Joey Swam in the Pool

We knew it would happen, though I don't think she thought it would be today, and so unexpected.

Joey has been increasingly more playful with Sophie around the pool. She likes to chase Sophie down the side of the pool before she (Sophie) jumps in after a ball then she runs to the steps where Sophie will come out. She has been really getting tangled up with Sophie lately, trying to get Sophie to play with her rather than go in the water (Joey would have better luck deciding to speak English with a Liverpool accent).

On this day Joey was harassing Sophie and she slipped. Her back right leg went in the drink and the rest of her followed. She did a great job keeping her head above water, but she tried to climb out the way she got in (right up the side of the pool) and that caused her back 1/2 to sink. I was there in a millisecond and I grabbed her collar and guided her to swim along the edge to the steps. So, in effect, she got herself out.

Once out we squealed with glee and jumped for joy and congratulated her on her brave and exciting decision to begin swimming in our pool. She wagged around - very proud - but didn't want to go back in. We'll save that for another day.

Our Angel Isn't Perfect

Joey ate the wall in the bathroom. Well not the entire wall, just a small piece (you can see it to the left of her), but still. How does that thought become crystallized in her labra brain? I know that puppies bump their mouths into things and they just start chewing, but a wall? What is there to grab on to, or be interested in for that matter?

Let me back up. I've been shutting Joey in the bathroom with me while I shower in the mornings. My theory is that I don't want her spending too much time in her crate and, really, what can she hurt in the bathroom? I bring in a toy so she won't be bored. Well, from now on I'll bring a bone too.

To give you a little history of how great my theory has bee working... At first, she came in with her raccoon and just hung out. Perfect. Then she started to get bored and she would pull all the towels off their racks. Then she pulled the towels down and chewed on the tags. Then I smartened up and folded the towels in half (out of reach) at which point she discovered the toilet paper. She pulled a enough for a big pile and she had some soggy pieces dangling from her cheeks. Now the toilet paper lives on top of the toilet tank (along with the trash bin, and toilet brush which were discovered by her in an earlier experience). Finally, she discovered the caps that cover the bolts that secure the toilet.

I have much to learn from her.

More Firsts. Swimming!

You've seen the pictures of Joey showing great interest in our pool. It is more and more frustrating for her to watch Sophie go in and out, but Joey is just not ready.

We thought it was time to take her to a water source that has a more gradual entry: a pond, a lake, an ocean. Water Dog Lake Park seems like just the spot! Roy let Sophie off the leash -> SPLASH!!! I let Joey off her leash -> SPLASH!!! I guess we were right about Joey just needing a more gentle entry into a body of water. Roy was a little nervous about letting her go like I did - worried that she didn't know how to swim. I felt she was strong enough to have her instincts kick in - plus I knew I was going in if she had any trouble.

She had a perfect teacher and grand time. She went in and out of the water. She ran like a crazed deamon along the shoreline. She barked and jumped. She posed for the camera. She chased Sophie. She tripped in the mud. She washed herself off. She came home and slept.

Joey's First Trip to the Dog Park

I'm so sorry I don't have a photo for you on this one. A video would have been the best option, but I knew I would need all of my hands and limbs to deal with this outing.

Those of you who know Joey, know that she has needed lots of socialization to over come her moderate fear of people. She also has the urge to bark at other dogs. It appears to be playful in intention, but she is barking and leaping while at the end of the leash - behavior easily misconstrued.

So I took her to the dog park, pockets brimming with treats. When I got there I saw that a man had his 3 collies there and a woman was entering with her little while fluffball. The collie were very exuberant in their greeting of the fluffball. They were obviously VERY friendly, but also very big. So I took Joey into the small dog area (which was empty) just so she could get the idea of a dog park (smells, toys, water, mud, etc.). She loved it. The dogs in the big dog area where way at the far side, so after a while I took her trough the staging area and into the big dog area.

She did great. She sniffed, she rolled the tennis balls around, she found the water bowl, what a wonderful place! I was slowly walking deeper into the park, easing her closer to the other dogs. The fluffball came over to say hello and that went well. Then the collies looked up. Joey barked, they came over with the same exuberance with which they greeted the fluffball. Joey barked and back up. They came closer. Joey took off like someone set her tail on fire - heading straight for the exit and practically ran through the fence like on those cartoons from years ago.

Then she tried to scale the fence, which obviously didn't work. So she stood her ground and met the collies one at a time. She could not have been more brave (and the collies couldn't have been sweeter). I was so proud. Her tail was down, but she met each one of them and wagged. When she was all done she waggled right over to me so proud and confident. We spent the next 30 minutes chasing the fluffball and walking amongst the big collies like we owned the place.

A Slideshow of Joey

For her adoring public...