Bryan and Sunshine’s first trip to the beach.

We are bad dogparents. Very bad. Bryan is nearly three years old and today marked his first time on a beach. We don’t know for sure if this is Sunshine’s first time ever since her former family could have taken her, but today was the first time we took her. From her reaction, it probably was the very first time.

Both dogs were super excited to be out, until we led them onto the sand. They were transfixed by the sound of the waves crashing on shore, and the water that seemed to be rushing in to attack them.

Sunshine gingerly checking out the backwash.

Neither dog was keen to go near the water, so K put them on the leash and led – no, dragged – them in.

No, Sunshine, sitting on Bryan will not give you more traction.

After about an hour of manhandling two unwilling dogs, he finally succeeded in getting them to swim, more or less calmly, back to shore. They also got over some of their anxiety about the waves, but it was definitely not the grand vision I had of them plunging in and emerging triumphantly from the water like Pam Anderson in Baywatch.