One of our favorite bonding activities is to simply spend quiet time sitting by the pool together. Emma is a Labrador Retriever and a mermaid at heart. The dog loves water – but let me be clear – only for swimming not baths. If there is a body of water, even a stream or puddle, she will most certainly be getting wet. So her daddy built her a therapy tank (more about this in a later post) for making her workouts fun during the hot summer months. After a long walk and a quick dip to cool down, she gets what we call “the spa treatment” which consists of message motions through our drying routine. Emma is prone to ‘hot-spots’ so naturally, a fresh blowout with a blower completes our session. Who am I kidding? That’s not all – Emma also expects a treat! A reward for following instructions, behaving well through the process, and “independent time’ while I clean up. By the time I finish putting everything away, she’s ready for a nap. I sit next to her for comfort and security. One of the many benefits dogs offer their human companions. There’s nothing more soothing to the soul!