Two weeks ago if someone asked me “do your dogs play in the water?” I would have responded with a resounding and confident –
OH YEAH!
I mean – they’re 50% retriever and 50% poodle. #noquestion
THEY LOVE THE WATER!
Well…
…turns out in my case, only one seems to play in the water.
Most recently, I happily threw away my “city girl” membership card as I’ve fallen head over heels with long walks through State and local parks. I owe this new obsession to pet bloggers I follow who write and educate about health, hiking and exercise #takeabow –
Monday’s have become expedition days for John and I…
Surrounded by natures wildlife in all its splendor we walk a few miles, grab a healthy lunch and return with two well exercised pups and two exhausted humans by mid afternoon…
On this particular quest, I felt like the main character (woman version) in an Indiana Jones remake when we found –
WATER!
The cleanest freshwater stream I’d ever seen (remember, I’m from the city) and it stretched for miles. The water was so crystal clear it made the river rocks look as if they were dancing along the bottom.
As soon as I slid down the mini embankment, Jax followed. With the exception of his ACE hardware puppy pool on the deck, this was his first experience with unlimited H2O. #nofear
He loved it…
Harley, on the other hand, walked cautiously and purposefully, then stopped mid stream #punintended for what seemed like forever…
He’s never shown fear, but he’s not the type of dog to run full throttle into the water either, however, he adores the beach. He’ll wade at the edge for a while barking at the waves then waits for Doodle Dad to carry him past the break.
He’ll swim like a fish at the beach. #Flipperdoodle
Since his ancestors are known to gravitate towards water – I was baffled by his behavior at the stream.
Rather then frolic, he walked through it not very interested in playing, laying or splashing. #justwalking
Jaxson was Harley’s polar opposite. He lost his little doodle mind in pure puppy fashion…
I don’t believe Harley was afraid. He just didn’t seem interested.
Pawhaps “he wasn’t in the mood.”
Look at this photo – can’t you see his annoyed expression as Jax tried to shake off…
These two definitely have different interpretations of “water play” …
After our walk, we made a quick stop at Petco’s Unleashed for a $10.00 bath.
This is the coolest (and cleanest) place ever! They provide the tub, shampoo, conditioner, towels, blow dryers AND treats for your pup…
We skipped the blow dryer, and got right back on the road.
Before we reached the highway, it was lights out for both doodles. Those that do (the water) and those that don’t…
So tell us, do your dogs play in the water?
I am joining the Monday Mischief blog hop brought to you by Alfie’s Blog, Snoopy’s Dog Blog, My Brown Newfies. The Hop that wraps up the weekend.
June 22, 2015
I love the soap quote on the dogwash wall! And I love the photos. My own big dogs LOVE any kind of body of water, but we haven’t tried out the small dogs yet.
June 22, 2015
Try him out Flea, and let us know.
June 22, 2015
It totally depends! Dash will actually go swimming sometimes and Lilly is good at wading in. But sometimes they just check out the water and then move on. So funny these doodles!
June 22, 2015
They definitely have their independent thought process don’t they Deirdre? I would have thought more like “Doodle see – Doodle do!” LOL
June 22, 2015
You’re right, the best things in life are free! I’m wondering if Harley was thinking the stream was kind of lame after being to the beach and conquering the waves with his dad. I bet Jax will LOVE his first visit to the beach!
June 22, 2015
I cannot wait to take Jax to the beach in SC. The water is so calm where we go (Folly Beach, Charleston) and he will have a blast!
June 22, 2015
We have not yet taken Piper for a hike/swim in our Greenbelt thanks to the relentless rain we’ve had in Austin, but I anticipate she’ll be just like Jax, and I can’t wait to see! Wrigley, on the other hand, behaves just like Harley (no surprise!). We asked our vet why Wrigley can at times seem “all in” and at other times pretty restrained around water. She said that, for some dogs, it depends on the clarity of the water, and when they can see down to the bottom, it freaks them out a bit. This is why a dog may be more hesitant to jump in a pool or clear stream, but will go right into an ocean or cloudier lake/pond. I have never done any research to confirm this theory but it’s always seemed true for Wrigley.
June 22, 2015
WOW! Amanda, I think you just solved the mystery. I never thought about that. The stream water was very clear, and to my knowledge perhaps that’s why he didn’t move. OMD – come to think of it, he doesn’t romp around in the kiddie pool either. Very interesting analogy to an on going puzzle this week. Thanks so much for sharing…
June 22, 2015
Not a chance. Sam will walk around puddles on the sidewalk and appears to say “Enjoy yourselves…suckers!” to my brothers dogs when they romp and chase in the stream on their property. He patiently sits on the banks till they come out and then the chase begins (until they go back into the water). It’s all quite baffling since he’s a standard poodle, a breed made to retrieve water fowl! Doofas dog.
June 22, 2015
Monika, I’m of course going back, this time probably with the two little humans next door. Maybe that will make a difference – stay tuned 🙂
June 22, 2015
That’s pretty cute. Dogs do what dogs want to do. My in-laws have a cocker spaniel (supposed water dog) for years they have been trying to get him to find his inner water dog, but no such luck. He is not interested in water in any way,
June 22, 2015
Your in-laws dog could be related to Harley. His behavior was so percular and unlike him. I was so excited when we found “water” just knowing he was going to go nuts #nope
June 22, 2015
Earl hates water, and will even step around puddles!! Ethel is a little more hardy, we think, but the real test will be in the summer, when we holiday away near the sea!
sumskersandearlskers13.blogspot.com
June 22, 2015
I bet my money – Earl, you might just try the water while on vacation. Something special about the ocean (at least for Harley it seems to be). Can’t wait to hear about your experience.
June 22, 2015
Pedro loves the water! The beach, the lake, the occasional creek or riverbank. However, one of his first experiences with water was not as fun for him. He was invited to our neighbour’s dog’s pool pawty… it was a pool especially destined for pups to play or rehabilitate after injuries and there were some nice people trying to control what the pups would do and trying to get them to go around in circles around the pool. Well, Pedro would have none of that! He did not like that experience at all and at the time, I worried that he would never like it, so I got him a life saver for our next trip to a lake. Fortunately, he quickly forgot the bad pool experience there and rekindled his love with water.
As always, I love your blog post and the photos. Harley seems so dignified and Jax so relaxed… that must have been a great nap they both had after!
June 22, 2015
Alessandra, Pedro sounds like my kind of dog! I’ve found yet another trail that has a body of flowing water that I want to go to. I wanted to go today but the heat index is just way too high. I will have to wait a few days. Hopefully, Harley will “feel” like playing in the water – I’ll keep you posted 🙂 As always, thanks so much for subscribing to our blog!
June 22, 2015
Look at all that FUN!!!! We’re hoping Penny likes the kiddy pool that we’ll put on the back deck this summer… Tut & Sophie are not big fans.
Stop by today and check out our post where you can enter to win a $300 Petsmart card!
June 22, 2015
Oh My Doodle – a $300.00 PetSmart card? I’m on my way!
June 22, 2015
Jax, you look like Bailie and I when we are all wet. We love the water too. Maybe it is the white fur stopping Harley as Katie doesn’t like to get wet either. Glad you had fun!
June 22, 2015
Emma, your theory sounds good – although it doesn’t apply when I think about Leo! He loved the water. I cannot imagine with all that fur why Harley or Katie wouldn’t want to take a cool dip. #gofigure
June 22, 2015
you know Cole and Harley are more alike… more poodle. Don’t get my naturally curly hair wet! It’ll felt!!
Cole likes to wade in about tummy height only. He swam as a pup, then quickly realized swimming equaled bath and said, never mind. He likes to splash in Lake Placid, and drink it (questionable but fine so far) but barks at dogs who jump in.
LeeAnna
June 23, 2015
I guess you’re right, can’t mess with the curls….
June 22, 2015
Mr. N says he is honored! And that we should go on more hikes. He will wade in the water but doesn’t particularly enjoy swimming although he does know how. I think his issue might be that he gets so cold afterwards. It can be 85 degrees and he will still come out of the water shivering.
June 23, 2015
Tell Mr. N. it was our pleasure. I always enjoy all of the great photo’s he takes in the wilderness, and it inspired me to find some of that natural beauty here where we live.
June 22, 2015
Do you think Harley just didn’t want to get his fur wet? 🙂
Heck, I would have assumed my golden retriever would be a swimming fool. But it’s taken lots of gentle coaxing to get where we are today.
But even Honey likes to splash around in the shallows.
Who knows, maybe Harley was just holding back for Jax’s sake. 🙂
June 23, 2015
I thought one comment on this post hit the nail on the head. Some dogs don’t care for water when they can see the bottom. Harley’s reaction to the stream (just standing there cooling his legs) is exactly what he does in the kiddie pool. However, when he’s at the pet resort – he loves that pool, so I’m back to square one – Harley was just not interested in getting wet that day. We will try again on another day.
June 22, 2015
So fun to see the difference. Our Jack is like Harley – he’s not afraid of the water, but would just rather be on the beach looking for dead fish to eat. Jax is getting so big…glad to see him enjoying the water. Thanks for the shout out too…hope you’re enjoying your hikes!
June 23, 2015
We’re really getting into this walking thing. The other day, Doodle Dad came looking for us because it was getting late and he had no idea where we were 🙂 we get lost in our own little worlds and just keep walking. #loveit 🙂 You’re a great source of information and inspiration to do better for ourselves and our dogs so I had to put you out on blast Slim!
June 22, 2015
I just love this blog. It’s true representation of how much we love dogs.
Scout LOVES the water. So did Blue. Our other dogs like the water – they like playing on the edge but none will swim.
This week, J and 2 of our neighbors started a new project. They’re building a pond (this will be our 2nd) for the dogs (it’s really for Scout). They plan to stock it with fish too.
The things we do for our dogs.
June 23, 2015
Oh wow! A pond. That’s sounds PAWfect Kimberly! I can’t even imagine what life is like with so much land. You would have to pull me inside during the nice weather days. Make sure you share pictures of the project. Talk about loving our dogs, I purposely got up at dawn, so we could get a few miles in before the weather got ridiculously hot (scheduled to go over 100 degrees today), the Boys were so confused because it was barely light outside. Now I’m working and their snoring here in my office with me. #loveit
June 22, 2015
Now that’s our kind of outing! Yay! What great pictures! I love the one of them standing next to each other in the greenery and one is wet and the other looks pristine! LOL!
June 23, 2015
Yep – I’ve got two entirely different water dogs! LOL
June 22, 2015
Rita LOVES to get wet – but only legs and belly. She loves to romp along in the water, and she’ll lay down and dunk her belly, but she doesn’t like to swim. (She can swim – but she doesn’t want to!0
Jax looks so funny when he’s wet! Like a different dog. “I just washed my hair and I can’t do(odle) a thing with it!”
June 23, 2015
One comment I received about this post made such sense. The reader stated that some dogs do not like the water when it is clear and they can see the bottom. When I read that it got me thinking because Harley doesn’t care of the kiddie pool on the deck that much either. I love your sentence so much I’ve got to use it with that picture on FB – I’ll definitely give you a shout-out! LOL
June 22, 2015
what a fun time! Of course my gang loves the water too!
June 23, 2015
JoAnn, I thought about you when we were at the water. I kept thinking: “Gambler and Glory would be all over this!” We’re going back again – I’m hoping for a different reaction from Harley.
June 23, 2015
Haha! Awesome! Only one of my huskies likes to play in the water, but I am really trying to slowly work with the other two so that they can enjoy playing in it as well!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
June 23, 2015
Jenna, teach me something – do Huskies typically like the water? I’m thinking yes because it’s a great way for them to cool off. Am I close?
June 23, 2015
I love that you’re learning to love nature! It always makes my heart happy to hear how others enjoy the beautiful outdoor world. The dogs are hilarious. The look of sheer annoyance at Jax shaking off is too funny!
I’m also envious of the wash station. That place looks amazing.
June 23, 2015
This is a whole new “me” Karen – believe me! My husband asked me “when did you start liking the great outdoors?” My version of camping has always been the “Holiday Inn” so my family is speechless at this point. I’m so bummed that we’re experiencing such a heat wave (three digits today) making it dangerous to go outside. but as soon as the weather lightens up again ….
June 23, 2015
Riley has never seemed interested until I waded right in and she followed and did a bit of doggy paddle! She started coughing so I had to take her out.
June 23, 2015
That’s so sweet that she went in after you. That’s what I call “love and trust” perhaps you two can try it again real soon. Let us know…
June 23, 2015
So, so adorable! They almost look like before-and-after doodles!
Neither of my dogs enjoy water. They don’t like to see it, hear it, or stand in it. Doesn’t matter if it’s a pool, a stream or the ocean. If it’s wet, they’re outta there! Kind of a bummer, because your dogs make water look like soooo much fun!
Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie
June 23, 2015
I love the water – moving to SC in a few months (paws crossed) and I hope and pray to be at the beach most of my days. Harley loves the beach, but he was less than excited about the stream the other day. I’m going back to see if he has a different reaction. So far, Jax loves it all 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
June 24, 2015
A walk through a forest with a beautiful clear creek – what a great way to start the week! Tim and Hank both like to swim, but I had to “teach” Hank. When we got him he liked to splash but didn’t actually swim. It frightened him when his paws didn’t touch the ground. With a little patience and a long lead, I gently pulled him in to a little deeper water and he realized he could swim. Now he’s a swimming fool!
June 24, 2015
I might have to try that next time with Harley Vicki. He loves the beach, but wasn’t too keen on the stream. I am loving my Monday’s with the boys and John (that’s my son-in-law to be!) we both like the outdoors and he adores the boys. It is the perfect way to start the week. Take care.
June 24, 2015
What a beautiful place! It’s so good to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, isn’t it? Our golden retriever Moses would never go past his belly in the water, and he mostly just stood there. Sheba would swim as far as we could throw the ball.
That’s the fun of having multiple pets I think…seeing how different they can be!
June 24, 2015
Having multiple pets is the best – I never thought in a million years I would be back to two but I thank God everyday for Jaxson.