I've booked Sunday January 1, 2012, from 1:45 to 3/p at the
Paws Aquatics Canine Swim Center
http://pawsaquatics.com/
Located in Milwaukie just off Hwy 224. It has by far the largest and nicest pool for dogs in Oregon: Indoor, 40 feet by 10 feet, heated to 88 degrees, ramp and bench. Plus a walk-in shower for after-swimming bathing.
http://pawsaquatics.com/The_Pool.html
I am thinking of keeping this appointment even if nobody else can come, just to have the experience and get a great start to the New Year. The appt is flexible at this point. It is hard to find a time this popular pool has an open space and when Lynn can transport us. Warm water in January will be a treat!
I will be going soon to check this place out. I already had Orka's vet fill out the paperwork for a swim therapy evaluation. This was when Orka was refusing to swim. Now he is swimming.
Here's the info on the therapist, impressive work:
http://pawsaquatics.com/About_the_Trainer.html
I thought that it might be very interesting to have a session where we go there, the therapist evaluates Orka's beginner swimming (her requirement anyway to use the pool), then somebody demonstrates teaching Orka 4 basic beginner water working skills. I can do it or Bettina who is very expert can do it, LOL, if her schedule allows it. Then I can use the shower to bathe him. Will have to take him someplace else for drying and trimming.
It costs quite a bit for the evaluation and pool time and I will pay for it. I got permission to have Newf ppl attend to watch and learn at no extra cost (but other dogs pay $40/hour per dog to use the pool and the evaluation is $54).
Tried to find a day / time when ppl would not be at work, during daylight in winter, and when the pool is not already reserved. This pool and therapist are extremely popular here in the dog world.
The weather during the holidays can range anywhere from balmy and sunny to totally covered in snow and ice to endless rain. Everybody wants a white Christmas and that's rare here. But it's another La Nina year -- last year was also and we had record mountain snowfall, record rain late in spring and crazy river flooding until August.
We will be busy practicing joring, carting, wagoning, kayaking, water rescue, backpacking, snowshoeing etc during the Holidays.
If anybody wants to join, let me know! Actually we're busy practicing something or other every day. The difference during the Holidays is Lynn has a few days off, not many, to transport us plus gear.
Right now Orka and I are going lots of places on the bus and Max.
When all are y'all free during the holidays?