Learning To Swim

Some of my Doodle friends are embarrassed 'cause they are scared of the water and don't know how to swim. I try to tell them that swimming is cool, but they don't always believe me.

I must admit that I also used to be scared of the water. the first time Momsy and Popsy took me to the beach, I barked at the waves and chased them back out to sea. But they kept coming back! And they splashed me! I didn't know what to make of this.

When we moved to Vermont, we had our own pool with a dirt bottom (Popsy called it a "pond"). I liked to wade around the edge, getting my feet wet and looking at the little frogs and lizards. One day, I saw a bunch of yellow, orange and red things on top of the water and I thought I'd walk out to investigate. I was so excited that I jumped, and before I knew it, I was swimming. Popsy didn't have his camera with him, but here's a picture of our pond.

One day, Popsy and Momsy took me to a really big pond, called Cochiti Lake in New Mexico. We met up with my pal, Rocky, who lives with Rosalie in Albuquerque. I learned very quickly that it's most fun to have a buddy to swim with. Rocky showed me how to dive off the end of a dock. We had a great time running along the shore together.

We also shared Rocky's Frisbee.

Swimming in a pond or lake is the best fun, 'cause the water doesn't taste salty like the ocean (wonder why?), there are no waves to scare you, and the bottom is nice and squishy on your paw pads. But, in a pinch, I'll also swim in a cement swimming pool. We had one of those when Momsy and Popsy took me to Florida during the winter (they decided that Vermont was too cold). The first time I saw a pool, I wasn't sure that it was for me. I dropped my ball in the water, and I was scared to go in after it.

But, once I tested the water,

There was no stopping me!!

So remember, all you Doods and Doodettes. Swimming is fun. Just don't lose that life preserver!