G's Adventure

We took G to the dog park today. Her first time.

She met some new friends.

Then she decided she was tired...5 minutes after being there.

After a little bit of coaxing, by owner and dog, she figured out this place wasn't so bad and went to play. And boy did she play!

She ran all over, greeting the other dogs at least 10 times each. Their owners she greeted 10 more times than that. She would chase other dogs' toys that their owners threw. She never picked up a toy though, just chased it down.

She ran up an obstacle course because she saw other dogs do it, but then decided she didn't like being up there and jumped off. Kyle and I each tried to get her to run across and down the steps on the other side, but she chose to either jump off or run circles around it looking at us as if we were crazy.

(Kyle trying to get her to do it. Notice how G is nowhere to be found? Yah, she already ran off.)

On the other side of the fence was a water park for the dogs. Most of the dogs were on that side jumping into the water and swimming. They were having a blast.

G decided she wanted to try it too. So she snuck past some strangers opening the gates, charged toward the water, and slammed on the breaks as soon as she reached the water's edge. She then took her time testing the water out. She waded in a little further. Then all of a sudden there was nothing left for her to stand on and she had to learn how to swim. There is a reason they call it the "doggy paddle." G was swimming for her life. Did you know that dogs can get their bodies halfway out of the water by paddling super hard? We didn't either, until G got in the water.

From that point on she stayed just on the edge of the water or looked longingly from the dock. One time she almost jumped in again when a ball was thrown from the dock and another dog jumped in after it. But her experience earlier must have flashed through her mind just in time because she skidded to a halt.

G was exhausted after going to the park. Yes! Mission accomplished. I just didn't know that everyone else would be too.

Bonus material:

The first part is right after a dog jumped in after a ball and G stopped herself from jumping in too. The rest is just a little clip of her inner battle: water or solid ground.