Swimming Lessons

Last weekend, we took Duncan to Cherry Creek State Park. For those of you not familiar with the area, this park is a HUGE off leash dog park along the Cherry Creek about 15 minutes from our house. We thought that we could exhaust the pooch and enjoy the nice spring weather walking around the park. Up until this day, Duncan had yet to go swimming -- baths don't really count. When we found an area that had other dogs playing in the creek, we told Duncan to go play. He was a little hesitant to run around in the water, but quickly decided that it was doggy heaven. Of course, it wouldn't be a true day at the park without a wet doggy shaking all over you! Eww! After a while of frolicking, we walked a little farther and found a marshy area with a pond. I thought to myself, "I wonder if he would swim if I threw a stick in the deep area where he would have to doggy paddle?" I picked up a stick, threw it in, and and told Duncan to go get it. He looked at me like, "Lady, if you wanted the stick, why did you throw it in to the middle of the pond?" He took a few steps into the water, doggy paddled for about 10 seconds, turned around, grabbed the closest stick to him and promptly got out of the water. He looked so pleased with himself that 1. he swam for the first time 2. he retrieved a stick 3. he thought he had out smarted us and we didn't notice that it wasn't the stick. We got a pretty good laugh out of it. Anyone out there give doggy paddling lessons? :)