Dog Community

My Little Mark Spitz

Posted : 3/6/2006 10:54:07 AM

Okay, so I'm severely dating myself with the Mark Spitz reference!

Anyway - We take Slick swimming to an indoor pool which has "Open Swim" on the weekends. This means there can be LOTS of dogs swimming at the same time. Slick had previously only swam with 1 or 2 at a time, who were usually in the corner doing hydrotherapy stuff.

So yesterday we went to Open Swim and there were about 7 big dogs all jumping and swimming together. I saw a whole new side of Slicky that cracked me up and totally surprized me! He became fiercy competitive! I think he thought each retrieve was an actual RACE. In order to further his advantage (being the only puppy swimming with the big dogs) he started using the advanced technique of pushing off the wall so that he could return faster!   I looked at my SO and said "how is he making such SHARP, FAST turns?" When we looked closer, sure enough - he was pushing off the wall with his paw enabling him to do a 180 degree turn.

He was just SO funny! So frantic to beat the big dogs - shoving himself off the wall, checking over his shoulder to see if anyone was gaining on him, paddling like a spaz with a very determined look in his eyes!   And everytime he "won", he came out of the pool SO proud and ran over to us to make sure we saw. cutie..

Does anyone elses dogs do the pushing off the wall thing? Or is my puppy just crazy smart? LOL [

]

ewin0210

Posted : 3/6/2006 10:57:55 AM

That is so freakin cute! I wish we had a pool for dogs in this area!

BTW, there's a lab at our dogpark that looks so much like slick. Scout and him are wrestling buddies. I took a few pics of him and they're in a photo album. His name is Jigs.

janobonano

Posted : 3/6/2006 11:10:54 AM

Go Slick go! Do they have swim clubs for dogs? Sounds like he could win some gold medals. [sm=biggrin.gif]

Rupert has only swam in lakes, not pools, so I don't know if he would push off. I think Slicky is one smart lil cookie.

lucybass

Posted : 3/6/2006 11:21:18 AM

He sounds like a perfect competitor for those 'dog challenges' I see on TV. There's one event where a ball or a stick is thrown from the side of a swimming area. Once the dog sees the item being thrown, he runs and jumps into the water, which is measured by distance, to retrieve it. It is the cutest thing to watch

jensw

Posted : 3/6/2006 12:52:14 PM

Go, Slick! That's so cute. I wish we had swimming pools for dogs around here. I need to teach Roscoe to swim, and he hates cold water. lol

twelvepaws

Posted : 3/6/2006 1:25:55 PM

That is so cool you have a pool for dogs. Slick, name and all, sound like he's meant to be a water dog! Pictures!

So much for dating ourselves, I was totally in LOVE with Mark Spitz. I was a little kid when he was winning his golds and I was completely into swimming. I had his pictures all over my bedroom. I was pretty ticked when he got married, why didn't he wait for me?!

labcrab

Posted : 3/6/2006 5:02:28 PM

The pool is actually a lifesaver for us this winter. DH will NOT go to the park if it's too cold out, but he will go to the 85 degree pool!!

Ah, the only bad thing is that I think Slick is swallowing too much water, cause the past 2 times he's had "emergency poop" right by the side of the pool. Nice, we're making alot of friends...

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 3/6/2006 6:34:12 PM

I think we need to see pictures of Slick Spitz. Yup, I'm sure of it. We need pictures!!!!!! please??

labcrab

Posted : 3/7/2006 8:36:01 PM

Okay, here he is showing off a little after getting out. Sorry the pictures are so DARK..

labcrab

Posted : 3/7/2006 8:38:05 PM

And here he is getting ready to jump in off the side - something the BIG dogs were all afraid to do btw.. [

] They all took the step side..

twelvepaws

Posted : 3/8/2006 9:19:19 AM

OK, L.C. your beautiful picture (photos thread) does NOT look like you could remember Mark Spitz! You might, however, be his daughter! Your eyes and your hair are to die for (dating myself, again, with that phrase!)

labcrab

Posted : 3/8/2006 10:10:02 AM

omg - thank you twelvepaws! Yeah, I'm almost 40... will be 39 this summer - I definitely remember Mark Spitz! And of course, haha - I wish my hair were straight!

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 3/8/2006 4:51:03 PM

Now I'm jealous. That looks like so much FUN!