{"id":4003344,"date":"2015-08-26T08:00:30","date_gmt":"2015-08-26T08:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/time.com\/?p=4003344"},"modified":"2020-01-14T19:42:41","modified_gmt":"2020-01-14T19:42:41","slug":"national-dog-day-diving-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.life.com\/animals\/national-dog-day-diving-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Go For a Swim With Bellybutton the Diving Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>One of the coolest dogs to appear in the pages of LIFE has to be Bellybutton. The 3-year-old German shorthaired pointer made an impression in 1966 with his underwater agility.<\/p>\n<p>Bellybutton was unique not for his swimming abilities, but for his willingness to dive to retrieve an object. Most dogs retrieve sticks and balls from the water&#8217;s surface, but Bellybutton would go as deep as 20 feet and remain submerged for up to 15 seconds. He even practiced his skill on his own one day, LIFE reported, &#8220;he dived unbidden into a lake and fetched his master a 10-inch catfish.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><em>Liz Ronk edited this gallery for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LizabethRonk\">@lizabethronk<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003347\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003347 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Bellybutton began swimming as a puppy but didn&#039;t take up skin diving until last May. He now will swim underwater for distances up to 20 feet. \" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bellybutton would swim underwater for distances up to 20 feet.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-01-1024x673.jpg\" alt=\"German pointer Bellybutton diving for a rubber bone in swimming pool.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bellybutton would swim underwater for distances up to 20 feet.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003348\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003348 desc=\"German pointer Bellybutton dives for a rubber bone in a swimming pool.\" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"German pointer Bellybutton dove for a rubber bone.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-02-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"German pointer Bellybutton diving for a rubber bone in swimming pool.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">German pointer Bellybutton dove for a rubber bone.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003349\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003349 desc=\"Bellybutton reaches the pool&#039;s bottom to retrieve the bone.\" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bellybutton reached the pool&#039;s bottom to retrieve the bone.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-03-1024x673.jpg\" alt=\"German pointer Bellybutton diving for a rubber bone in swimming pool.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bellybutton reached the pool&#8217;s bottom to retrieve the bone.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003350\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003350 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. A submarine bone-chaser.\" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bellybutton neared the rubber bone.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-04-717x1024.jpg\" alt=\"German pointer Bellybutton diving for a rubber bone in swimming pool.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bellybutton neared the rubber bone.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003351\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003351 desc=\"Bellybutton approaches the surface with his treasure.\" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bellybutton returned to the surface.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-05-665x1024.jpg\" alt=\"v\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bellybutton returned to the surface.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003352\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003352 desc=\"Bellybutton races against a human swimmer to capture the bone.\" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bellybutton raced against a human swimmer to capture the bone.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-06-1024x673.jpg\" alt=\"German pointer Bellybutton diving for a rubber bone in swimming pool.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bellybutton raced against a human swimmer to capture the bone.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003353\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003353 desc=\"Bellybutton exits the pool via the stairs.\" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bellybutton exited the pool via the stairs.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-07-1024x673.jpg\" alt=\"German pointer Bellybutton diving for a rubber bone in swimming pool.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bellybutton exited the pool via the stairs.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003354\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003354 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. On his way up from the bottom he surfaces with rubber bone.\" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bellybutton carried his rubber bone.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-08-638x1024.jpg\" alt=\"German pointer Bellybutton diving for a rubber bone in swimming pool.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bellybutton carried his rubber bone.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003355\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003355 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Shakes himself dry.\" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bellybutton shook himself dry.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-09-1019x1024.jpg\" alt=\"German pointer Bellybutton diving for a rubber bone in swimming pool.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bellybutton shook himself dry.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003356\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003356 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Luxuriates in a triumphal rubdown.\" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bellybutton received a post-pool rubdown.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-10-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"German pointer Bellybutton diving for a rubber bone in swimming pool.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bellybutton received a post-pool rubdown.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-4003357\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=4003357 desc=\"Bellybutton after a swim.\" caption=\"Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Bellybutton after a swim.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2015\/08\/150818-swimming-dog-11-673x1024.jpg\" alt=\"German pointer, Bellybutton after a swim.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Bellybutton after a swim.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph Crane The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bellybutton would dive as deep as 20 feet to retrieve an object<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31476327,"featured_media":4003352,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23],"tags":[183,252,1369],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.13 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Celebrate National Dog Day With Bellybutton the Deep-Diving Dog<\/title>\n<meta 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