Gretel's swimming lessons!

We (me and Ron) have been taking Gretel to the beach since she was 9 weeks old. She was little and  a bit scared of the water when she was younger, but we kept taking her - on the leash, keeping her close and not giving her total freedom. Then there was winter when it was too cold to take her, and then...spring. Gretel is 10 months old now, and boy, what a difference!!!!!! She was all over that water - swimming in it, chewing it, diving in it and playing ball like she never wanted to quit. Yup, she wasn't born with webbed feet (yeah - they  really are webbed!) for nothing! No leash - free as a bird, and with her training - staying close to us while having a BLAST!

Going after the ball - or looking for it :)

This is the ball chucker that throws that sucker wayyyyy out there! Notice how the dog is NOT watching the ball, but running anyway. We gotta work on that....

Blurred but LIVE ACTION SHOT of Gretel diving head (and ears!) first after the ball!

That is me saying "good girl Gretel" as she learned to leave the ball on the truck's bed (saves us from picking it up!) !

Getting ready for the next throw...the tail never stops wagging. I've been looking forward to this day - letting her off the leash and watching her play and run and chase the ball - since she was a puppy. It's so AWESOME!!!!!

After frolicking at the beach and polishing off some Kentucky Grilled chicken :), we took her to the boat ramp to 1. rinse off and 2. learn to jump in the water after the ball. She didn't mind number 1, but number 2 gave her some pause to reflect -- it was a long way down there!

She retrieved the ball and loved the swim in...no waves. A great doggy paddle if I do say so :)

My Gretel with her favorite toy - she is a beauty. There will much swimming (and dog paddling)  in our future!