Only one stroke at these pools: dog paddle

Maryland

AN unusual aquatic centre inside a suburban Maryland strip mall has five narrow pools and several swimmers of varying abilities, but only one stroke: the dog paddle.

At the edge of the largest pool, a nine-year-old bear of a pooch named Bosley reluctantly inched down a tiled ramp into the water, then languidly swam one length with the aid of a yellow life jacket and a human coach who walked alongside him. Bosley had taken a two-week break from his weekly session, and his fatigue showed.

"Oh, he hates it," said his owner, Kandee Zitelman, who watched from a bench. "But he's down from 37kg to 32kg," which, she added with a smirk, "is his goal weight". Ms Zitelman …