Photos by Holly Leitner
Many things may have changed in the world since last fall, but one thing has not changed: now, perhaps more than ever, we love our dogs. Back for the eighth consecutive year, we are happy to present our Lake Dogs portfolio — where we pay homage to our four-legged friends who are happiest when “at the lake.”
The past year has been a challenging one, and for many of us, our furry friends have often provided the devotion, unconditional love and comic relief we have needed. When summer finally rolled around again, our constant companions were thrilled to be back in, on and near the lake, and who could blame them? This year’s cohort of Lake
Dogs embrace everything lake life has to offer: from lounging on a pier to riding in a boat to fishing for a mid-afternoon snack. So let’s learn from their wise ways, enjoy their silly antics and join them in living every day to the fullest.
The 22 dogs photographed this year represent a wide variety of breeds and sizes, from Dutchess, a regal Great Dane, to Madison, an adventurous Cavachon with a big personality. If you’re looking for even more cuteness, be sure to check out our book “Lake Dogs,” featuring over 100 full-color photographs of dogs who call Geneva Lake home. Visit atthelakemagazine.com for more information and to order your copy.
Family: Chad J. Karl, daughter Ella J. Karl and son Sam R. Karl
Personality Trait: Docile
Favorite Lake Activities: Chasing the muskrat
Pet Peeve: Other dogs
Naughtiest Deed: Bringing sand into the house with her dirty lake paws
Family: Renee Young
Nickname: Pearl girl, Pearlesque, pp nu nu
Personality Trait: Chill. Rarely ever barks — even when deer pass by in close proximity. Loves to be center of attention and hops into anyone’s lap.
Favorite Lake Activities: Walking (prancing) to the beach. Observes all the deer, bunnies, squirrels, chipmunks, ducks and crows.
Pet Peeve: When Mom runs the vacuum
Naughtiest Deed: Stealing butter off the counter
Family: The Monge family
Nickname: Mads
Personality Trait: Adventurous! A big-dog personality trapped in a small-dog body
Favorite Lake Activities: Running the shore path all year long and paddle boarding
Pet Peeve: When other dogs don ́t notice her
Naughtiest Deed: Chasing squirrels
Family: Lisa, Andrew, Ava and Elisabeth Geiger
Personality Traits: Spirited
Favorite Lake Activities: Loves to swim, but her humans don’t like when she gets her blow-out all messed up
Pet Peeve: Non-squeaking toys, missing out on anything
Naughtiest Deed: Ran through a sliding screen door because Lambeau was outside
Family: Lisa, Andrew, Ava and Elisabeth Geiger
Personality Traits: Chill
Favorite Lake Activities: Loves the water, but prefers a boat ride so he doesn’t mess up his hair
Pet Peeve: Life jackets, when someone takes away a toy (especially a tennis ball) and when the Green Bay Packers lose (on occasion)
Naughtiest Deed: Consumed thousands of socks, eating an entire rotisserie chicken and honey baked ham (including the bones) in seconds
Family: Alexa Condos
Personality Trait: Spunky
Favorite Lake Activities: Swimming and eating sticks
Pet Peeve: When other dogs want attention from his mama
Naughtiest Deed: Pooped in Home Depot once
Family: Mary and Mark Lahey
Personality Trait: Lover; she loves everyone and thinks everyone loves her
Favorite Lake Activities: Barking at the walkers on the shore path
Pet Peeve: Not being the center of attention. She will grab a toy and bark with it in her mouth to alert her humans “it’s time to play!”
Naughtiest Deed: Likes to run away when you try to get her ready for a walk
Family: The Soga-Pagone Family
Nickname: Inspector Slippers
Personality Traits: Spirited, Mr. Grumpy Pants
Favorite Lake Activities: Watching boats from his favorite bench on the Delavan Viewcrest Association Beach
Pet Peeve: Being woken up from a nap
Naughtiest Deed: Digging holes in the backyard
Family: Stacia Hahn and Eric Haas
Full Name: Madison Rae Hahn
Personality Trait: Warrior
Favorite Lake Activities: Going on the boat! Pet Peeve: Not getting what she wants EXACTLY when she wants it
Naughtiest Deed: Ignoring her mother
Family: Jon, Sarah and Ashton Frankel
Personality Trait: Happy
Favorite Lake Activities: Boat rides and people-watching from the bow of the boat
Pet Peeve: Not being the center of attention
Naughtiest Deed: Hopping up on the kitchen table and helping himself to dinner
Family: Dan and Peggy Schuld
Personality Trait: Magnetic — attaches herself to anyone who comes over
Favorite Lake Activities: Walking the Abbey Harbor
Pet Peeve: Other dogs — she only has time for people
Naughtiest Deed: Wanting to be carried after her daily Abbey Harbor walk is finished; squeals like a toddler waiting to be picked up
Family: Kat Taubensee
Nickname: Goober, or simply “Goob”
Favorite Lake Activities: Playing fetch on the pier. He even plays by himself! He’ll drop the ball in the water, hop in to get it and then swim himself out
Pet Peeve: Rabbits and squirrels taunting him from the other side of the window
Naughtiest Deed: “Redecorating” the bathroom with beach mud (in the style of Jackson Pollock) during his first bath as a puppy
Family: Andy Kubicsko and Robin Randolph
Personality Trait: Very sweet and loving
Favorite Lake Activities: Snoozing on the pier. He retired from jumping off the pier last summer at the age of 12
Pet Peeve: Getting left behind when the boat leaves the pier
Naughtiest Deed: Brought home an entire deer leg (twice)
Family: Andy Kubicsko and Robin Randolph
Personality Trait: Very sweet and loving
Favorite Lake Activities: Jumping in the lake off the pier, swimming back to shore, repeat…
Pet Peeve: Getting left behind when the boat leaves the pier
Naughtiest Deed: Running down the shore path to play with all of the neighbor kids
Family: Big Al & Rickie Wetzel
Personality Trait: Sweet
Favorite Lake Activities: Boat rides
Pet Peeve: Humans who stop petting her
Naughtiest Deed: Counter-surfing when no one is looking
Family: Steve and Bridget Mandarino
Personality Trait: Sophisticated
Favorite Lake Activities: Lake path strolls
Pet Peeve: Getting caught in the rain
Naughtiest Deed: Hogging the bed
Full Name: Gen. George Washington
Family: John Cordes Kirchhoefer
Personality Trait: Rollicking
Favorite Lake Activities: Chasing turkeys
Pet Peeve: English Setters
Naughtiest Deed: Steals and hides John’s left shoe every morning so he can’t leave the house
Family: Erik and Jaime
Personality Traits: Stoic
Favorite Lake Activities: Retrieving dead fish and chasing the ducks
Pet Peeve: When her puppy siblings play near her when she’s tired and doesn’t want to play
Naughtiest Deed: Stealing food from the neighbors
Family: Erik and Jaime
Personality Traits: Spitfire
Favorite Lake Activities: Hunting bees, running along the lakeshore path and visiting with all the people walking
Pet Peeve: Not getting outside to run with the joggers on the shore path
Naughtiest Deed: Opens doors when the humans leave
Family: Erik and Jaime
Personality Traits: Contemplative
Favorite Lake Activities: Visiting other people’s piers and hopping on the boat for a ride
Pet Peeve: When his humans don’t bring him down to the lake
Naughtiest Deed: Breaks through screen doors, including the pantry
Family: Nicole Pease
Personality Trait: Human-like
Favorite Lake Activities: Fishing! She loves to scan the shoreline for fish. Once she spots one, she stands very still until it’s close enough and then dives in
Pet Peeve: Aggressive animals “in” TV. She’s an avid television watcher and has been known to watch entire movies including “Jurassic Park,” “Marley & Me” and “Beethoven”
Naughtiest Deed: Pre-rinsing the dishes while in the dishwasher
Can’t get enough of these lake pups? Check out the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Lake Dogs features!
