The day started so well…

It was one of those perfect mornings. The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and the idea of a peaceful walk along the canal seemed like the best way to start the day. Our little cocker spaniel, full of energy and curiosity, was ready for an adventure. What could possibly go wrong?

Quite a lot, as it turns out.

One second he was there, the next he was gone

We strolled along the scenic route, enjoying the tranquillity. The dog, as always, was sniffing everything in sight, tail wagging furiously. Then he started eyeing the canal water. A few tentative licks. A little pawing at the edge. And before I could react-splash.

There he was, floundering in the murky water, looking more than a little surprised. He’s only five months old, has paddled in the sea a few times, but he’s far from a confident swimmer. And me? Well, after a back operation, there was no way I could scramble down to pull him out.

Thank goodness for Karl.

Without hesitation, Karl reached in and hauled the soggy, bewildered pup back onto dry land. And what did our little adventurer do? Shake himself off and bolt, absolutely buzzing with excitement.

Great. Just great.

Things can always get worse

We figured we’d had our drama for the day. Surely, it was time for a nice, calm walk back home. We decided to cut across the fields-less water, fewer hazards. Or so we thought.

One moment, he was trotting along happily. The next, he was off like a rocket, sprinting across the field at full speed. Before we could call him back, he went face-first into a giant mud pit.

Honestly, I don’t even know where it came from. One second, he was a fluffy little pup, the next, he was a swamp monster.

At this point, we just had to laugh. What else could we do?

Emergency clean-up operation

Back home, straight into the shower. He wasn’t thrilled about it, but after his unexpected swim and mud bath, there was no way he was skipping bath time. The water ran brown for a while, but eventually, we had our dog back-clean, fluffy, and still looking far too pleased with himself.

We, on the other hand, were exhausted. So, we did what any sensible people would do. We left the dog at home and went out for lunch.

He had his adventure. We deserved a break.

One second, he was a fluffy little pup, the next, he was a swamp monster.

Lessons learned

Looking back, there are a few takeaways from this little misadventure.

First, maybe don’t let a young, excitable spaniel off-lead near a canal unless you’re prepared for a rescue mission. Second, fields are not always the safer option. And third, no matter how chaotic things get, dogs will always have the time of their lives.

No matter how chaotic things get, dogs will always have the time of their lives.

Would I take him back to the canal? Probably. But next time, he’ll be on a lead. And maybe we’ll start with some shallow water confidence training first.

Because one unexpected swim is enough for now.