Dog Paddling

I have been wanting to see if I can get Winnie on the kayak with me. You might remember the exercise on the lawn using the clicker that went pretty well. I did a float trip on my own today, and Sandy picked me up at the take out point. I thought it'd be a perfect opportunity to try Winnie on the kayak!

We used the boat ramp at Brunswick because it's on the C&O Canal, nice and shallow, no mud and very little current. First step: see if she'll get in at the ramp. So far, so good!

Nice and easy...atta girl...

Sandy and I were both surprised to get this far, but she was doing great!

Well, pushing her around on a kayak is no fun. Time to see if we can both try it!

Winnie: "You're not doing what I think you're doing, are you?"

Winnie planning her escape route.

Hey, look at us! QUICKTAKEAPICTURE!!!

Ed: "I can't believe this is working."
Sandy: "I can't believe this is working."

Winnie: "What's that??"

"I think I can reach it!"

(There is a scene missing here, when Winnie went overboard. Head first, because her ass end was still in the boat. I watched her go under, then when she came up I grabbed her collar and helped her back onto the boat. A few important things here - when she was in the water, her reaction was to come back to the boat, rather than to shore. I wondered if this would be the case. Secondly, by putting my left leg off the left side of the boat, I was able to drag her while she climbed onto the right side of the boat without tipping. I wondered about this too, and was very pleased to get her in the boat without getting a bath.)

Back in business! Note only one of us is wet here.

Well this little test run just could not have gone better! What a good girl!!!

Two's Company

I'd be lying if I said I didn't spend some time contemplating whether to get one of the awesome chocolate lab pups my friend next door to us has. I even got the green light from Sandy, who keeps adding animals, I believe in an effort to find out where the line actually is for me (it is at Pigs).

But as far as dogs go, I've had two, Sandy's had two, for a time together we had four. We have had three for maybe the longest time. But our current stable of two just seems too good to mess with. They're both about 2 years old, and they just couldn't get along any better. They help each other exercise, which is nice, but there are just never, ever, any conflicts between them.

So for the time being, we'll stick with this winning combination. We're lucky to have them!

More of Zsofi in Alaska!

Vickie sent me more pics of the beautiful Zsofi (Zöldmáli Ancsa), who is living large in Alaska. Thank you Vickie, amazing photos!

Rainbow...

Okay, by now we all know Winnie is a bit odd.

She sits on the couch backwards and stares at the reflection in the glass behind her.
She sits in the back of the car and faces backwards, watching where we’ve been.
She will stand out in the rain, or lie down in the snow until I make her come inside.
She will not drink water out of a bowl that’s been touched by dog slobber, even if it’s hers.
Yet she will drink water from the bird bath, or from the toilet.
Even if it has that blue water in it.

But this is weird even for her. Sandy was in the closet getting ready for work and Winnie came in to join her. This is unusual and not part of the morning routine. She’s probably only been in that closet once or twice in the year we’ve lived here. Then Sandy and Gromit left the closet but Winnie remained. Just sitting there. Looking around. Long enough for Sandy to go get her phone and take a picture.

I am right square on the fence as to whether this dog has a lot going on in her head, or absolutely nothing going on in her head.

(Sandy: No comment, please.)

Happy Mother's Day!

Accidental Art

Sandy unknowingly captured this odd image of Gromit with her iPhone camera. I think it's cool!

11,000 Visits.

I happened to notice this morning that Winnie's blog has had a total of 11,000 visits since its inception! So a big thank you to everyone who stops by here to read about what Winnie and I are up to, or see the latest of an infinite stream of silly photos of my very special dog.

THANK YOU!