There was an expo last weekend for pets at a nearby rehabilitation facility so we packed up the poo pack and headed off. The temperature was in the mid 90's. We headed for the doggie swimming which turned out to be a lane designed to exercise race horses via swimming.
There were a number of life preservers available for large dogs, a few for tiny dogs (I swear one of them was small enough to fit on a guinea pig), and only one for small dogs. I put it on Gidgett. I was concerned about the straps but the ladies who were working at the pool, said they would be fine.
Gidgett was less than enthusiastic about entering the water on her own. Jeff took her to the deeper area on one side of the lane while I walked around to the other side. He gently lowered her into the water.
Gidgett immediately started swimming across to me. Gidgett had just about reached the middle of the lane when she caught one of her front legs in the front straps of the life preserver. Almost immediately she caught the second front leg. Now Gidgett was in the center of the lane unable to move her legs with the life preserver actually pushing her down. The pool's staff did not even move when Jeff told them what was happening. They could not believe a dog could have problems while wearing one of their life preservers.
The look on her face was the most scared and yet the most calm and trusting I have ever seen. She knew there was nothing she could do. She just calmly waited for me to help her. As I saw her muzzle dip towards the water, I jumped in. I held her out of the water while I waded out of the pool. My Gidgett was safe and none of my dogs would be going back in the pool with that life preserver again.
On a more cheerful note all of the dogs participated in lure coursing while we were there. As usual they loved it. Marvin impressed the big dog people with his speed and desire to catch the lure. His drive is similar to a sighthound's when he runs.
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