What is smaller than a bread box and can paddle faster than a pedal boat? Sparky the puppy monster and destroyer of almost everything.

I brought him home in March and he began to rip, tear and destroy stuff like a canine commando. The leather sofa was the first to take a hit when puppy monster chewed a football-sized hole out of the front, pulling out the stuffing and spreading fuzz all over the house.

Sparky’s pastimes include turning over water bowls and tormenting the cats. I have tried metal and ceramic bowls, and even purchased a special water dispenser for pets. Each has been tipped over, with water spilled everywhere and trails of puppy prints across the floors.

He is not a bad dog per se, but he does like to torment and taunt. This puppy knows exactly what he is doing and just as I reach my breaking point, he looks at me with his funny little face, gives me a doggie kiss and all is forgiven.

Sparky is about to enjoy a new experience when we launch the boat at Everglades Marina on Lake Simcoe. A pooch life jacket, which looks like a turtle shell with a handle on the back, is ready for him to wear whenever he goes on board. The fearless little dog loves water and hopefully will enjoy riding the waves and watching me not catch fish for hours on end.

Last week we settled the boat in its slip between a houseboat and a racy little cruiser. John got on board and started the large Ford Cobra inboard that roars like a lion when it starts. This time it simply sputtered, as it became obvious the batteries were dead. Our moods plunged and John expressed his displeasure, got off the boat and drove the truck to the edge of the dock to give it a boost.

The boat still wouldn’t start. Then John saw water coming out of the cabin and panicked as a lone fisherman looked over and calmly said it looked like the boat was sinking. Running like the wind, John jumped into his truck to get the trailer back into the water and save the boat before it sank.

With battery cables still attached to the truck, the boat flew this way and that as he frantically backed up into the water. Another fisherman arrived and shouted that there was no rush. since we had at least 10 to 15 minutes before it was under water. Then both men observed, with a smirk and a smile, “Didn’t put in the plug did you?”

Despite our embarrassment, we were assured that we were not the only ones this had happened to and we are now officially initiated into the boating world. One of the men offered to take our soggy boat down the road to his home to let it drain, and we will retrieve it this week.

So with Sparky the waterdog life jacketed up, we will head out and maybe this big dose of water fun will make dumping, tipping and spraying water at home a thing of the past. Ahoy mates, put in the plug and anchors aweigh!

Categories: Columns, Ramblin' Ruth
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