Katie here. I thought I should share an observation I’ve made while living down here in Alabama at the lake.
Dogs around here don’t seem to be bothered by getting their feet wet!
Jet ski dog
Huh.
Why just yesterday I saw several dogs out on the water. I guess they are not all princesses like me.
Kayak dog
As close as I want to get to the water is along the lake shore or maybe on the dock. Yesterday I did run along the shore for awhile, cause my mama and her sister and brother were swimming and I wanted to keep an eye on them.
Paddle board dog
And while they were swimming I barked and chased the waves that dared to splash on my rocks, then I ran to the neighbor’s boat ramp and barked some more; I even got my feet wet there!! Accidentally of course…that one stupid wave was bigger than I thought.
Pontoon boat dog. I think this might work best for a princess like me.
Anyway, yesterday was Saturday and lots of dogs were out on the lake with their people. I guess they were enjoying the water. So I figured I should maybe give it a try. So I asked and my people said I could come along on a boat ride they were planning.
This is the way to travel!
You may remember that I’ve been in a boat over at my Uncle’s place two times before. But that was back when it was a lot cooler outside, and not on a weekend when there were hundreds of thousands of boats out there making waves!
It was a beautiful day so I guess I can’t blame all those boats for being out there.
OK. Maybe I exaggerate a little bit. There were probably only a couple hundred boats out there, and it’s a big lake. Still…it was really bumpy.
I can look adorable even in a bumpy boat!
I was pretty much OK. Sometimes I sat up near the front between my dad and Uncle. A bunch of the time I sat next to my mom or my Aunt. But it was really windy back there.
This is not a good look mama!
If I felt nervous I’d just lean up against mama or my Aunt’s knee and they’d pet me, and then I felt pretty safe.
Sometimes a hand is all a doggie needs to feel a lot safer.
It was nice to be out there…
The fire tower has a flag on it now!
…but as soon as we pulled back into my part of the lake I knew I was almost home and I went to stand up near my Uncle and dad…
A little to the port side Captain!
…to help guide the boat back into the boat lift you know.
I’m pretty sure they were glad they had me along, but to be honest, I was happy to be back with all four of my paws dry and firmly on the ground.
I’m not sure exactly what all those other dogs see in the spray and the waves and the wet! But I guess I’m happiest when I’m next to my people. And if that means I’m in a boat, well, that’s just fine with me.
Signing off for now, First Mate Katie-girl. Boat dog extraordinaire.
Me and my mama chilling out on the boat.
Change Is Hard 