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It Tastes Better With My Feet In It

Sam with feet in bucket 1

Several days ago we noticed Samantha — our blind girl who likes to drink from a running faucet — had developed a new way to drink:  feet first.  After seeing her do this a few times (and of course I never had the camera ready) we realized this wasn't a fluke and for some reason, she really intended to drink with her feet in the bucket.  It's not like the bucket's low on water and she's trying to reach for the bottom; usually, it's at least half full.  Is this a way to cool off?

This afternoon, camera in hand, I captured the moment.  In the photo above, she's planted her feet in the bucket; then, she contemplates for a second…

Sam with feet in bucket 2

…before lowering her head and drinking:

Sam with feet in bucket 3

She still likes drinking from the faucet.  In fact, this morning when I was filling the bucket, she came over to drink from the stream of water.  But there's apparently something about sticking your feet in the bucket that adds a certain je-ne-sais-quoi to the drinking experience.  And yes, this new practice does mean more frequent bucket-cleaning and -filling, since we doubt the other dogs appreciate it as much as she does.

I can hardly wait to see what she comes up with next!

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14 responses to “It Tastes Better With My Feet In It”

  1. Lynn Avatar
    Lynn

    Oh goody!! Pictures of one of my favorites!! Isn’t she gorgeous? I wonder if she’d like one of those kiddie wading pools???
    Sam’s portrait on the cover of your last newsletter is truly a wonderful shot. And it was nice to read her bio, now complete with answers to the nagging questions of why someone would “abandon” such a beautiful, sweet animal.
    How’s Mr. Moose doing??

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  2. Vickie Avatar
    Vickie

    Inspired by Samantha, I tried sticking my toe in my ice tea at dinner, but somehow it just didn’t work for me 😉

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  3. Shirley * James/Portland, OR Avatar
    Shirley * James/Portland, OR

    That’s our girl with such personality–what a real sweetheart!!!

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  4. Janet in Cambridge Avatar
    Janet in Cambridge

    It’s full-body experience this way.
    (Maybe it helps her know exactly where the bucket is and that it won’t move.)

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  5. Lynne Parker Avatar
    Lynne Parker

    I love Sam. I grabbed a photo from her page (of the three it is the picture on the left) and set it as my desktop. I smile every time I see it!

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  6. Lynne Parker Avatar
    Lynne Parker

    Maybe she does this so the edge of the bucket runs across her chest instead of across her throat. I have two large dogs and two “short legs” and the smaller ones prefer to drink out of the smaller water dish.

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  7. Margaret Avatar
    Margaret

    What a cutie that Samantha is! Life is what you make it.
    On a serious note, I’ve heard the recommendation that it is an excellent way to cool off dogs, who may be experiencing heat distress- through cooling the pads of their feet. But this is not Samantha’s case, 🙂
    ps: I can imagine she might REALLY enjoy a little wading pool if she’s not too arthritic.

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  8. Amy A Avatar
    Amy A

    I think it is a Lab thing. 😉

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  9. Ev Avatar
    Ev

    Go figure. A lab who likes to stand in water!! Boy is she true to her breed or what! What a sweet heart.
    It would be fun to take her and some of your other “water breed” dogs swimming. Especially on those hot days. You would get some great photo shots, a few laughs and you could get cooled off to by a few free sprinkles from the dogs as they shake off the excess H2O.

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  10. Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin Avatar
    Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin

    She is truly a character. Always coming up with a new way to do things. It’s wonderful she just makes her life so entertaining & supplies us all with some laughs. It a double way to enjoy the water, drink & cool off at the same time. Is it time for the wading pools? I remember a YouTube video with Callie in a wading pool. And, of course, she had her own unique way of enjoying it too.

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  11. boundforglory Avatar
    boundforglory

    Maybe she’s checking the quality of the water. Who better for the “job” than a lab?
    Keep up the creativity girl. It’s adorable!

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  12. Ev Avatar
    Ev

    I think I’ll try the ice tea thing.

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  13. ginger Avatar
    ginger

    I agree with several of the other posts, I think she’s telling you she wants a wading pool. If the bucket were bigger, I bet she’d get in it! She’s cooling it the best she can.
    Hugs to all,
    ginger, Tobias & Tlingit

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  14. Brenda Avatar
    Brenda

    What a great photo! My lab cross also likes to get into a rubber water tub I use in the summer for him…he will even sort of dig in the water with his front paws and splash it all over himself to cool down! I am now thinking of a kiddie pool for my dogs. They add such joy to our lives..thank you for all the work you do!!!

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