw his green squeaky squirrel into the lake over and over, and each time he swam after it joyously. He seemed to be having as much fun as I was, just as on that day eleven years ago.
But oh, how precious each trip to the beach is now.
Good dog, Nelson. Good dog. We’d better head home, but we’ll come back again tomorrow. I promise.
