Water Dogs aka How To Get Your Dog in the Water

[SigTau66]

Since the weather is finally starting to turn nice, my wife and I have been taking Kalil on a lot of walks along the river here. Yesterday, I tried getting him to get in the water, but he was real hesitant to do so. Of course, this was after the first time he plunged into it without thinking. He's normally not afraid of water as he's been known to come into the bathroom while I'm showering and just hop right in with me.

Anybody ever have problems with their dog and bodies of water? Anything I should attempt to get him to go in to see that it's not scary? I was throwing a stick into the water, about 1-2 feet out, and the first time he got brave enough to go out about 1 ft, he jumped out of the water and proceeded to hop around like a kangaroo and run around for 5 minutes celebrating the fact that he got the stick out.

I'm hoping it was just because of the cold water, but wanted to get some opinions just in case.

[Mochasmom]

Mocha hates swimming. I can get her in only if I go first!! We bought her a lifejacket last year since she will be ok until her butt starts lifting then she wants out! We havn't tried the lifejacket yet ( cause there is no way you will get me in the water yet!!) but I hope that this will make her more comfortable and we can do lots of swimming!

If Kalil has never swam before then it does take a lesson or two (and/or you in the water )

Good luck!

[moondog]

Being in the company of a water-loving dog friend can make all the difference when introducing your dog to the water. Find a spot where the shore gently slopes into the water and play with them, in and out of the water.

[GenHannibal]

I would think that the water is quite "frigid"! How about getting him a small pool and setting it up in the backyard. Fill it with water, preferably warmer than the river and throwing toys in it. Otherwise, do what moondog has suggested. That is the way I taught mine....moondogs way. Don't throw the stick so far, just toss it enough for him to get his feet wet. Not all Rotties take to the water right away. My first Rott took some time, but once he got going, I couldn't get him out! He'd swim 2-3 miles at a time, while I'd walk along the shore.

[Judi W]

I have a dog that originally was convinced that if his most important parts got wet in the cold creek water, they might rust or fall off. He'd dither around and dither around. We simply crossed the creek (two other dogs and 4 people) and kept going. He got over his dithering........

[tvanderwall]

My first Rottie didn't care much for the water at first, but our older dog loved it and eventually Cheyenne followed because she didn't want to miss out on any of the action, also after great coaxing and me being in the water she would swim out to me and right back just to make sure the solid ground was still there, after about 4 or 5 times out she finally realized how fun it could be, now we can't get her out of the water

[JD102175]

Brodie was definately NOT a swimmer when we got him. He absolutely loved to splash and play in the shallows and play with the hose though. We finally figuured out that he just didn't now how to swim. He would not use his back legs at all and that just caused his rear to sink like a rock which would then cause him to panic. We got him a lifevest and started him swimming in my parents pool, since there were no lakes or creeks close by, and he slowly started to use his back legs. After 4 or 5 lessons in the pool with the vest we let him in with out and it took him a minute or so to start to really propel himself with his back legs,as he had become too reliant on the vest to keep his rear end afloat. But, now he swims like a champ and loves it. We still use the vest the first few times he's in the pool for the year and always use it for lake swimming.

Jaime

[Gome]

My female is mental about water and is half seal. We have to leash her in the winter near water or she will jump in....and she even tries to get into the shower when you are in there.

My male HATES water. From the sky, in the lake, etc...
He has ventured in up until it touches his belly and then he runs back to shore. The only time he ever went in deeper was chasing after a stick after my female.

So maybe playing with another swimming dog on a hot day would do it.

[Maryn306]

pffft Rocco has decided that he doesn't even like rain....his first bath sure was an 'experience' LOL

[GenHannibal]

Funny thing about Merlin, was he HATED rain, but loved to swim. Go figure.

[Brooke&Ryan]

When Julius was little we introduced him to water. He was only 5-6 months old at the time that spring rolled around. Ryan & I had Julius on a long line & proceeded to get into the creek while Julius stood on the shore. We had his ball with us & splashed around like it was great fun. After awhile Julius had to invesitgate & see what he was missing out on. He splashed right in.

[Rott'nKids]

the shore can make a big difference - if it's really rocky, my two will only go in up to mid-leg. If it is a nice, sandy/pebbly beach, they go in and play, and don't want to come out. A ball or stick thrown a few feet in works wonders.

[SigTau66]

HAH, thanks for the replies. No way I'm getting in the water with him! Way too cold for me. When it starts getting really warm, we'll setup a pool for him in the backyard to play in. Hopefully he'll take to it that way.

I guess I'll keep at it with him. Hopefully he'll eventually realize it's not a scary thing.