Eisboch wrote:
I brought my Lab, "Samuel Adams" with me to the boat this time. Goofy dog
thinks this is his summer vacation.

At first he was a little timid with the whole scene. The bouncing docks and
having to jump from them to the swim platform of the boat where new
experiences. The last time he was here he was just a puppy and we carried
him aboard. Now, at 2 years old and 100 lbs, he has to figure it out for
himself.

He loves sitting by the open pilot house side door watching the boats and
ducks float by and keeps checking with me to make sure I see them also. I
took him down by the small, sandy beach area and he headed right into the
ocean water and started swiming around without hesitating for a second, an
instinctive trait of Labs. Back at the boat he got a fresh water rinse down
with the hose and then lounged around in the cockpit, drying out in the warm
sun.

A half mile from the marina there is a 40 acre conservation land area with
hiking trails throughout. We just came back from our second 2 mile "walk"
were he could romp around unleashed, exploring the woods and exotic scents.

I just tried putting him in the truck to run down to the store. No way. He
headed right back down the gangway and to the boat.

I think he's acquired boating fever.

Eisboch



It was a sad day when my dog could no longer jump from the dock to the
swim platform (when he was about 14yr old). I tried to carry him on
board, but soon found out he did not have the balance and strength to
maintain his balance while underway.

He has since passed to the great kennel in the sky, but I did miss his
excitement when we got close to the lake. I think he could smell the
water, and he would howl knowing he was going to the lake.