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Hawkeye

The Dog that loved to swim

By Chad PillaiPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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Hawkeye
Photo by Karo Kujanpaa on Unsplash

I will never forget my first Rottweiler. My family adopted him when he was about nine months old, and his previous owner named him King. We changed his name to Hawkeye, named after my mother’s favorite character from the book and movie The Last of the Mohicans. Hawkeye was a big boy and grew to weigh close to 150 pounds, and he was fast when he was young. A favorite pastime was for my sister, and I alternated between holding him by his collar while the other ran around the house. Once we got halfway around the yard, we yelled “Go,” and Hawkeye was allowed to chase us down. There is nothing more exhilarating than being tackled by a large, strong, and energetic beast.

Growing up in upstate New York meant ample opportunities to explore and enjoy nature. The Adirondack State Park region was not too far north of Albany, and the park region had numerous areas to hike in the woods and climb the mountains. Additionally, the Catskills Mountains were not too far to the south along the Hudson River Valley. My father loved to take us hiking in the mountains, and on a few occasions, we rented cabins for vacation. The lasting memories of those hikes and vacations were of Hawkeye.

Hawkeye had stamina and loved to hike for hours. As he walked, you could hear him breathing and panting out of excitement. My job during the hikes was to carry water bottles for the family and Hawkeye. Hawkeye climbed and traversed the land looking for squirrels, chipmunks, and other wildlife. During every hike, Hawkeye looked for an opportunity to do one thing off the leash: swim.

The first time Hawkeye swam, it was a sight to see. He jumped right into a creek without hesitation. He slapped at the water, making a tremendous noise, and as the water splashed, his mouth opened to bite at the water. The more he splashed, the more excited Hawkeye became. He couldn’t get enough, and he would have remained in the water had we let him. Over the years, Hawkeye swam in the Hudson and Mohawk rivers and every creek, pond, and lake we took him to in the Adirondacks and Catskills.

About 2-3 years after adopting Hawkeye, my family adopted Rex, another Rottweiler. Like his brother, Rex enjoyed hiking, but unlike his brother, he hated water. While Hawkeye was happily enjoying himself in a pond, I had to pick up Rex and force him into the water, and Rex got out as quickly as he could.

I left to attend college outside Rochester, New York, and during that time, my father continued taking Hawkeye for hikes and ensured he had opportunities to swim. Hawkeye was my father’s favorite because when he wasn’t hiking and swimming, he served his role as a large teddy bear that sat next to you and allowed you to share your thoughts and feelings. He sat there with his large brown eyes looking at you, and you spoke to him. My father loved coming home from work and sitting at the bottom of the stairs with Hawkeye to unwind with a glass of scotch. Hawkeye was like my dad’s bar buddy since he enjoyed beer – a sign of a great dog – and would have enjoyed toasting my dad as he heard my father tell him about his day at work.

Sadly, Hawkeye grew old, and when I was away from home, I heard he had passed. The first thing I could think about were images of Hawkeye in his favorite element: water. If Hawkeye could have turned himself into a fish, he would have jumped at the opportunity.

My parents eventually adopted a third Rottweiler named Tiki, but she was not a swimmer like Rex. Hawkeye was simply unique, and he will be forever remembered for his love of the water and the joy he brought the entire family.

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About the Creator

Chad Pillai

Military Officer, World Traveler, and Author.

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