Monday, May 27, 2024

Before you can swim, you have to get your paws wet!

 (Sharing one of our most popular posts from 2012 because….baby Scarlett!)

If you have ever read Albert Payson Terhune's books, about his Sunnybank collies, you know that HIS collies seemed to enjoy swimming. The Place was comprised of 40 acres, and located on a fire-blue lake. The house was Victorian, with wide porches, covered with Wisteria. The collies would romp and play across the lawns, through the woods, and they would swim in the lake. Now I believed this meant collies enjoyed swimming. But I have discovered that this isn't actually true. Some collies may enjoy plunging into a lake or ocean, they may enjoy the feel of the water as they paddle with all four paws through the cool depths. But most do not like swimming at all. I had a golden retriever, Chloe, who loved the water. She would never turn down an opportunity to jump in for a swim...collies, not so much. 

Maybe Terhune's collies enjoyed swimming because back in the 1920's and 30's they didn't have a little something called air conditioning. So the only way for a collie to cool off during the hot summer months was to jump in a lake. But collies have now become spoiled...

 Me: "Hey Abby, want to go down to the beach and go for a swim?" 
Abby: "No thanks, I'm just going to lay here on the couch, in front of this air conditioner, and nap. Can you put a Lassie movie on for me? Oh, and could you get me a Frosty Paws while you are up? Thanks-bye" 

Still, I think all dogs should be introduced to the concept of swimming. (Who knows, I might yet discover a collie who actually loves to swim!) Since we are working on socializing Scarlett, by introducing her to new people, places and things, it seemed like as good a time as any to take her to the beach. We invited Holly along, but not because we thought Holly might encourage Scarlett to swim, Holly has no interest in swimming. It was just her turn to go for a ride in the car. 

My daughter, Scarlett and Holly had fun, running and playing in the sand. 




And Scarlett graciously agreed to pose for some pictures. 




But then it was time for swimming. And her natural instincts had her paddling immediately…straight for shore. She proved she can swim, but will she every view it as something enjoyable? I don't think so...I think she'd rather chase sheep - on nice solid ground! Guess we can't all be swimmers! 




4 comments:

  1. What a sweet memory. Neither of our current two have enjoyed swimming.

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  2. Lulu: "That looks like a great place to walk and swim, and baby Scarlett is so sweet!"
    Chaplin: "Our brother Dennis used to go wading in the water, but he was such a bad swimmer! He told us how he would splash his paws around and throw water everywhere just to go in a circle!"
    Charlee: "But remember what he told us about Tucker? Tucker would run away from every wave because he hated to get wet at all!"
    Chaplin: "Yep. And Trixie would go out into the water just to get some peace and quiet. Or so Dennis said."

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  3. Hi hi hi! Ojo here! I can swim too. But I would prefer not to, thank-you-very-much! This is a fun memory!

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  4. Oh, the close-up photo of Scarlett is beautiful! A framer for sure! I had to chuckle when you said Collies don't really like to swim, I remember our childhood Collie, Lady, and she preferred to snooze in the a/c or under a big bush out front in a deep dirt hole her beau, Brandy, dug! Having Huskies, they weren't much for swimming either. Now having zoomies through their kiddie pools they loved! And Wolfie was the only one who ever went to the beach, and his first (and last) time he was not fond of the sand or the rolling surf! But I did get a few great pics of him looking at it! I love your flashback to sweet baby Scarlett. Looks like your daughter had fun with Scarlett and Holly! Love these memories.

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