The Mrs calls my launch a belly flop but I like to think of it as canine controlled lift off!
Once the splash has settled and my head is above the surface I set out doing doggie paddle with my paws splayed out making the most of the webbing between my toes to achieve a fast canine crawl. With the stick securely lodged between my teeth I return to the bank. This is usually accompanied with a certain amount of snorting to clear the water from my nose and throat as I carry the stick in my mouth. As I climb out onto the bank and offer the stick up for a repeat exercise my praise for the successful retrieval is tempered by screams of anguish as I blink the water from my eyes and remove the excess from my coat by executing a full body shake from my head to the tip of my tail. Instead of admiring my swimming technique, stick retrieval and water ejection the miniatures scream and the adults run away. Honestly, there is no pleasing some people!