the doggy's in the water

I haven't been to Craig y Nos country park in ages.

Obviously it's been shut during our lockdown, but even prior to that I was struggling to make the weekly visits that I regularly made together with Dexter.  When able, I used to walk him around the perimeter of the lake there, and he liked to look at the ducks.

Anyway, while bathing my boy last week, I was reminded of the time a couple of years back we were taking this very walk around the lake on a Friday morning in either spring or autumn.  Dexter was on his long lead and as usual dragging his heels behind me reluctant for his walk to end as we got near the end of the short stroll.

It was then I heard a loud splash along with a little girl excitedly exclaiming "Daddy, Daddy, the doggy's in the water, the doggy's in the water!!!!"

What dog I thought had been stupid enough to jump in the cold lake water.  And more importantly, how stupid must its owner be for letting him or her jump in there in the first place.

Until, that is, I noticed that Dexter's lead felt strangely light.  I looked round to see my border terrier merrily swimming out towards the centre of the lake in pursuit of a gaggle of ducks patently tormenting him by swimming just that little bit faster and further out of reach.

I shouted.  DEXTER!!!!!  Several times.  Until eventually he turned around and swam back to me and with a little help hauled himself out of the water.

Dexter after a more, shall we say, "conventional" bath.  He is sooooo handsome :-)

Now, Dexter when wet is a sight to behold.  He is actually very small and lean and quite a funny spectacle.  Well, everyone thought so apparently if the laughter echoing around the lake was anything to go by.

Of course,  I had no towel to hand so he had to dry off naturally while I enjoyed a coffee in the cafe there.  Luckily border terriers have an oily outer coat that keeps them relatively well insulated.  Still, poor Dexter was shivering away while I gave him one of my "it's your fault" looks.

I will never forget that little girl yelling out in excitement.  Or the sight of a rather bedraggled terrier trying in vain to catch himself a duck!