Re: [Cal_Boats] sailing doggies(pwest)

Jerry - Yes, I was aware of their breeding. When I'd take him to the beach, he'd go nuts if I left him on the beach while I went for a swim. It was all anyone could do to keep him from coming after me. Back to sailing however, I've heard that having a dog that is fearless of the water isn't always a good thing because they'll jump in at the least opportune moment from the boat or the dink!! I've got a fairly long and hilarious (now, not then) story about our first cruise which included 2 dogs, a 14 year old blind and deaf Westie and a Black Lab/Pit Bull mix that I rescued. That trip had so many firsts it is a wonder we survived. Maybe I'll submit it to Latts & Atts and take up the whole "you think that was dumb" section ;-) Paul In a message dated 11/25/2009 4:49:22 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, so… [at] yahoo.com writes: Paul, Labs, from what I've heard, were bred as water rescue dogs. One came upon a fellow drowning in New Orleans, during Katrina, and grabbed him by the collar when he was going down for the third, or last, time, and dragged him to safety. Doc Councilman, the famous swim coach at Indiana University, swam the English Channel with his lab(animal rights activists called in animal cruelty and tried to prevent it). Before he did that, he and his dog jumped in the water from a ferry boat, off Alcatraz Island, after a group of tri-atheletes had taken the plunge, and swam to the marina. I, just through luck, caught it on "Wide World of Sports" Jerry --- On Wed, 11/25/09, pw… [at] aol.Wed,<pw… [at] aol.pwe> wrote: From: pw… [at] aol.From<pw… [at] aol.pwe> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] sailing doggies To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrouTo: Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 11:26 AM My Yellow Lab, Crockett, learned to swim at a very young age, less than 2 months I think. Took him out on a finger pier and he sat down to scratch his ear but didn't look where he was sitting . . . fell right in the water. He took it in stride but scared me to death as I could just barely reach him. After that I couldn't keep him out of the water! He'd lay down in puddles just to be in the water. One time, while walking him at night, he laid in a puddle on top of a bull frog . . . ever see a dog jump straight up like a cat?? I thought I was going to wet myself I was laughing so hard!! Unfortunately he passed before I got a boat. Paul