Water, Water Everywhere

Do you encourage your puppy to swim and enjoy water, or do you avoid the risk of infection, swallowing dirty water and the poor impact muddy paws will have on your carpets? Well, we chose the former and encouraged our puppies into the shallow water, so they could enjoy it and learn to swim should the worst happen one day and they find themselves fallen into a body of water. It is probably true that all dogs can swim naturally anyway, but a dog that is used to swimming will have a better chance than one that doesn’t.

Seeing how much they both now love the water, after the initial trepidation from both of them, has confirmed our decision. Charlie seems to enjoy ignoring the shallow slope into the water and instead go for the leap from above, four paws splayed outwards as he hits the water. Champa just speeds through the water as if it wasn’t there, emerging looking like a drowned rat at the other side, before shaking to drench anyone within a few yards of her and puffing back up into a dog-like shape. And then repeating the whole affair.

Unfortunately, what with both puppies being very sociable and loving running up to anyone nearby, and the fact that we are still in the process of training them to not jump up at anyone and everyone, can lead to some embarrassing situations where muddy pawmarks appear all over complete strangers as apologise profusely.

On the subject of water – a good trick from the wife: pop a small treat in each hole of an ice cube tray, fill with water and freeze. The puppies love to play with, and eat, the ice cubes, and they lick, crunch and chew them until they get to the treat frozen inside. A bit more interesting that just giving them a simple treat!