Tamsu Pool Party

We were invited to attend an end of summer celebration at Maple Lane Golden Retrievers, hosted by my agility training group, Tamsu Learning Centre. It was an absolute blast! The facility has just recently set up and opened a Dock Diving pool for canines where people can come and practice their dogs' dock diving skills, or simply just use the pool for their canine companions to cool off and have some "brainless entertainment"... A term coined by the head instructor at Tamsu, Sarah. We had sunny blue skies and warm summer temperatures. It was a great day. All of the dogs had their turn with the pool, and Sarah was there to help all of the dogs that needed help. She ended up spending approximately 5 to 6 hours in total in the pool! She donated her time and patience to help those dogs that needed encouragement to get into the pool. Some dogs did their very first dives off of the dock that day, and it was so nice to see the dogs having so much fun jumping and diving in after their favourite toys.... these dogs were excited and happy! The pool is an official dock diving pool, 40 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a 40 foot long dock.

None of my dogs are dock divers, but I thought I'd give this a go anyway, and they have a ramp where the dogs can just walk into the pool as opposed to jumping in. Blaze has been swimming before, but only twice and with a lot of help. Cole loves the water, and will willingly walk into a natural body of water and swim out and retrieve a toy with enthusiasm. He had never been in a pool before. Blaze actually took to the pool quicker and easier than Cole, I was surprised. I thought that once Cole realized that it was swimming, he would be all over it, but that was not the case. I think with some more work, Cole would eventually go into the pool on his own to retrieve. Introducing dogs to a pool can be tricky, as they can be very unsure when they cannot see or feel the bottom under their feet.


Blaze on the ramp leading into the pool, with me on the left and Sarah on the right, I am showing him his frisbee, trying to tempt him into the pool.


The s-t-r-e-t-c-h to try and reach the frisbee without getting into the water!

Contemplating....

Sarah, now in the pool, trying to encourage Blaze to come in and get the frisbee...

We borrowed a canine life jacket from Cassie, this can provide some confidence for dogs who are not yet confident swimmers...

Coming up the ramp after his first dip in the pool to get his frisbee...

Blaze now going out on his own off of the ramp to retrieve his frisbee, now he's getting it!

Blaze swimming confidently to get the frisbee.... he loves his frisbee!

The retrieve...

Help up the ramp... the life jacket seemed to impede his movement a bit.

Cole with Cassie's life jacket on, waiting on the sidelines for his turn.

Ah-h-h-h, the first look at the frisbee in the water.

Sarah trying to entice Cole down the ramp.

Cole wants none of this... I'm trying to encourage him.

Cole coming back up the ramp after a dunk in the pool... his head went under the water and he was not impressed with this!

Again, trying to entice him with the frisbee.... he is not going for it.

With a little stretch, he was able to retrieve it without leaving the ramp.

I hope we can go back sometime to this facility, as it is not far from our home. This has also got me thinking.... I want my own dock diving pool for my own dogs! Ah, dreams...