Swimming!

[Ayoka]

Gosh I love this site seems like I'm reading and writing to people who live in my world!!! Well mine and bear's.

Any of you out there take your dogs swimming? when you did at first did your dogs jump right in or cower?

I have tried to take bear twice in the river, the first time he was not impressed with the tiny waves (I mean tiny they may have com past my toes) the second time he was with 2 other dogs that swim and he ventured out for a few paddles but came in right away and we couldn't get him back in past his elbows.

I have no idea about his history before I got him but since he's only 10 months old I'm assuming he's never seen the water before? How can I teach him to like swimming?

[Mochasmom]

I had to convince Mocha to come in the water with tons of "happy voices" and a leash! She would not go in unless I was in. After a few wading sessions we moved on to trying to swim but as soon as her butt floated she panicked and turned back to shore. I then got her a lifejacket and she finally swam! She, however, never did actually like it.

Fritz is a natural fish.

Some just won't ever love to swim but having other dogs playing will help to entice (as you found out) or having you in the water.

A very usefull bit of info I have gotten:

Milkbones FLOAT!!! ;)

[Ayoka]

It's getting too cold for me to go in and try to convince bear to swim maybe we'll have to wait until next summer.

[autumn]

Any dogs I have raised from a pup LOVE to swim. I bring them to the lake, river, or ocean (whatever is available) when they are young and just let them play. I do not make a big deal out of it, just let them have fun playing on the shore. Once they are comfortable with it I start throwing things in the water for them to fetch, like their ball.
I have had adult dogs that are not comfortable at first but if I bring them with other dogs that really like to swim they get more bold. It also really helps if I am out in the water swimming with them.
With Beau I would swim out a little ways and call him over and over. He wanted to come to me so bad he would come out a little further each time until he realized he was not going to drown

[Brun05]

I introduced Brun to still water (Big Bear Lake in CA) first. At first we just walked along the shore and he would run in the water and bite at it. After that I took a plastic tug. We played tug and fetch along the water and every few times I would throw the tug a couple feet in the water. I would praise and encourage him as he figured out how to get the tug out of the water.

After a while of that I attached a 16ft nylon lead to the tug and tossed the tug a bit further into the water. Brun, again would get high praise and encouragement. Anytime that he would get close to the tug and end up turning around (because the tug was just a bit too far) I would pull the tug back in with the lead. Then back to praise and encouragement and he would go get it. Only get a couple dog paddles in, but would be far enough out that he would get all 4 feet pumping to turn around and head back to shore.

This was all in one day and only took a few hours. A few weeks later we went to the ocean. The waves freaked him out a bit, I did not use a leash on him, just the leash and tug like before. That day we got out far enough in the ocean where he had to swim, but not too deep where he could not be touching the beach in a few strokes.

A couple weeks later, we went to the same beach. This time I would just charge head long into the ocean, calling his name and praising and encouraging him the whole time. After a few times like this I went running into the ocean, looked around (looking behind me) to find him. I could not see him. It turned out he was RIGHT BEHIND me (like 2 feet maybe) charging right there. That day was huge for him and me. He got bowled over by a few waves (all I saw was head, butt, head, butt, feet). He would come up from the wave, look around, and paddle straight to me.

Steve

[jas'smom]

I introduced Jas to water when she was about 6 months...she was cautious at first....I just let her muck about around the edges of the creek while the other dogs played in the water....she gradually moved herself into the water within a few short days....now she is a water nymph you cant keep her out of pools, lakes, rivers, even the ocean! Take your time with your pup, let him work at his own pace. And yes...company definately helps as does a body of water that does not drop off too quickly....Jas was able to gradually wade into deeper water as she felt comfortable

[debbiej]

my girl learned to enjoy swimming by going to hydrotherapy for her hips. then we put a ramp in our old aboveground pool. she swam with us and by herself almost that whole summer till sept.

we recently went to a lake, and she was not interested in swimming in the lake. our male, however was in as far as we would let him go. he had a 30' long line on. he isn't off lead in public.

I agree, a life vest and going in with them is a good way to teach swimming.

[rottielover2004]

LOL, I can not keep Harley out of the water when we are near it. If there is a dock close by, he will run to the dock, and dive in head first. Really is a sight to see. Black and tan butt sticking out of the water. He even blows bubbles in the tub.
I really think he is part duck sometimes

[Cash]

Cash learned to swim in a pool. I was in the shallow end of the water and encouraged him in with me. I walked around slowly as I held him underneath with both arms. In minutes he was swimming on his own. He absolutely loves it, and it's great exercise. Very early on I taught him that he can’t go in the pool unless he gets the ok from me first. He loves the beach too, but he doesn’t go swimming in the ocean. Something about the pounding waves I think... we have pretty heavy surf and currents here so I am ok with that. Haven’t taken him to a lake or river yet, that is next.


Oh, and a piece of advise. If Bear gets to swimming regularly make sure to flush his ears with a vinegar/water rinse. I was diligent about it, yet Cash still managed to develop a hearty bacterial infection from swimming.
2 weeks of ear drops and antibiotics

[The Ferrari Chick]

LOL! CJ loves water, its a fight sometimes to keep her OUT of it! She doesnt, however, like to swim... she has a ball splashing around and chasing waves and diving at fish but she doesnt dare go in where its deep enough for her to have to swim (My Mom and I tricked her into it once and we thought she'd never stop pouting) yea she's a little odd but thats why i love her..

Get a kiddie pool! Its not swimming but they love it!

[TamieK]

I live at a lake and Lexi will just go in until it touches her belly. I tried throwing sticks(her favorite fetch toy), frisbees, balls, etc and she will not swim. That's okay with me though.

[Nightshade]

"Look Vern, ducks!" *splash* (9 months old)
That was it. He would play fetch or follow water fowl anywhere until he was so tired he was wheezing and we made him come to shore.

"Look, Tinkerbell, Vern's in the water! Ball? Fetch!" *crickets* *Vern retrieves ball* Tinkerbell's face says "wha?" Then we tried the shallows, me first. She realized that when you push the tennis ball down, then let go, it pops back up to the surface! (9 months) That's a FUN game. But that's also as deep as she'll go to this day.

"Look, Star, Tink's in the water!" Star's face says "help!" and he runs to lean on my husband and looks up at him then back at me. (6 months) Spent the whole trip to the park going into the water and using the happy voice and playing with Tinkerbell. Finally, he came into the water with me. He looked DISGUSTED by the stuff, and just sorta slogged around in it, lifting his paws up too high. It was so funny! But he's such a little follower and mama's boy that he followed me in there. I don't know that he'll be much of a swimmer.

[LunaBell]

My pup Luna dove head first into our good friend's swimming pool. After my heart skipped a beat, I realized that my 14 week old pup is an amazing swimmer. Total water dog! My hubby's first rottie was a rescue and had never seen water before he intorduced her to it. Supposidly she was absolutely terrified at first, but once she understood that my husband wouldn't let anything happen to her it was like a switch flipped. When my hubby and I first started dating I automatically assumed that his dog was a natural from the begining. Little did I know, she over came a huge obstacle!

Good luck discovering the water! Oh, you might want to try a kiddie pool. Perhaps introducing water to Bear in a less threatening way, like a pool that an ant couldn't even drown in, would help introduce the fun of water.

[windsonguk]

Ours go swimming once a week in an 36mtr exercise pool (for race horses).
Its cold water, and about 11 - 12 ft deep with slope enterance.
They love it.
Our little boy Winston started at 3mths as a healthy option, to lengthy walks for those tender growing bones.

The first session - did he 'splash' we could hardly see him for the spray, but thereafter he decided it was easier just to swim. He is now 5mths and can manage 5 laps.

Sky our 12mth girl goes 30 laps per session, her muscle tone is wonderful - she hates to come out.
They are true water babies.

We also are fortunate to live next to woods, where there is a natural pond, ours often have a splash around with other dogs walking in the area, it has become abit of a social event as we owners stand around in fits of giggles at them acting up. Great for socialisation for them and us!

[SABELLESMOM]

Sable thought the waves were rather bold, and decided to chase the wave. After several tries, she was in where she could no longer touch. She had a bit of a startled expression before she realised she was OK. But she was FINE!

Raven splashed about at the edges, then went in after a tossed bumper (on a rope). No problem.

A side note tho: Rottweilers can swim, certainly, some better than others. My friends boy Rem, loves the water but you'd swear he was scarcely "making it." He looks like he's drowning, or sinking at least. If I were on a boat in a big lake, my girls would have life vests as a matter of course. But Rem? There's no question he would have one too. I'd be scared for him!