Yahoo Lifestyle Brazilian Border Collie Becomes Foot Volley Sensation and People Can't Get Enough
Border Collies are famously hard-working dogs. They're smart and obedient as can be, so long as they're trained right. They're sport, and they love exercise any chance they can get.
On Thursday, September 12th, one Border Collie made the most of his beach day when he decided he wanted to play ball with some other beachgoers. Not only was he able to keep up excellently, but he really did outshine most of the humans who were playing:
Floki's story, which was shared by WPLG Local 10, is one that I love, but also that I'm incredibly jealous of. I want to play ball with a sweet beach pup!
Related: Border Collie Matches Mom's Pitches During Voice Lessons and It's Downright Impressive
Floki is not a stray, as much as I'm sure everyone would've loved to scoop him up and take him home. He's three years old and belongs to someone named Gustavo Rodrigues, who is actually a foot volley coach, though he didn't get Floki with intent to teach him to play! It just kind of happened that he can jump really high and enjoys hitting the ball with his little nose!
When he's not at the beach absolutely smoking the people who are trying to play, he can often be found at foot volley matches with his dad, who says Floki has even learned a thing or two about judging the games! He's like the foot volley version of a bat dog!
Keeping Dogs Safe At The Beach
Floki loves his beach days, and not only because he can foot volley with all of his new friends. His dad is always nearby, watching for signs that he's getting stressed out or carried away with the game. While you should be supervising your dog pretty heavily whenever they're in public, beaches require an extra level of supervision.
Unless the beach specifically permits dogs going off-leash, they need to be kept on their leash at all times. Even if there is an off-leash policy, only dogs with good recall should be allowed off-leash. Don't let your dog get in the middle of a game, no matter how good they are at it; wait until the next round and ask nicely! You should also:
Bring booties if needed, sand gets hot!
Bring plenty of cold water and some snacks to replenish their energy.
Make sure they're not eating sand and their their eyes, ears, and nose stay clear.
Discourage drinking the water from the ocean/lake/whatever it may be.
When Floki got home, he was most likely rewarded for his participation with a relaxing night in. Sports are hard on the muscles! A nice bath, blow dry, and brush are all perfect post-beach activities!
