For the love of a dog

Moss ignored everyone else as she came to greet me

Every week I swim in the river Colne with my friend Christopher. We’ve been doing this for a few years now, it feels remarkably good, both physically and mentally. 

I look forward to it and call it my weekly rebirth.

For several years Moss has become increasingly interested in my swimming, and increasingly interested in water.  She’s smart and wouldn’t just jump in - her instinct tells her to make sure she can get out again too.

One Sunday as Christopher and I swam, Moss was able to come along too, because Harry Husband was there to look after her. 

We live in a close-knit community, where you wouldn’t just let your dog run free, except under special circumstances …

This particular Sunday there were lots of visitors around for our Open Garden Weekend … it was far busier than usual.

I’d been waiting for the right time to do this, and so it was in mid-May.

Wearing our wet suits Christopher and I got into the river off the pontoon, as usual.  Moss was watching intently; she’s a pure Border Collie; she likes to focus. 

We swam into the centre of the river to catch the strength of the in-coming tide.

Moss was animated - she’s also quick as a Whippet!

Harry Husband let Moss off the lead.  

She followed us upstream, running along the river bank and popping up on different jetties to watch us swim past.

There were people with their dogs milling about; she took absolutely no notice of them.

She was totally focussed on me.

She knew exactly where we’d be heading.

She ran through the crowds of people sitting outside the pub enjoying a pint and waited for us to catch up with her.

She then waded out to greet me as I climbed out of the river. 

It was deeply reassuring to see Moss’s complete love and devotion.

I think it made all four of us, Harry Husband, Christopher, Moss and me feel really good.

What a moment.

AJK