I’m old enough to remember the 1970 Mungo Jerry song “Summertime”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvUQcnfwUUM
It includes the lyrics:
In the summertime when the weather is hot
You can stretch right up and touch the sky
Acer has decided to modify the lyrics to “You can stretch right out in your own kiddie pool.”
He certainly knows how to deal with the summer heat.
Acer is a Golden Retriever and they are a long-haired breed of dogs, with a thick inner coat. The inner coat provides them with warmth in cold weather, and their thick outer coat repels water really well. The “retriever” comes from when they were bred to jump in water to retrieve birds and geese that had been shot.
In our part of the world hunting season is in the fall, so the fact that they’re willing to leap into a cold water indicates just how well that coat of theirs works. In other blogs I’ve shown him sitting happily sprawled out in a snow bank, so he’s got a good fur coat!
The downside is that during this time of year, even here in Canada, we get brutal heat. While we make sure Acer’s fur is well trimmed, the reality is that short of shaving his fur right off, he is too well insulated for this weather.
While our house is air-conditioned, like so many other dogs he wants to be outside, especially when I’m out there.
The solution is as simple as a $25 kiddie pool.
Acer loves his pool. He’s never enthused about a bath, but in the heat, he shows no hesitancy to jump into this ‘cool’ water bath and sprawl out and get as much of himself emerged as he can.
It’s pretty cute actually. He just looks like he owns the place when he’s in his pool… a true Lord of the Manor.
In some of the photos it looks like he’s sleeping, but I think it’s more him keeping his eyes closed because the sun is so bright. Would it be self-indulgent if I got a pair of sunglasses for him? More importantly… would he keep them on? Somehow, I doubt they’d last long, and would go the way of so many pairs of shoes over the years, delightfully chewed by my dogs.
There are lots of comings and goings during the summer, visits from friends and various activities to maintain the house and grounds, and we position his pool so he’s in the middle of it all.
But mostly there is Acer, sitting, cool and comfortable in a pool meant for little kids. He’s still a puppy at heart even though he’s about 75 pounds. I’m thinking the kiddie pool will keep him a puppy for a while longer.
At least it will keep him cool and let him be outside where he wants to be. It’s the little things that can bring the greatest joy, like the love of a dog!
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