Watch this German Shepherd jump overboard in an attempt to swim with dolphins

Not all dogs are cut out to be sea dogs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t try. Take first mate Maverick for example, a German Shepherd who was charged by his captain with manning the bow of the ship.

Maverick’s a smart dog, he’s seen Tom Hanks’ masterful performance in Captain Phillips. That’s why when some rogue dolphins threatend the boat, he knew he had to sacrifice himself for the good of the crew. While his splash was enough to scare away the finned pirates, his sea legs proved too unsure and he ended up needing a rescue of his own.

But when you name a dog Maverick, how can you not expect these kinds of danger zone antics? 

H/T Reddit | Photo via gammaman/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)