Day at the beach

For 5 yrs. now my baby boy Smokey has been terrified of water in virtually every form. Sprinklers, standing, tubs, pools basically any water not in a dog dish he freaks out and has broken his fair share groomer baths. I wanted to see what he would do at the beach so today he and I went for some fun. He ran the beach, up the hills and in and out of the trees. I stepped into the water and he cautiously approached, sniffed it, touched a paw in it and bolted away. I laughed and looked away towards the family across the lake screaming a second later I heard what sounded like a one man stampede. I turned in time to see a flying dog leap past me past any footing in the water and was in deep. Having never done this it took him a minute to get his legs to work. The current was very strong and so excited he went with it swimming faster and further out than I could. I frantically ran, dove in and swam in the ice cold water swimming hard yelling for him. He finally looked back at me so far away with his tongue out the side of his mouth very pleased with himself realized my command and turned to obey. Paddling as hard as he could until he reached me and tackled me in the water dunking me in in his excitement. I was honestly still freaking out a bit for his safety as well as my own. We made it to a beach further down and walked back towards the car. I swear he would chest bump me if he could. He was stoked! Jumping, wiggling midair, and leaping around like an excited new born deer. Charging me, jumping on me and throwing his paws on each of my shoulders. We headed back to the car, Smokey was so excited he could hardly contain it. A car driving down the road luckily saw an excited Smokey running up to her when she stopped he stood up and looked in her window as if to say “you got to try that water stuff!”. She said he was too cute and I apologized a few dozen times. I popped my trunk with my keys to get his attention and he was off to the car. Circling it kicking up sand and dust and within moments my clean back seat looked like I held mud wrestling tournaments over the weekends in there. He had to show everyone what he did when we got home so excited he jumped onto Chelsea paws on her shoulders over and over he had to tell her everything. He is now past out cold at my feet and I am going to get me some ginger tea and enjoy the quiet.