Baseball-Retrieving Water Dog Steals the Show

Paco the Spanish Water Dog relived the dog days of BARK (Baseball Aquatic Retrieval Korps) in McCovey Cove

A Bay Area family brought their Spanish Water Dog to McCovey Cove to retrieve splash hits on June 22, reviving a tradition inspired over 20 years ago by Don Novello, a comedian known for his role as Father Guido Sarducci on SNL. Paco, a four year-old Spanish Water Dog, was in the Cove demonstrating his water retrieving skills during the Giants’ loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Paco was shown on the Giants broadcast retrieving practice balls, with Duane Kuiper declaring, “I’m not sure that anyone is having more fun than that dog.”

Long time Giants fans will remember the team of Portuguese Water Dogs known as BARK (Baseball’s Aquatic Retrieval Korps). The original BARK team retrieved balls in McCovey Cove from 2000 until sometime in 2002. The new “BARK 2.0” is anchored by Paco, with fellow Spanish Water Dogs Kygo and Izzy now in training to join the “korps.” The dogs are owned by Arthur and Mie Morgan of San Mateo, and Nia Morgan of Encinitas.

The Morgans are also recruiting fellow water dog owners and prospective owners to train their dogs to join the water retrieving team and carry on the tradition. Arthur Morgan helped start the Working Water Dog Association, a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting water dog owners who train their dogs for both working roles and safe recreation in and near the water, and is on the board of the Spanish Water Dog Club of America. Morgan points out that working with a dog in the water is not without risks and challenges. “You need to educate yourself upfront on things like toxic algae, prevention of hypothermia, and how to get your dog in and out of the water safely. Then you need to train your dogs, introducing them to water skills gradually,” said Morgan.