Swimming Lessons

Mrs. T and I have had five dogs now.  Three of them were hunters.  Max the Wonder Dog.

He was a "designer dog" before the term was invented being a Golden Retrieve X German Shorthair Pointer. The book and movie Marley could have been based on his antics. He was also a phenomenal hunter of pheasants and grouse who taught me how to  benefit from his skills.

Max was followed by  Chessie and Muffy two Chesapeake Retrievers. Those two lovable girls added retrieving ducks and geese to the skill set. Oh did they love the water.

Chessie von Milville

They were all "outside dogs" with a kennel who had inside the house privileges to socialize with the family. When I had to give up hunting due to a bum knee, we decided to have a companion/guard dog.  An extra large GSD named Baron filled the bill. He proved to be my best buddy....

Now we have Lily a female GSD and an unexpected "rescue dog."  As a wild/abandoned wanderer she was first taken in by our friends Steve and Jewel to their dairy farm. A year later she came to us upon Steve's untimely death. Whatever her early life experience were they certainly were not good. Bonding with Mrs. T. Lily is now our first "house dog." She has quickly picked up on most of the social graces she obviously missed as a puppy and has proven to be a lovable companion. Still she has what seems to be to be quirks compared to our experiences with previous dogs.  She is ready to fight at the sight of another dog, doesn't play with toys, fetch or swim.  We're working, so far unsuccessfully,
on the later.....