Eddie Swimming |
|
23 July 2024
Our dog Eddie joined us a year and a half ago as a scared little fellow who had spent the first two years of his life on the streets and then in a shelter. A week after bringing him home he ran off during a hike, making his way back toward our house before somebody found him. Loud noises like motorcycles and fireworks sent him running for cover. It was a problem to walk him at night because he was afraid of the dark. He came to us with healed injuries to his ribs and a gait bearing a slight limp, so not doubt these fears were justified in his former life. He followed Paula though, and learned to put some of those fears aside. Some. For a time he protested against leaving the house for a walk unless we took him in the car. And he would avoid even puddles that would get his feet wet. Paula was always a swimmer though and he stood back and watched her fun. Like forcing him to leave the house to go for walks I also forced him into the water. There is a pond in the Tobel we frequent that Paula loves to swim in and on several walks I chucked Eddie in as well. He was not a fan. But then one day rather that watch Paula run across the streams that delta into said pond, Eddie chased after her through the water. That was last summer. This year I've been working with Eddie on swimming, bringing him out into the lake on a raft and then having him swim back. Still, on his own he wouldn't go beyond wading. Until last night at the lake. Eddie wanted to get to Iwona who had just arrived to swim and so he headed out into the water and swam to her. It was the first time he'd initiated swimming of his own volition. He's really come a long way!
Two years ago newly arrived Eddie looks askance at Paula forgoing a perfectly good bridge to go through the water.
