Lovely day for a dip
Labradors, particularly of the working variety, love water.
Lakes, ponds, even puddles, attract them like iron filings to a magnet.
We had decided to give Gilbert a gentle introduction to water, remembering Roxy’s first venture. Following her friends, she dashed into a large pond and was soon out of her depth. Probably she would have been alright, but I panicked and hauled her in on the end of her retractable lead, like a furry chocolate fish. I didn’t worry about her after that.
For many months, she doggy paddled in an upright position, looking for all the world as though she didn’t want to get her hair wet.
Today was a beautiful day for a walk and we went to an area of the forest very familiar to Barry, who used to run there before the advent of the chrome alloy knees. The well-defined paths had disappeared and we followed an animal trail, probably made by roe deer. to where we thought there was a small pond.
A few minutes beforehand I had commented that I thought Gilbert would be quite cautious, as he seems to be a rather careful puppy. How wrong I was! We were upon it before we realised. There was a loud splash and Roxy and Gilbert were in it immediately.
They loved it and splashed to their and our great delight, galloping in and out and around in the tussocky grass.
Gilbert's flying pig impression
They are both sleeping soundly now, dreaming sweet dreams of sniffs and sights and sounds – and water!
