Hazel was not your typical Alaskan Malamute. She was outgoing, affectionate, and always happy. She was also a bit of a rebel. You see, Hazel had a dream. A dream that was not in line with the traditional expectations of her breed. Hazel wanted to become a dock diving champ.

Now, if you know anything about Alaskan Malamutes, you know that they are not exactly known for their love of water. They are more of a snow and ice kind of breed. But Hazel was different. She loved the water. She loved the way it felt on her fur, the way it cooled her down on hot summer days, and most of all, she loved the thrill of jumping off a dock and into the water.

Her owners, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, were a bit taken aback by Hazel’s unusual hobby. They had bought Hazel with the intention of her pulling a sled in the winter, not diving off docks in the summer. But they loved Hazel and wanted her to be happy, so they decided to support her dream.

They started by building a dock in their backyard pond. Every day, they would throw a toy off the dock and encourage Hazel to jump in after it. At first, Hazel was hesitant. She would stand at the edge of the dock, her tail wagging furiously, but she wouldn’t jump. But with a little encouragement and a lot of treats, Hazel eventually took the plunge.

And boy, did she love it. She would spend hours jumping off the dock and into the water, fetching her toy and then doing it all over again. She was a natural. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were so proud of her. They decided to enter her in a local dock diving competition.

The day of the competition arrived. Hazel was up against some tough competition. There were Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and even a few Border Collies. But Hazel was not deterred. She was ready to show everyone what an Alaskan Malamute could do.

The crowd was silent as Hazel took her place on the dock. She looked out at the water, her tail wagging furiously. Then, with a running start, she leaped off the dock and into the water. The crowd erupted in cheers. Hazel had done it. She had become a dock diving champ.

But as Hazel swam back to shore, something felt off. She felt a pang of sadness. She had achieved her dream, but at what cost? She had gone against the traditions of her breed, and for what? A moment of glory? A shiny trophy?

As she climbed out of the water, she looked back at the dock. She had loved every moment of her journey, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had lost a part of herself in the process. She had become a dock diving champ, but she had also become something else. Something that was not quite an Alaskan Malamute.

Hazel shook off the water and trotted back to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. They were beaming with pride, but Hazel couldn’t help but feel a little sad. She had changed, and she wasn’t sure if it was for the better.

But as she looked up at Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, she realized something. They didn’t love her any less because she was different. They loved her because she was Hazel. And that was all that mattered.

So, Hazel decided to embrace her change. She would continue to be a dock diving champ, but she would also be Hazel. The outgoing, affectionate, happy Alaskan Malamute who loved the water. And that was okay. Because in the end, it’s not about the breed or the tradition. It’s about being true to yourself. And Hazel was just that. A true champion.