February 17, 2011

It's a darned good thing my Auntie Jeannie loves me, that's all I can say. At least someone loves me this week.

"Mars," you say, "You seem unhappy. What's up?"

HA! I'll tell you.

I overheard Marianne saying that this is her favorite weekend of the year. She was making plans to go someplace with Auntie Jessica and she kept saying "dogs" so naturally I assumed I was going along. Whatever it was, it sure sounded like fun. She seemed very enthusiastic about it.

HA! Turns out that there's a huge dog show in town this weekend, coming on the paws of Westminster (and weren't we happy to see Hickory the Scottish Deerhound win!?!). How exciting is that? I was thrilled! I'd get to meet lots of wonderful dogs, watch some obedience and agility trials and do a little shopping at the vendors' booths.

HA!

"Sorry Mars, you have to stay home," said Marianne. I stared at her in disbelief. She rubbed my ears which felt good, but "Why can't I go?" I whined. Marianne sighed. "Look, I know this seems unfair, but honestly, until I'm sure you won't bark at other dogs, I can't take you. I can't take the chance that you'll cause a disruption."

HA! Me? I never do anything like that.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said to Marianne. "Perhaps you have me confused with Meryl."

"Perhaps you have a very short memory," Marianne retorted, somewhat sarcastically. "Who barked at the dogs at the swim place on Saturday? Who barked at the dog walking down the street yesterday? Who barked at the Dumb Friends League dog at the station TWO HOURS AGO?"

Oh, well, um (cough) yeah, I guess I have been barking a lot. Funny, it seems necessary in the moment but now that I think about it, maybe I should have kept my opinions to myself. Rats.

I hung my head and made my eyes really big. "Please?" I wheedled. "I'll be good, I promise." I wagged my tail, just a little, to show remorse.

"Nope," Marianne said briskly. "Now, go find your bone and stop pestering me. I want to look over the schedule for the dog show."

Oooh, new bone! I almost forgot.

As I said earlier, My Auntie Jeannie loves me lots. She has two Labradors, Nicky and Parker. Parker was Marianne and John's 5th CCI puppy. He was released from the program after a few months in Advanced Training in California. I think he did it on purpose so he could go live a life of leisure and fun with Rod, Jeannie and Nicky. Marianne says I am probably right, and not to get any bright ideas.

Anyhow, last Saturday Jeannie invited me to go swimming with Nicky and Parker at the Canine Fitness and Fun Center. I'd only been swimming once before at Grand Lake, and I was on a leash and I wasn't very good at it. Marianne described my swimming style as "flailing," whatever that means. All I know is, it felt weird to not have any ground under my feet.

My CCI pal Calhoun was also invited, and he's never been swimming. Nicky and Parker go often so Auntie Jeannie said they would help Calhoun and me learn to swim.

It turned out to be lots of fun. Well, not at first, because I spotted a tennis ball in the water and leaned w--a--y over the edge to get it.....and fell in. Boy, was I surprised! I got water in my nose and sneezed and then I couldn't figure out how to get out of the pool. It was a little scary, there for a minute. But I found my way over to the ramp and scrambled up it. WITH the tennis ball, I might add. I am a retriever, after all.

While I sat on the side with Calhoun, catching my breath, Nicky and Parker showed off for us. Nicky likes to launch himself into the middle of the pool after a toy. "CANNONBALL!" he barks and SPLASH! Water everywhere. Parker likes to swim in gracefully from the ramp and retrieve toys.

I wanted to go back in but was a little nervous. Marianne and Auntie Jeannie and Auntie Elizabeth helped me put on a life vest. It looked ridiculous but I did feel more secure. Plus, it had a handle on the top, so if I needed help one of the humans could grab me. Maddie, one of the employees, actually waded into the water with me and helped me get comfortable. Soon I was swimming for real! I even got brave enough to do a cannonball like Nicky. Check out the attached slide show for photos, including my cannonball, that my Auntie Diane took.

Meanwhile Calhoun was pacing nervously around the edge of the pool. "Are you sure you're OK?" he asked anxiously. "I don't know about this. How about we all just play over here by the side of the pool? Huh, guys? Come out and play."

Nicky ignored him. Parker told him, "I was nervous at first too, but now I like it. Come on in!" "Yeah, get a life jacket and try it!" I barked.

Marianne and Elizabeth buckled a jacket around Calhoun and Maddie carefully walked him down the ramp. "Calhoun, get the ball!" Elizabeth called and pointed to a tennis ball floating nearby. Calhoun eyed it suspiciously. "No, I don't think so," he said. Maddie helped him swim into the middle of the pool, but as soon as she let go of his vest, Calhoun made a beeline for the ramp. He hauled himself out and shook furiously.

"That is a ridiculous waste of time and energy," he declared and refused to get in again.

So Nicky and Parker and I swam together and retrieved toys and balls. Every once in awhile we'd climb out and go stand next to one of the humans and shake like mad. Just our little joke to make sure they were as wet as we were. Heh.

Eventually the humans said it was time to go. Maddie took me into a little room and rinsed me off and put drops in my ears, (UGH) which she said would keep me from getting an ear infection. Then she toweled me dry and walked me into the lobby.

"Did you have fun?" everyone asked. "I did!" I exclaimed. "When can we come again? And can Meryl come?"

Marianne looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure Great Danes are enthusiastic swimmers, but we can ask her if she'd like to try it," she said.

Calhoun emerged from the shower room looking damp and rumpled. He shook his head. "Maybe I'm part Great Dane, because I just don't see the charm of swimming, nope, not at all." He turned to Auntie Diane. "Can we PLEASE go home now?" he asked. She laughed and patted him. "Sure," she said.

I went home and had a nice long nap. After I woke up I told Meryl about our adventure. "I'll try it, but only if they have a life jacket in my size," she said. "It sounds kind of scary. Maybe I'd rather stay home with Calhoun." I rolled my eyes. Brother.

Oh, and that new bone? A gift from my Auntie Jeannie. An ostrich femur! No fooling. YUMMY. Marianne promised she'd buy another one at the dog show.

Chow for now!

Mars

Questions or comments for Mars? Would you like to be notified when Mars updates his DogBlog? Send him an e-mail!

Would you like more information about Canine Companions for Independence or perhaps be a puppy raiser? Call 1-800-572-BARK or go to CCI for details.