Many people think of the poodle as a refined little thing that just trips around eating truffles and smelling of French perfume. A little bag dog that faints if it has to walk on its own.
But the poodle was actually bred as a water-retrieving hunting dog and used for duck hunting. The word poodle comes from German and is an abbreviation of poodle dog – literally translated as splash dog.
And my Basse is a real splash dog. He loves to splash around in our nearby little lake, especially if it's for a stick. We just have to approach the lake, then his tail starts wagging, and he'll dive down to the water's edge and splash around eagerly until a stick is thrown – and then it's out in the deep end. Water is just the best!
Unfortunately, it's not the cleanest lake in the world, and the shore is usually one big mud puddle, so when he heads home, he knows that the not-so-fun water adventure awaits.
As much fun as water in the lake is, water from a shower is apparently the worst thing in the world. Once I've locked myself in and found a towel and shampoo, I'll have to go out afterwards and find the dog. Because he's slipped away somewhere discreet in the meantime, in the hope that maybe this time I'll give up and let him skip the bath. Water is just the worst!
That's life - even for a dog. The bitter with the sweet. Now I'm just waiting for him to make me roast duck one day.
A real water dog
Many people think of the poodle as a refined little thing that just trips around eating truffles and smelling of French perfume. A little bag dog that faints if it has to walk on its own.
But the poodle was actually bred as a water-retrieving hunting dog and used for duck hunting. The word poodle comes from German and is an abbreviation of poodle dog – literally translated as splash dog.
And my Basse is a real splash dog. He loves to splash around in our nearby little lake, especially if it's for a stick. We just have to approach the lake, then his tail starts wagging, and he'll dive down to the water's edge and splash around eagerly until a stick is thrown – and then it's out in the deep end. Water is just the best!
Unfortunately, it's not the cleanest lake in the world, and the shore is usually one big mud puddle, so when he heads home, he knows that the not-so-fun water adventure awaits.
As much fun as water in the lake is, water from a shower is apparently the worst thing in the world. Once I've locked myself in and found a towel and shampoo, I'll have to go out afterwards and find the dog. Because he's slipped away somewhere discreet in the meantime, in the hope that maybe this time I'll give up and let him skip the bath. Water is just the worst!
That's life - even for a dog. The bitter with the sweet. Now I'm just waiting for him to make me roast duck one day.