Well, it didn't work with Shea. He does not have those instincts, per say. Sure, he will fetch a green tennis ball, even in water, but apparently, the Big Guy is afraid of ducks. The exact thing he is supposed to be able to hunt. Jeff and I had this inkling the other day when we brought him to the lake a couple blocks over. It was confirmed and set in stone today.
All was fine and dandy. Shea was having a great time cooling off and fetching his ball. He was fearlously bounding into the water and swimming around with exuberance.
He was like the energizer bunny, until he saw them. The ducks that is. The first thought that ran through my mind was that he was going to try to attack them. Hunt them out of shear natural instincts. I almost would have rather seen those ducks go down, than realize that my dog was deathly afraid of the precious little duckies.
Shouldn't it be the other way around? As the ducks got closer, Shea was less willing to adventure into the water. I threw the ball, he would gingerly step into the water that just minutes ago he was bounding into. He would swim halfway to his ball, chicken out and swim back ball-less. Seems very fitting, doesn't it? After fifteen minutes of swimming a few strokes and frighteningly jumping back to shore, Shea finally maned up and got his ball.
I can't figure out which showing was worse. Watching him flail in the water like a baby made me laugh with pity. But, last time, when we came to the lake with Jeff, we actually ended up leaving the ball floating around in the water. He just couldn't muster the courage to go in and get it. So, all in all, I guess one ball is better than ball-less!
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