He's a swimmer!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Harpo had a swimming lesson at the canine rehabilitation center in Salinas today.  I was wondering if he would like to swim in a pool or a lake because he loves jumping in the waves at the ocean.  He is a natural.  A little period of adjustment to getting in and out of the pool and then he was off.  He will touch objects at home (learned from agility) but has never been a fetcher.  In the water, he learned very quickly to fetch his tennis ball.  (BTW, the trainer said not to use tennis balls because they file their teeth but he knew our tennis ball and would get it in the water.)

[Jennifer and Jack]

Awww I love this!

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

What a cutie! good for him. Did you take him there as he was in rehab? or is this how he learns to swim?

I wish I had a neat facility like this.Chester is loving the water- but hasn't quite figured out the swimming part yet. I had him in with a life Jacket..But he didn't like not touching the ground.

Good for Harpo.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Harpo is fine, no health problems.  I just heard of this facility and wanted to try out the swimming pool.  The therapist is great and does such a good job with the dogs.  The rehab facility is attached to an animal hospital and does boarding, grooming and rehab.  Actually animal rehab is becoming more readily available these days and you might check with hospitals if you are interested.  Life jackets are only used for dogs that are having some type of therapy (arthritis, obesity, etc.)

 

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Good job, Harpo!! Love the pics!!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Great photos Lynda.  I sure wish Gracie had a pool to swim in.  She gets to go in the bay after her tennis ball though.  Yes, Gracie has a tennis ball obsession and her teeth are terribly filed down.  Canines are not pointed but flat.  I even researched and bought the Kong tennis balls which were not supposed to be abrasive.  She still far prefers the real thing...Penn...but I am really good about getting those away from her.  But, doesn't really matter because they still file down the teeth.  She is a nosher with the tennis ball and will chew on it over and over.  If you can discourage the ball all the better!  I wish I had known back then before we ever threw her first ball!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

WTG, Harpo!

[Sue & Lily Grace]

How great is that. He looks so very happy.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

great photos - I think I have mentioned this before, he and Tigger look very much alike.

What does tennis balls fill their teeth mean?  I have never heard that before.

 

[Lynda Kamrath]

It isn't fill their teeth, it is file their teeth.  The surface of the ball is apparently abrasive and when they chew on the ball, it files their teeth.  See the post above by Nancie, Gracie's mom.  I am going to get rid of all our tennis balls before it becomes a problem for Harpo.  He usually doesn't fetch anyway, he just touches things with his nose - a trick from agility.

Is Tigger an ALD?  Harpo is two years old and from a litter in Texas.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Yes Tigger is an ALD.  He is four years old from San Diego. And file makes much more sense.  I misread it. Thanks 

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

That's wonderful. Harpo looks totally happy. So would he just jump into the pool and swim? That's just great. Monty's first swim lesson was also at a local rehabilitation center with public dog pool, trainer and a water vest. How cool are those centers, huh? I just randomly found it in our area. He likes the water, but still has a problem going on his own into the deep water where he no longer fells the ground. So I guess Monty is not a swimmer, just a water splasher. :-)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Oh Lynda, Harpo looks like a natural! I just love to see dogs swim and be free and happy and have so much fun in water. Murphy looks like he is his most happy when he is in the water and even though i used the rationale of having grandchildren as the main reason for building our pool last year, I can admit to my DK friends, that a very big part of it was the joy we get watching and playing with Murphy in the water. Can you keep my secret? Keep up the good fun with Harpo. As a bonus, You might see a very athletic dog you otherwise might not have. Murphy looks like Michael Phelps with fur.