Taught my pup to swim yesterday!

[Dano2]

my younger one got her first swim a few days ago too. I was out throwing the dummies for her near a small slew, and she was so muddy , I decided she better clean herself off, so I tossed it in the water a couple times (not too far out) and she didn't hesitate.

[gspman]

Although most of you probably think getting your pooch in the water and swimming is ho-hum stuff, I'm actually quite proud of my pup as my older shorthair doesn't swim well and I wasn't thinking my 10 month old youngster was going to be much of a water dog either.

Anyways working off her retrieving instinct, here's how I got her swimming in about 10 minutes.
- I cut up some beef sticks into bit sized treats.
- Threw the dummy on dry land and got the retrieve and gave her a treat.
- Threw in shallow water, got the retrieve and gave her lots of praise and a treat.
- After this it was just a little farther and deeper each time until she had to make 2 short swimming retrieves.
- Then I declared victory and quit on a high note with lots of praise and lots of treats.

I was surprised! The little bugger actually swims quite well!!!

Probably not standard operating procedure but it worked like a charm for me this weekend. Can't wait until next weekend so we can do it again.

Question: Anything I should watch out for or not do while continuing the water training?

I actually did this after being inspired at Cabelas in Owatonna where they had the Dock Dogs performing. Man can some of those dogs get some air. The farthest jump I saw was a shorthair that landed about 25 feet out. Amazing!

Thanks for letting me beat my chest.
gspman

[irvingdog]

When it is warm enough, try wading near shore, or swimming out into the water. Most dogs want to or will swim with the owner. Once they are confident that if they put forth effort they won't die, they will swim plenty!

[LMITOUT]

My five month old GSP learned to swim the hard way by falling off the dock after I took her on a boat ride. Doesn't quite have her sea-legs yet I guess and misjudged the jump from the boat to the dock and fell between. Had me worried for a second until I saw her just start paddling towards shore like she'd been doing it for years. I thought it might be tough to get her to swim, but she loves the water.

[Hossienda]

My 9 week old lab learned to swim on the fishing opener. She was out on the dock with us and would get a little too excited and all of a sudden, splash, off the dock she fell. This happened about 5 times for the weekend, but she swims like a champ.

-Hossienda

[Dano2]

heh, heh, that must be a neat site, seeing those little paws paddling away.

[Moose-Hunter]

My oldest E. setter, never really took to the water as a pup. Even with an ultra slow introduction, she just didn't care for it.

Until...

I had set up a little "hunt" with launchers and barn pigeons. "Daddy" didn't do his part very well and a weak hit bird fell on the opposite side of a stock pond. Rosie took off after the cripple, around the outside of the pond, and got the bird. Not wanting to run all that way again, here she comes, full tilt, up and over the waist high shore grass, and right into the water. Man did she get air!!! Paddled the 50' or so, and right back to me. Dripping wet, the bird in her mouth and I swear she was smiling.

Now I can't keep her out of the water...

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M-H (aka: Dan)

[taxmancommeth]

Our Black Lab wanted nothing to do with the water at first. We ended up throwing her off the dock at first, then she would try to jump back up, so had to teach her how to swim to shore.

Then we had my cousins dog up and she went in the water with her buddy like it was nothing. Now we can't keep her oyut of it. Hates it when mom or Dad go skiing or fishing as she always wants to swim after us. Dog will go get her bird from 50+ feet out with no problem. No only if she liked a bath to get clean!

Later All

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GET-ER-DONE

[Mr. B]

Taxman

I understand what you are going through when it comes to bathing a black lab. You can not keep my lab out of the water. Any water, does not matter if it is a lake, swamp, mud puddle or swimming pool. It does not matter if she has to break ice to get to the water she loves it. But try and give her a bath and you better be prepared for a battle.

I saw someplace that a trick to keep the dog still while bathing is to smear peanut butter or cheese whiz on the side of the tub while giving them the bath. They are so interested in the treat they do not care about the bath. I have not tried it yet but next time I will.