Stumpy has loved the water since her first introduction. Even when we aren't playing she would stay in the water, just walking around, for hours.
However, she had always had a bit of trouble staying afloat.
She walked across the bottom of the lake and "bobs" pushing herself off the bottom when she was over her head, flailing wildly with her front paws. The fact that she couldn't swim never stopped her from going out into the water, over her head. I always stayed close, in case she got into trouble.
We spent some time at Cuzzin Baxter's house who happened to have a pool.
Baxter's dad took a few minutes to give both Baxter and Stumpy a swimming lesson. Baxter, being a Shar Pei cross, abhors water, except to drink out of a bowl.
The lesson was not wasted on Stumpy, though. She became a power swimmer in no time at all; swimming the length of the pool, harassing all of us to come swimming with her and in general showing off.
Of course she rested, occasionally, too.
