as you can see from the photo, atlas does not love water. it stems from a slightly traumatic (for him) event in his younger days. i cannot remember if i've told the story before; if not, it'll have to be a story for another day.
the silliest thing i say to the pup, other than calling him snufflepupagus? "tweedle dog and tweedle girl agreed to have a battle, because tweedle dog said tweedle girl was full of useless prattle." (by the way, i'm pretty sure he wholeheartedly agrees.)
do you know that children knock on the door and ask if atlas can come out to play? true story. what they really mean: will i let him out so they can take him for a walk and play with him - without me. ha. what actually happens: i stand outside and watch while they pet him for a while and try to get him to do tricks and then he takes advantage of his freedom to explore while they chase after him and try to get him to stand still.
Awwww... sweet puppy! Tucker would live in the water if we would let him. The hose or the bathtub or a squirt bottle? No thank you, but the lake? Oh yes... all day long if we'd let him.
Posted by: Holly | 05/26/2010 at 11:01 AM
Awww, it's like Snoopy! Remember that little boy who would knock on the door and ask Charlie Brown if he could borrow his dog because his mom wouldn't let him have one? That is so sweet. They know Atlas is the best and want to borrow him, just for a little while. :)
Posted by: Meredith | 05/26/2010 at 01:14 PM
i love "snufflepupagus". that made me laugh. i always call my dog silly nicknames and have conversations with her. aren't dogs just wonderful!
love you!
Posted by: tricia | 05/26/2010 at 03:15 PM
I had a dog who didn't like water, also because of a traumatic event that happened when she was younger...
It must be so cute to see the kids coming to "borrow" your sweet pup!
Posted by: Josiane | 05/26/2010 at 04:48 PM
Buddy doesn't like water either, although he is getting better about sprinklers. Buster doesn't mind the water. Pre-Buster, I took Buddy to a nearby irrigation pond and let him run loose, but he wouldn't go near the water, even after I threw his ball in. I had to wait for the wind to blow the ball to the water's edge to retrieve it. My neighborhood kids don't like Buddy - he has a scary bark and gets so excited and then he barks even more. You have a sweetie in Atlas. =)
Posted by: Toni | 05/26/2010 at 09:24 PM
Lol! You are so funny! I can picture it all. Seriously. You don't moonlight as a writer? 'Cause you should. :)
Posted by: Julie M. | 05/26/2010 at 10:37 PM