• Wednesday-What'sUP August 2 - 07:26 am

Here in the U.P., if you're a water spaniel, then you've got it made, since we are blessed by bordering three of the Great Lakes, along with innumerable inland lakes to enjoy too. Robert C. Wetton (RCW) and Bob Gilreath, respectively, give us a glimpse of their four-legged friends cooling off in those waters. The first shot, from RCW, shows Daisy the wonder dog enjoying a ride on an inner tube, which is quite a balancing act to accomplish. Way to go Daisy! Then Bob G, gets in the action with his canine friend, who seems to enjoy running full speed ahead down the dock, then KER-PLASH! Only to dog-paddle back to shore and do the whole routine again. Ahh... the life of a well cared for pooch!

Lucky dog!!!

I love all of the dog pictures today! The look on the first dog's face seems to be something like, "I'm not too sure about this game". What a sweetie! The black lab looks like he's having a ball, jumping out into the water to fetch!

I bet that many or even most of us wish that we could go "jump in the lake" on a day like today, when it is supposed to be very hot all over Michigan!

Yep, lucky dogs!

I am back home after a hospital stay for some abdominal surgery, catching up on Pasty.com, and was happy to see the dog photos. I miss my dogs Grady and Tucker! They are at a pet sitters and will be there till tomorrow as I am still unsteady on my feet and couldn't survive their joyous welcome. They are in air conditioning there as it is in the 90s, while I am surviving with fans and a lot of cold water. Dogs have it good! A jump in the lake (northern Lk Michigan) sounds good but the surgeon says no lake water till the incision is firmly closed. I look forward to that first dip.

If I'm interpreting the ripples in photo #2 correctly, the dog has good aim! Seems to be hitting nearly the same spot twice in a row.

These are the greatest pictures because they include dogs! Indeed, they are man and ladies best friends! They never lie to you. 90's in the U.P., wow that's hotter than here in eastern Iowa!

Great pics!

I believe the reason for the first set of ripples is because someone has thrown a ball or toy into the water for the dog to fetch. You can see it floating. Great fun.

LOl good to see Cinder's pics today.

yes the first ripple is the ball being thrown.

This is at my Good friend, Michelle's camp on the
west end of Lake Michigammie.

The top of the deck is elevated 15 feet or so above the dock. Cinder will run up the stairs hand you the ball and start runing back down before you even throw it.

She will do this ALL day! When my arm got tired she ran up to the upper platform dropped the ball so it rolled off in the lake and went and got it
herself. ;-)

Another recovering pastycammer, eh? Best wishes, Therese, for a speedy recovery.

My daughter's dog, Marley, looks a lot like the dog in this photo.
He is a very enthusiastic 6 month old and has recently mastered
diving off of the dock at our cottage. I wish my dog, Rusty, would
at least put a paw in the water with the heat wave we've been
having.

These pictures are especially welcome what with the recent news stories about dog fighting, with Michael Vick on the national scene and a guy named Ricky Lee Lynch here in my own area. It's one of those things I just can't understand, how any person can look at intelligent, aware creatures like these and still subject them to that kind of treatment.

I'd sure love to be joining these two today!

Lucky dogs!! I'll be doing the same in about 24 hours!!

Wish I lived near a lake today could reach 100 here in central Hillsdale county Michigan.

I taught my dog how to surf on a boogy board when I was a kid, she could also give hugs. (Also she hated my ex husband, should always listen to the dog!)

Just love the dog pictures! They are having the best days of their lives. They just want love in return. They will always greet with love!

Should be they always greet you with love!

My cousin Mark's dog, Maizy, a half-Lab/half Golden Retriever, loves jumping in Lake Huron when we're up on the weekend. However, she tires herself out staying in the water as long as the kids---they are standing on the bottom while Maizy is dog-paddling. The situation is even worse when we're swimming in surf; she has real trouble keeping her head above water.

So my aunt bought her a lifejacket.

I said to Mark, "I bet you thought you'd seen it all." He said, "Now I have".

Some thoughts in defense of life jackets for dogs: Life jackets are not just cute clothing accessories. Actually, life jackets are recommended for all dogs, by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, I believe it is, among a number of other organizations. When I saw USGS Auxiliary's exhibit over in Bay City a few years ago, their dogs all had life jackets on, modeling them for visitors, etc.

My dogs have had life jackets for many, many years, too, because they are not strong swimmers, and their long hair really gets very heavy in the water. Often, when people see them, their responses are what a great idea, that they need to find life jackets for their dogs, too. I mentioned it to our vet. Her response was that you would be really surprised at how many dogs drown every year. She thought all dogs should wear life jackets when they are in boats or near water. Maybe the dogs in today's pictures are strong swimmers, but many are not. One of my mottos is, "It's better to be safe than sorry." :-)

Lookin good Daisy!! I couldn't keep up with the other dog. Nice cool looking pictures.It is just awful today. Wish I had a lake to jump into.

Well bout the same here in Bootjack this afternoon. I ve got 91 in the shade

Marianne
I wouldn't want to see Maizy come to grief either. Mark's method for protecting her was to get her out of the water and tie her up. The lifejacket is easier on her emotionally, in that she gets to be with "her" kids.

Our Alaskan Malemute protected herself: she resolutely refused to get deeper than her belly.

Interesting comments about dogs and life jackets as I am thinking of getting my little dog (16 lbs) one for when we are by the lake. He loves to jump in and roll in the water.I seen one in bright green and one in yellow. Thinking of getting him the green one, he will look like a little pickle.

On lifejacket color, I use the same rule of thumb for dogs as I do for those for people: I like them to be as visible as possible, so that they can be seen at a distance by boaters or at night, etc. But, wearing a lifejacket is better than not having a lifejacket, so color is somewhat secondary. :-) It is important that it fits and that your dog can't remove it. BTW, there are a variety of lifejackets available for dogs now. When we went to Boaters World this spring, they seemed to have more for dogs than they did for kids or youth!

RCW: Your Daisy looks exactly like one of our 4! Her name is "Patty" I'll send you a pic of her shortly! Dave H. has seen & met her in person. If & when I ever get up there you will meet her too as she goes with us everywhere!
We have a black one that looks like the one jumping off the dock! Her name is Spooky!
Our dogs tho are sissys in the water-- just like me!

Forget my life jacket I wonder if the first dog would let me borrow his intertube....that is all we had when we were kids camping.....that is all most of the people had....it sure would be fun again.......

It is trying really hard to rain....I hear the rumbling of thunder......yea!!!!

God Bless......nite e nite

It's finally starting to cool off here in thr TC area where my
wife, Linda and I live. We were in the 90's last wk!
We're sure looking forward to next spring and spending a
wk in the UP!!
The Bear Den in Copper Harbor is where we like to stay.
We've been vacationing in the UP for the last 3 yrs and
LOVE IT!!
We were almost snowbound in that early snow storm last
Oct.