Hot Dippity Dogs

Five breeds that are natural swimmers—and five that will need water wings

Golden Labrador Corbis

The Off Duty Summer 50



Click to view interactive

YOU CAN'T JUST tie a picturesque bandanna around any dog's neck and expect him to stampede into the surf. Aquatic comfort isn't a given. "The more squarely a breed is built—the pitbulls, the bulldogs—the more likely they are to roll sideways when they try to turn around in water," said Carrie Eicher, who teaches canine swimming classes at the Academy of Dog Training and Agility in Newark, Del. "And then they get water in their ears and panic." Ironically, however, Ms. Eicher's three worst students were all Portuguese Water Dogs. "They were worriers," she said. "It took an odd amount of time to even get their paws wet." Such outliers aside, some general guidelines apply if you're looking for company in the ocean.

—Dale Hrabi

Beach-Friendly Breeds

Labrador Retriever

Golden Retriever


Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Standard Poodle

British Bulldog Getty Images




Basset Hound



Creating a strong foundation and working your abs are key to building a human pyramid. Aurora Photos

How to Build a Human Pyramid

Ben O'Brien, head cheerleading coach at the University of Georgia, offers these pointers:

Create a strong foundation. You definitely want more of your team's muscle and weight at the base to keep the pyramid from swaying. The most basic thing to remember is that the top won't be sturdy if the bottom isn't sturdy. And the people on each level should be of similar height.

Beach Quiz: Identify These Mystery Tracks

Work your abs. When someone climbs on top of you, it's going to cause you to arch your back. Keep your core engaged to help maintain a level, tabletop form.

Top it off safely. I've seen people put a girl on someone's shoulders and have her step off, but on a beach, climbing is best. You won't fall as far if the pyramid collapses.

Did we mention the need to work your abs? The person on top must keep as tight as possible. That means engaging the core and squeezing the legs and backside together. Someone who stays tight is going to be easier to hold up than someone who's loose.

How Not to Photograph a Sunset

It isn't nearly as easy as it looks

DO: Position your horizon line anywhere but the middle of photo. That can get a little boring. Play with compositions. Toy with asymmetry.

DON'T: Go to extremes.

DO: Seek out wispy or patchy clouds that will catch the light dramatically.

DON'T: Perversely seek out clouds that resemble an eyepatch.

DO: Use silhouettes as focal points: palm trees, a jogger or even an overturned rowboat.

DON'T: Reach too far into the past to find your inspiration.

DO: Wait. Sometimes the most spectacular sunsets happen just after the sun has gone down.

DON'T: Accidentally shoot a moonrise.

—Dale Hrabi

What's Your Sandcastle Style?

Just because you're building by the water, you don't need to develop a standard shorefront property. Consider these architectural options