Labor Day

 The McCormicks had a heck of a Labor Day Weekend. Actually it was one of the most eventful weekends we've had at Salisbury since last August. To kick things off Laura came to visit :) and spent Thursday and Friday with us. Since Thursday was gorgeous (probably the last hot day of the year for us) we headed down to the lake to catch some rays and float.

Sadly a mouse had eaten a hole in my float leaving us one float short. So while Laura floated around with Tarra and our friend Tim I dragged Tripper into the water for this first swimming lesson. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Williams/McCormick method of teaching a dog how to swim, I'll start by explaining the two step process.

This highly scientific method has worked for 5/6 dogs (Casey and Rocky McCormick, Riley Miller, Maya Rawdon and Bauer Will... thank you Maya Miller for ruining the perfect score) Step #1- Take puppy to shallow lake, stream or reservoir. Carry the puppy out a ways, put them down and let them swim.

Step #2- After the puppy is a little older and has proven their swimming ability in step #1, take dog to dock* and throw him in. *If you do not have access to a dock simply walk in with your dog and give them a good chuck. Please do not be concerned as this experience is not as traumatizing as it may sound.  Even Bauer in the picture below was jumping right in after two more throws. 

Anyway, Tripper responded wonderfully to step 1. He enjoyed being in the water on the hot day and was very relaxed when he had to take a couple of swimmie strokes (as my Dad and I like to call them). He was a little nervous when Casey would swim by, but I can't really blame him bc when Rocky was little Casey would tackle her in the water and dunk her under....I guess human and dogs siblings have something in common.

Tripper had swimming lesson #2 on Sunday while our friends Martha, Mike and their cock-a-poo Winnie were visiting. He did a good job but was but more interested in playing with someone his own size for once.

It was a busy and tiring weekend for all of us. But Monday was spent in the true Labor Day spirit...by attending our Fantasy Football draft. While Mike brought magazines full of highlighted notes and scouting reports...I brought Tripper.  And throughout the draft, while everyone was eating pizza, drinking beer and trying to keep track what round we were in or how may wide receivers they had already drafted, Tripper just sat next to me watching.


Day 21