I took a relaxation-day-off yesterday, and spent most of it with Sasha, a German Shepherd owned by my boyfriend (called 'Garrick' around DKos parts) and me.
I recently received Sasha's Pedigree Alternative Listing (PAL) through the AKC - she was rescued from a shelter and though obviously purebred based on appearance and temperament, of unknown pedigree. This will allow me to show her (eventually) in obedience, agility and other 'performance' (read: non-conformation) events. I'm pretty excited about that.
When I came into her life, she was one-hundred percent a daddy's girl. It's been a challenge to be accepted at the same level as Garrick, but we're getting there. Hopefully our time together on Friday will help that.
Join me over the jump for the story.
I have a 2000 Saturn Wagon, and Sasha rides well in the back. I started our day with stops by both my sister's and dad's places - but they weren't home, so I couldn't entreat them or my nephews to join us. Sasha and I headed west through DuPage County, Illinois, til we reached my favorite Forest Preserve: Herrick Lake.
Herrick Lake is a pretty little place - the lake is fair sized, but probably takes 30 to 40 minutes to walk the path around it. There is a commisary on the lake, and they rent boats - one man kayaks, two man kayaks, canoes and rowboats. The cost for any is a reasonable $10 per hour, and includes life preservers.
The reason I like Herrick best of the forest preserves because it's beautiful, and because it's the place my dad used to take us to hang out from time to time. The lake is surrounded by an old wood, and dad used to take us into the wood to the east and would show us an old burned out stump, and tell us how he'd come there as a teenager, and found that tree on fire as he wandered through the wood. He ran and found a park ranger, who put out the fire before more of the wood was lost.
There's something really kind of cool knowing your dad (may have) saved the prettiest forest preserve in the county. Over the years, the county has added on more land to the place and improved the trails and paths that meander through it and between other parks.
It was a lovely day yesterday, and Sasha and I wandered into a field to the east and rolled in the grass and I pulled clumps of shedded hair off her butt. I hope the birds use them to line their nests. :) Then we walked over to the boat rental hut. Unfortunately, all the row boats were taken. I was sad.
:(
(I forgot my camera, so that's me being sad.) Sasha wasn't sad. :P
I talked to one of the boat guys. I said I didn't think a canoe would be do-able. He suggested a two man kayak, and pointed to where two were out on the grass. She and I walked over there, and he was right - the bottom of the hull WAS pretty flat.
I walked back and said, "Well, worst that happens is, we get wet." He said, "I like your attitude!" So, I gave him $10 and my driver's license, and he gave me a life preserver.
Sasha was on her own.
Two guys carried the kayak to the water, and I led Sasha over. We tried to get her into the craft, but she went for a swim, first. Priorities, you know. Then she got in the kayak, to jump over to the other side and swim over THERE.
"Sasha! Get in the boat!"
Millions, literally millions (ok, at least a dozen) small children said, "Sasha! Get in the boat! Get in the boat!" Sasha came back to shore and got in the boat and jumped back in for a swim through the shore weeds.
Once again the kids chanted, "Sasha! In the boat!" as I tugged on the lead to keep her from going too far, and she came back and hopped into the boat, but behind the fore-seat. I asked, "Can she stay there?" and the boat guy said, "Well, yeah!" so I hopped in, sat down, he handed me the double-bladed paddle, and pushed us into the water.
"Yay, Sasha!" cheered the crowds on the shore, as Sasha leaned over and tried to drink Herrick Lake. (She did that frequently, tilting the boat crazily, and making me say, "SIT!" If she wasn't doing that, she was watching water drip from the paddle as if hypnotized - and about to leap for it. "No, REALLY! SIT!!!")
We paddled west and south and then somewhat along the shoreline, listening as people walking around the lake said, "Look! A dog in a boat!" We went under a bridge into a marshy area congregated with dragonflies, and Sasha almost leapt for a jumping frog, but fortunately re-thought that before the jump.
I called my dad and Garrick, and told them I was ON Herrick Lake. My dad 'got' what I meant right away - it didn't register for Garrick until I told our tale once we got home.
Sasha sat between my feet and knees, leaning into my leg, watching where we were going, watching people on the shore, watching bugs fly and fish jump. Every now and then she'd stand and rock the boat as she turned around to check out where we'd been, and then turn back to watch where we were going.
Eventually we made it back to the landing, where we were met by another boat guy, who pulled the front of the kayak in, and held Sasha's lead until I got out from the boat.
It really was an enjoyable time, and we are DEFINITELY doing it again. On the way home, we stopped at a Petco with a grooming shop, and I paid $12 for "self serve" - took her to the back where I hitched her to a sink and used THEIR supplies to bathe her and blow her (mostly) dry. The people there were helpful and very pleasant - I can completely recommend them.
It was a fun day - we tried something new and exciting, I learned that I can paddle a kayak pretty adeptly, and ended up with a dog much cleaner and fluffier at the end of the day than at the start.
Next time, we bring a camera. Hopefully, Sasha can work the shutter.