Summers are hot in Orlando … especially if you happen to be a black and tan, long haired miniature dachshund. Luckily for Millie, we found a great new way to keep cool while exercising and socializing with other dogs. Lina and I recently took Millie on her first trip to Fleet Peeples Dog Park on Lake Baldwin and we all really loved it!
It’s not a day at the dog park without a little bit of butt sniffing. As it turned out, a local dachshund meet up group was at the park at the same time we were. So there were a whole lot of wieners running around!
Millie has never been especially big on getting wet. Lately we’ve been trying to get her accustomed to cooling off with a summer swim but I don’t think she really likes doggy paddling – even though she’s good at it.
After getting her feet wet a little bit, I was able to coax Millie into deeper waters and as long as she was able to stay standing I don’t think she minded it too much.
I brought one of Millie’s toys in the hopes that she could get some extra exercise chasing her ball around the park. But with all of the excitement, and tons of other dogs, she wasn’t really interested.
We are still working on the whole “fetch” concept. Millie loves waiting for you to the throw the ball and will run after it, but then she gets distracted and you’re forced to go retrieve the ball yourself.
After a few minutes of playing in the lake, Millie was ready to head home – and she wasn’t shy about trying to tell us it was time to go.
A nice feature at the park is their dog washing station. It’s been very rainy in Central Florida lately so the park was particularly muddy. The water was a little cold but it did the trick.
I hope that eventually Millie will take it upon herself to run right up to the water and dive in. Or maybe chase a ball into the lake and swim back to shore. For now, we’re taking baby steps and starting with a little bit of splashing.
We’re hoping to make trips to the dog park a regular adventure and with such a great place for dogs to enjoy a day in the outdoors right around the corner – we’ve got no excuse not to!
Book Report: “Dog Handling” by Clare Naylor
Speaking of dogs … well, actually contrary to its title, this isn’t really a book about dogs. It’s about an accountant, or rather a former accountant, who learns a lesson in love from a friend who compares reeling in men to training a dog.
I’ve read a couple of Naylor’s books and they are all equally cute. This one goes from having it all, to losing it all, to getting something even better back. The characters are fun and relatable even if the story lines and destinations seem a little far fetched.
This book won’t change the world, or your way of thinking – unless you’re a single lady trying to figure out the dating game, in which case you may want to take notes. It is a fun and easy read though, and a great way to distract yourself from the busy working world and really get engrossed in a sweet story.
anna•tomy 