Scuba

TURNABOUT SCUBA at DRAGONAIR

Ch CD HS(s) TT DD WWD CGC CGN RNmcl RAcl

Scuba was supposed to be a "momentary" aberration in a lifetime of Giant Schnauzers. It took her about three weeks to become our FIRST Portuguese Water Dog. Like all proper Portuguese Water Dogs, Scuba countersurfs. She talks back. She greets us in the morning with a bit of paper in her mouth - or a sock, or underwear, or the TV remote - growling like a demon and wagging her whole back end, hoping we'll leap up out of bed and chase her around the house yelling "You gimme that, you BAD DOG!" This is one of her favourite games. What a disappointment that we usually just say "Good morning, Dude. Go put that away, OK?"

Scuba is a black and white "tight wavy" Portuguese Water Dog. She is a Canadian Champion, CGC, and has numerous agility titles and is the first Portuguese Water Dog to earn a Herding Started title and a Draft Dog title. She was born September 3, 1996. AKC # WP750720/02 CKC # 1064644. Her sire is Am Ch Scrimshaw's Obi Wan Kenobi, dam is Am Ch Sete Mares Seascape. Her breeders are Lisa J Wiley & Margaret M Hyde.

	Scuba is a Service Dog. This means she takes care of Sue. She does the laundry, picks up around the house, recycles. She puts away her dog dishes. She runs errands, taking messages and items to people in other places around the house and yard. She picks up anything that drops to the floor and hands it back to Sue. She does the laundry - she puts the dirty clothes in the washer, then takes them out and puts them in the dryer, then takes them out and puts them in a laundry basket. She isn't very good at sorting colours or measuring soap, and she isn't allowed to iron any more. Heck, she burned TWO good shirts in one week! The photo at left shows Scuba opening the door to a casino in Las Vegas (she went to see Cirque du Soleil). Be very sure that Scuba is never allowed to have the car keys or a credit card without supervision!

As of January 1, 2007, Scuba is officially retired from Service work, having turned the leash over to Stitch. As of June 1, 2008, Scuba is retired from all competition, travel, and stress of any kind. From Scuba's point of view, this means a lot more sleeping in the sun, a lot more watching TV, and a lot more opportunity for countersurfing!
In what we hope will be the last change in a long, useful, and happy life, as of October 20, 2008 Scuba has retired to small-town and farm life. She has moved in with my son Robin and daughter Anne. Many people are asking why. It's pretty simple. Ron and I have 4 hands, 2 dogs, and 30 llamas. Robin and Anne have 4 hands and 1 dog. Robin and Anne go for walks. At their house, Scuba doesn't have to watch me go out the door with Stitch and leave her at home every day. Anne's a great cook. Robin is a farmer so frequently home most of the day during the winter. They have nieces and nephews who want to take Scuba for Show & Tell. Don't worry, I tucked a bus ticket home in her pocket before she left, so if she wants to come home, she can. So far she hasn't even had time to phone.
	No matter how much of a help she is, we must never forget that this is the dog who taught us the sound of a bedspread going out through a dog door...
One of her best tricks - do you want a treat? Did you wash your hands first? We're definitely going to have to have a chat with her about fooling around like this when she hasn't put away the laundry on the table yet...
Scuba putting her sheep through the gate under the guidance of Lynn Leach

	Scuba practising for her Draft Dog test using Stitch as the 40-pound weight in the cart
	The new dorsal hitch harness and cart modification. Turning is MUCH easier now, and she seems to like it very much, but there are two things we'll have to work on. She's capable of turning all the way around with her head under the shaft - which the hitch isn't designed to do. And backing up the cart in a straight line is MUCH MUCH more difficult. A whole new skill to learn!