Unfortunately for some dogs, summer means a prolonged down time. Summer is the time to explore everything — and get out there.
My summer plans make up a long list of to-do things. On my list are fishing, hiking, camping, running, digging out gophers, chasing grasshoppers, scouting for places to hunt, eating treats and everything the great outdoors has to offer. No lying about for me. It’s time to take action and burn some energy. It’s summer and everyone who has spent all those winter months complaining about cold temperatures can now have their time in the sun. This includes me.
I do really like one thing that only summer can offer — swimming in a pond down in the nearby town. I start nudging Mike around 1pm daily and by 2pm (he’s a slow learner, har har!) he gets my clue, loads me into his truck and drives us into town so I can swim in the pond. Splashing is a summer bonus to take action now.
At the pond, the game is always the same. Mike throws a rubber duck, I dive in and swim to it, then I bring the duck back to land. This is generally the time when I shake violently and cover Mike with water. Well, he was just standing there in the hot sun and needs to cool down. I swear I am thinking of his best interest when I soak him with water as I shake. I like this routine of dipping, swimming and soaking Mike.
Eventually I get tired and Mike opens the truck door so I can hop in and we head for home. I was thinking that fetching a rubber duck could become a top Olympic sport. It would be far more exciting than those laps where the swimmers are just splashing back and forth in a lane — and chasing nothing. I’ve heard the whistle blow to start their Olympic lap swimming, so toss in a duck for them to grasp with their teeth and bring back. We could up the game if they heard real shotguns overhead, jumped from a camouflage blind into the pool’s water, and had to fetch back a huge Canada goose. I’m calling the Olympic committee now. It’s time to end that endless swimming back and forth and give those guys something to really swim for!! Har har! —Cameron
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