This dog prefers to herd dolphins rather than sheep. Mako, an Australian shepherd and border collie mix that lives in Hawaii, loves to swim and loves nothing more than plunging into the sea with pods of dolphins.
The three-year-old pup is also frequently seen barking at sea species, such as whales, manta rays, and dolphins, in an attempt to communicate. Kaimana Ocean Safari is owned by Kayleigh and Cam Grant, and Mako frequently joins them in her work as a therapy dog to assist guests to relax while out on the water.
Mako first jumped onto a boat as a puppy before going onto dry soil, and he’s been enamored with the water and aquatic life ever since. “We used to take her up and carry her onto the boat before she got all her injections,” Kayleigh explained. “It’s strange because she was on a boat before she was even outdoors on the land.”
“She’s extremely energetic, hyperaware, and interested in movement.” She enjoys barking at the dolphins that appear all around the boat, and she also enjoys getting into the water and attempting to herd them. “Mako is an excellent swimmer who has previously swum for nearly an hour straight. “She has probably seen more marine species than the majority of people will ever see in their lives.”
“She’s swum with or seen a variety of dolphins, she’s seen a shark go past, she’s seen manta rays close to the surface, and she’s seen whales, even sperm whales, which are extremely unusual in Hawaii.” “During humpback whale season, she was also able to witness humpback whales.” “She can see animals extremely well and bark and sort of let us know when there’s wildlife because she has a lot of that attention to detail.”
“I’m not sure if she thinks they’re sea dogs or not, but she frequently swims towards them.” “With certain creatures, you can’t let her go in the water; for example, if there are sharks around, we won’t let her go in the water, but if there are dolphins nearby, she’ll jump in.”