North Lake

Our friends, the Smiths, have a house on North Lake that we have visited for many summers.  Last week, Heather wanted to practice swimming in the lake as training for the Tri that she will be participating in later this month.  I went along and decided to take Bo.  In the past there were many times we took all three dogs to their house for a little swimming exercise and cool off, but that requires A LOT of work, and with Heather already swimming I decided this time, one dog only.  Since Bo is My Dog, and I know, well I am pretty sure he will never run away from me and since he gets along with everyone and any dog he meets, I felt this would just be a wonderful outting and it was!  Bo was our first dog that Chose to jump into the water fromt he pier.  He is not like those dogs that run as fast as they can and almost fly into the water, going 15, 16, 17 feet.  No, he just goes to the end and flops in.  Then he swims towards shore, hops back onto the pier and does it again, and again, and again.

Bandit (who we nicknamed years ago Swim Swimmy) also loves the water but always needs a little push to get him off the pier.  He gets close but just can't quite commit to a jump.  Also, with Bandit being blind in one eye, he requires more watching to make sure he is heading in the right direction.  Plus, Bandit doesn't like other dogs unless he is personally introduced to them first.  Most of the houses on the lake have a dog, so having Bandit along means being aware of what is going on all around you.
Otto, now there is a strange dog.  Pointers are suppose to be great swimmers, due in part to their hunting abilities, but not our Otto.  His hind legs always go straight down in the water, and he strains to keep his head up above the water.  Then he flops both front legs up and down to propel himself where he wants to go.  He looks like he is drowning and its hard not to laugh.  Needlesstosay, he does not like the water and will not jump into the water on his own from the pier.  I am guilty of pushing him in, sorry Otto.  The most Otto will do on his own, is stand in the water and hop.  Otto will hop straight up out of the water, then of course goes back in, hop out, back in.  Otto loves car rides, endless runs and hunting, but the lake is not a favorite spot of his.
So, Heather finished her swim, followed it up with a half hour run and Bo and I chilled on deck, just enjoying the beautiful day and the wonderful view.