When I was a teacher I always looked for something special in each student. I tried to find out what they liked and what they were good at. Focusing on their strengths allowed the students to be more successful and have more fun.

It's not much different with dogs. Each dog is different. Each dog has his or her own likes and dislikes. Some dogs are more skilled than others. It's our job as dog owners to find opportunities for our dogs and puppies to be successful.

I found out that Bonnie likes water. I knew that because I noticed she put her feet in her water dish the first day we had her. So every morning we play with water, usually with the child's pool in my yard.Then I noticed that Bonnie was fascinated by the sprinklers.

When you think about your dog and what you'd like to do with her, pay attention to her natural talents. If she's already good at something, do it more. She'll have more fun and so will you

So what can I do with a dog who loves water? Well, we can learn to swim, go to the beach, learn dock diving and have fun or even compete. Bonnie will be much easier to bathe because she likes water. She can also entertain herself while I sit and watch. Most importantly, Bonnie and I can have fun together. That makes both of us happy.

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