Daily Dose o' Cute

Last weekend, my friend Miller was visiting from her adopted home Brazil, and we convened at the beach house at the Indiana Dunes, right on the shore of Lake Michigan, which has been in her family for generations. It was a lovely visit, which not only gave us a chance to see Miller and other friends, but also provided Dudley with his first opportunity to go for a swim.

The lake was the calmest as I've ever seen it on Saturday, and when I walked Dudz down to the water's edge, he trotted straight into the water and followed me out into the lake, where he paddled toward me into ever deeper water. Greyhounds are not naturally strong swimmers, having no body fat to help keep them afloat, but he took to it well and really enjoyed it. Iain went back to the house to get the camera, so we could film a bit of it.


The next day, the wind had picked up and the waves were crashing on the shore. Dudz didn't like the rougher water, which pushed him off-balance and splashed over his head at unexpected times, so Iain and I took turns swimming and sitting with him on the beach.

He was very nervous about either of us being in water he didn't feel was safe, though: When I was in the water, Iain tried to take him for a walk down the beach, and he didn't want to go, continually looking out over the water for me. When Iain was in the water, Dudz would get anxious every time a big wave blocked our view of his bobbling head. Once Iain returned to shore, Dudz laid across my legs protectively, looking at me pleadingly, as if to say, "Please don't go in that water again!" We stayed on the beach. :)

It was Dudley's first night away from home, and he did splendidly. When we got home the next day, the three kitteh girls came running to greet us, and I was pleased that they seemed happy to see Dudley again, too. Sophie went up to say hi and bumped his nuzzle with her wee head, as happy cats are wont to do. He licked her face, as happy dogs are wont to do.

Below the fold, still pix of Dudz swimming and chillaxing at the beach.


"Phbbbbbbbbbbbbbt!"


"This is so much better than life at the racetrack."


"I'm practically a Labrador over here!"


Dudz working on his tan.


It's a dog's life.


Paws in the sand!


Dudz and his pal Iggy, all tuckered out after swimming.


Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.


Sunset at the beach. Photo by Iain.


Chicago skyline at sunset. Photo by Iain.


Just hanging. Saturday night.


Chilling out at the beach house, Sunday morning. What a good boy.