In at the Deep End

Or 'Never teach an older dog new tricks'.

This is Jasper that in his two years of doggy life has never done anything more than paddle in water whilst watching other dogs swin.

This is Jasper, seconds after I hauled him out of the local beck by his harness, just as his head was disappearing under water (and lots of scum).

What an unfortunate accident I hear you so. No accident he decided to try for his swimming badge by jumping in.

The challenge was set by Tilly, the 6 month old Springer Spaniel puppy of friends that we (I) volunteered to take for a walk whilst Bob and Laura had a little puppy-free time following a house move.

Tilly is bonkers. You quickly forget what a puppy is like and she appears to be a puppy with ADD.

Off along the beck we went. After both having our arms pulled out of their sockets by Tilly on her extender lead we decided to let her have some freedom. On this walk there is nowhere to go - a fence once side, the spring water beck the other.

By the time we got to the end of the beck path, mad Tilly had thrown herself into the beck three times. The beck is only a few feet deep so Tilly, being bigger than Jasper could scramble back onto the bank.

Just as we got to the end where the scum and detritus of the beck accumulates between a dam of two logs, I heard a shout from Robt. Robt was there, mad Tilly accounted for but where is the more mature, better trained Jasper?

When I looked down into the beck all I saw was two eyes and a nose looking up at me panic stricken. Jasper had followed Tilly's lead and jumped in. Only he wasn't big enough or strong enough to get himself back out.

Without a thought I'm on my knees, arm in the water pulling him out. Thank goodness he has a harness.

It's at times like that when you realise just what you'll do for these furry friends that take over your life and capture your heart.

To make the humiliation worse, Jasper had to have a bath. We returned a very wet and muddy puppy to her owners.