This is sure to be loads of fun for local dogs and their owners. This Saturday (8/21/04) from 2 to 5 p.m. for a mere $5 dollar cover charge dogs will get to swim in the pool at Washington Park here in Midland. Humans can swim too, of course.
Some dogs don't like to swim, but many do. And for dog lovers it's a delight to watch them have a good time.
I was able to witness an impromptu doggy splash day at a pond in another city a few years ago. And it looked like the dogs were really enjoying themselves. It followed a K-9 fun run on a hot day, and the dogs were ready for a cool dip. Someone with a chew toy threw it into the pond, and around eight dogs took off after it.
Most of the dogs would run up to the edge of the pond and just keep running so that they ended up dog paddling once they were in the water. But, there was one who had an edge. It was a golden retriever, and he/she would run up to the water's edge then take a flying leap into the water gaining several feet of lead time against the other dogs.
After doing that a couple of times some of the other dogs figured it out and began taking the big jump too. But, about half of them kept doing it the old way. So, I guess that was a sort of a doggy I.Q. test separating the quick learners from the rest.
In any event, it was a fun experience, and the Soggy Doggy Splash Day is sure to be one too. Oh, almost forgot. The cover charge will help pay for the new dog park.
UPDATE - 8/22/04: It was a splashing success! Dogs living today are the result of thousands of years of domestication, but all of that goes out the window between 1 and 15 seconds after removing the leash. Yet, overall they were well behaved canines under the circumstances, and hopefully the dog park is a small step closer to reality.
Man is mans' best friend's friend.
Posted by: Redman | August 23, 2004 at 03:36 PM