Al Hansen
Well-known member
Bev and I took Chili and Chaco swimming this morning. The only contact with water that Chaco has ever had has been our fish pond by the house. I think most of you on this site have seen the pictures I have posted with him in the pond. Well, today marked the first time in his life that he ever went swimming and it also marked the very first time that Chaco retrieved a bumper by himself. To say the least, we are very proud of this little guy. It was quite a day for him.
Al
We had Chaco watch Chili as she went out and retrieved several bumpers. Chili is the instructor.
Then we tossed the bumper/bumpers several more times to see what Chaco would do. On this, his first attempt, he followed Chili for a short while and then decided that the water was too deep, turned around and headed back to shore.
Finally Chaco went all the way out with Chili and came back in with her. The thing that amazed us was that he never once "doggy paddled".
He was becoming quite comfortable with following his instructor's lead and followed Chili wherever she went.
I had Chili sit by my side and Bev held Chaco. This time I flipped out the bumper maybe 20 feet and said, "Chaco, dead bird!" Well, the little bugger took off like there would be no tomorrow and was on his way. Then as he approached the bumper he started to doggy paddle. Heck, we were both laughing back on the shore line. Chaco got so excited that he pushed the bumper under the water with one of his front paws. Finally, you'll see him stick his head under water and grab the bumper. The rest is history.
Good boy, Chaco! You can tell he is excited by how high he is holding his head out of the water.
Within a half dozen feet he settled down and swam like he had been doing this all his life. What a pup!
These last few shots will tell it all. My heart was about to burst I was so proud. Any of you that have trained a dog know exactly what I am talking about.
Well, after much praise, we had them both sit with Bev holding Chaco's leash. I then tossed out two bumpers to see how the instructor and the student would do. I wanted to see if they were starting to get tired. I'll let you be the judge. I had my camera ready, tossed the bumper, then yelled, "Dead Bird!"
Al
Al
We had Chaco watch Chili as she went out and retrieved several bumpers. Chili is the instructor.
Then we tossed the bumper/bumpers several more times to see what Chaco would do. On this, his first attempt, he followed Chili for a short while and then decided that the water was too deep, turned around and headed back to shore.
Finally Chaco went all the way out with Chili and came back in with her. The thing that amazed us was that he never once "doggy paddled".
He was becoming quite comfortable with following his instructor's lead and followed Chili wherever she went.
I had Chili sit by my side and Bev held Chaco. This time I flipped out the bumper maybe 20 feet and said, "Chaco, dead bird!" Well, the little bugger took off like there would be no tomorrow and was on his way. Then as he approached the bumper he started to doggy paddle. Heck, we were both laughing back on the shore line. Chaco got so excited that he pushed the bumper under the water with one of his front paws. Finally, you'll see him stick his head under water and grab the bumper. The rest is history.
Good boy, Chaco! You can tell he is excited by how high he is holding his head out of the water.
Within a half dozen feet he settled down and swam like he had been doing this all his life. What a pup!
These last few shots will tell it all. My heart was about to burst I was so proud. Any of you that have trained a dog know exactly what I am talking about.
Well, after much praise, we had them both sit with Bev holding Chaco's leash. I then tossed out two bumpers to see how the instructor and the student would do. I wanted to see if they were starting to get tired. I'll let you be the judge. I had my camera ready, tossed the bumper, then yelled, "Dead Bird!"
Al