Ford City dog learns to retrieve rocks from river

Sit. Stay. Roll over.

Swim 7 miles and dive to the bottom of the river to retrieve rocks.

These are just a few of the tricks that Diesel, a pit bull mix, has mastered.

Sara Burk and her family fostered pets through Orphans of the Storm Shelter near Kittanning. She was always involved with the animals, even walking foster cats on leashes.

About seven years ago, they took in a pregnant dog who had her puppies in their home. The Burk family decided to keep one.

That dog, Diesel, was Burk’s first.

“He’s a smart dog, but he definitely wants to do what he wants to do,” said Burk, who lives in Ford City.

Once she discovered Diesel was easily motivated by deer meat, Burk began training him as a puppy.

Perhaps his most distinct trick is diving underwater to find rocks.

“We started teaching him to swim in a kiddie pool,” Burk said.

She began by putting a toy in the water for Diesel to retrieve. Over time, she moved the toy farther and farther away, encouraging him to swim for it.

He was soon swimming in rivers.

“One day, he started picking up rocks instead of his toys,” Burk said.

Now, Diesel joins family kayak trips with the Burks, swimming along for miles and diving underwater for rocks.

The swimming isn’t just a fun trick. It also helps Diesel cope with his hip dysplasia and arthritis, according to Burk.

Diesel is just as impressive on dry land. He competes in agility performances and has earned titles through the American Kennel Club and Do More With Your Dog.

Of Diesel’s many tricks, Burk said her favorite is when he holds food in his mouth and waits for her permission to eat.

Though Diesel is 7 years old, Burk said he’s still eager to learn new tricks. Right now, she’s teaching him to open his kennel door, get inside and close the door behind him with his paw.

When he’s not working on new tricks, Diesel loves to spend time outside. “He loves to lie outside and ‘people watch,’ watch cars go by,” Burk said.

Despite Diesel’s impressive tricks, he does have a mischievous side.

“He loves to get into the trash,” Burk said. Diesel taught himself how to open the trash can by standing on the pedal at the bottom and sticking his head in the can.

Regardless of his antics, Burk and Diesel are a tight pair.

“We spend every single day together,” Burk said.

Thanks to Diesel, Burk said she discovered her love for dog training. She began her own business, Burk’s Dog Care, where she trains other people’s pooches, too. She said she often teaches dogs to walk on a leash properly and to stop barking at other animals.

Diesel even helps out, serving as a “distraction dog” to train pups on how to behave in the presence of other dogs.

Diesel also is mentoring his little brother, Exxon, a 1-year-old border collie that the Burk family adopted. Diesel is helping Exxon learn to swim, too.