When I first signed Max up for a dog swim session, I expected a fun afternoon in the water. Max has always loved water—whether it’s a lake, a puddle, or a garden hose, he’s the first one in. But what happened at the pool that day surprised me—and it hasn’t stopped since.
As we arrived, a golden retriever stood at the edge of the pool, clearly nervous. Her owner gently encouraged her, but she remained hesitant, paws barely touching the water. That’s when Max noticed. Without any prompting, he swam over, barked once, and paddled in a wide, playful circle—almost like he was demonstrating how it was done. Then, something remarkable happened: the retriever jumped in. Max stayed right by her side the entire time, guiding her and keeping her calm.
It seemed like a sweet, one-time moment. But as the weeks passed, it became clear that Max had a gift. Every time we returned, he would instinctively swim over to the most hesitant dog and gently guide them into the water. It didn’t matter their size, age, or temperament—Max treated each one with the same quiet encouragement. And, more often than not, by the end of the session, those dogs were swimming confidently.
Other pet owners began noticing the pattern. Some started bringing their dogs specifically in hopes Max would help. I jokingly called him the “doggy swim coach,” but there was something genuinely moving about how Max connected with these dogs. He never pushed or barked excessively—he simply swam alongside them, as if saying, “You’ve got this.”
Continue reading on next page…