Weegie takes the plunge
Weegie has been eyeing up the pool from the very first day. We've been swimming since late May, but she has mostly been barking at us. We couldn't coax her in. Craig tried putting her on the first step, but she just splashed for a couple of minutes, jumped back out, and resumed barking.
There wasn't any question in my mind: she wanted to come in. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. She would dodge out of reach if we tried to grab her.
I know she loves water. So one hot day last week I picked Weegie up on my way out the back door and carried her into the pool with me. She was surprised, but she seemed to be pleased when I carried her all the way out to the middle.
When I let her go, she swam back to the step easily, climbed out, and began to agonize (= bark) about getting back in. Eventually, she did.
I still carry her in to get wet, but now if she climbs out, she dives back in. When she swims, she doesn't swim for the exit. She swims out in a circle and back. Or, if we are both in the pool, she swims from one to the other and back.
So far, she hasn't tried to swim without us. She sits on the step and waits, wondering, "Don't you want to go for a swim?"