I Think Halas Found His Happy Place!

[Leslie and Halas]

When Halas was less than a year old, I took him to a local creek to see if he wanted to swim.  Whenever he was in the baby pool at home, he would start pawing lightly at the water with a front paw, and his back legs would start twitching.  It looked like he was trying to swim, so we went to the creek to check it out.  He waded into the first spot that was deep, and just started swimming.  He loved it.  He's been swimming lots of times since then, but I hadn't taken him back to that creek until last weekend.

He loved it so much last Saturday, that we've been several times since then.  Today was our 4th trip in just over a week.  He just runs along, tail wagging, chasing tadpoles, dragon flies, and whatever else he can spot.  There are a few spots deep enough to swim, but he also just loves running through a few inches of water.  I've really loved watching him have that much fun.  Every trip has been well over an hour, which is a lot of activity for him, but he still seems disappointed when we head back to the car.

What struck me today is how different he is at the creek.  Normally, he's very cautious of new things.  In fact, last night, he barked and growled at some things that were sitting on the deck.  I put them there in the afternoon, and we were outside on the deck for about an hour at dusk.  So they had been there for a few hours, and Halas was laying a few feet from them for about an hour while the sun went down. But that's not where those things normally go, so, as soon as it was a little dark out, he started growling and barking at them.  He saw them all afternoon and all during the sunset, but was still worried about what they might be when the sun went down.  He won't even push a door open a little more to go into a room.  If his sides will touch the door, he won't go through it.  He won't stand on something if he doesn't know what it is.  He's just really cautious/nervous/intimidated by new things or things that are out of place.

But it's a different story at the creek.  The water is clear, so he can see to the bottom, until he stirs up all the stuff on the bottom.  But he doesn't care about that.  He'll still jump around, swim towards a clump of trees and braches that are  just floating there, push a branch out of his way and jump over it, go under low branches into the unknown; the list goes on and on.  Whether the water is shallow or deep, clear or murky (from him stirring up the bottom), he just goes with it.  He's not afraid or intimidated at all.  He's adventurous, curious, and alert.  I love seeing that side of him!  Even when the water is covering most of his body, he's still got his tail high, just wagging like crazy.  I think he's really in his element at the creek.

Here are a few pics of Halas in his element.

And, of course, he's one sleepy, curly puppy when we get home!

I've also uploaded a couple of videos to our page.  He was enjoying running up this steep, muddy hill, and then he kept trying to go up into some brush, just to see what was in there.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

ohhh- so terrific that he is a real nature boy!  enjoy!  

[F, Calla & Luca]

This spot sounds idyllic for Hals. Great photos.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Everybody needs a place where they can throw caution to the wind and be a free spirit! I'm so glad Halas found his! 

Off to watch the videos! 

[Kary, Sparty & Stella]

Looks like he is in his element!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Awwww.....Halas loves to swim and we all need to do the things we love as often as possible :) You go, Halas....swim and be brave!! Love it!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Ah, Halas, everyone needs a happy place and yours sounds just wonderful. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

How fun for him and for you to watch. 

[DJ & Chance]

Love it!  Doodle joy.

[Pat and Traveler]

Awwwww.....sweet that he found his happy place!  Love the photos!

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Oh I love this! Love that he is so happy by the creek! A nice place to keep cool too!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Awwww, I'm so glad that Halas has found his "happy place". 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

That's so great!

Luna would LOVE that place.  She likes swimming but is too cautious (aka chicken) to jump into a pool, but she really likes places with a shore that she can wade into!