There is nothing like being witness to a Labrador Retriever when it is around water. It is as though they have finally found their element and without it they can neither be whole nor survive. This weekend was the Community Bark’s June River Dip at our local dog park in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. This group meets once a month at a different dog park in our area so we can mingle while our pups get rid of all that pent-up doggy energy. Unfortunately, the Lab Brats haven’t been able to go to many in the last several months. First, it was too hot, then Cheyenne threw out her back leg again and then it always seemed to rain the day before the event (not much fun when Labs dive into every mud pool they see and want to curl up in your car’s backseat on the way home *laugh*). This time though, it was a perfect day and, at worse, the Labs get wet – not muddy – at this park.
We had a blast! As soon as we got close enough to the river – where Dakota could hear the dogs but not see them – she took off! Normally she is by our side but when she knows there is water, there is just no stopping this pooch. Sure, Cheyenne was on her heel but Dakota is the real water dog in the family. Not only do she love to run and play in the water, but she loves to lay down and roll around in it – something resembling a serpent sliding on its stomach. It is so much fun to watch her and she never seems to get tired.
They spent over an hour in the water chasing after their balls (we brought the “chuck it”) – briefly coming out to drop the ball at our feet while shaking a combination of river water and mud all over us. The smiles on their faces made up for the fact that we were soaked from head to toe.
After we were done (not the dogs but us humans), we took the Lab Brats for a hike up the hilly terrain of the dog park to dry off some and then back home it was. Not only did they sleep all the way home but for a day and half afterwards. Now that is some Lab exercise that not only works to tire out of the pups but is a blast for one and all!
