HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

The title is self explaining. I have a lab about 10 months old she will only go in my pool and stay on the first step how can I get her to swim???????

RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

I would suggest taking her to a creek or stream and walk around the edge. Just let her do her thing! If she goes in--she goes in. Do not force or throw her in! This may take a few times out, but she "should" eventually go in. When she does--graduate to a pond or lake and do the same. This is how I "intro" my dogs, so I know it works!

RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

I agree with chessie, that is a pretty good idea too i think.<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Live to hunt, hunt to live, be the eyes of the hawk <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

What ever you do do not force her in ,this will make her not want to go in . What i do is take the dog out to a strem and i will cross it, wait for the dog a little ,calling her to join me and if they wont then i walk off!The dog will whine and bark for you to return and get her but dont do it sit down in a spot where you can see the dog and wait, she will cross! The next outing she will be faster on crossing then after she gets the idea go for deeper water. After that make it a game of her retreveing , start throwing close to the edge of the water then go farther out ,,your dog will be a water dog very soon, then she will be hard to keep out of the water.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

If Hunters Dont Stand Together, We Wont Be Hunters Long!!!

Edited by - hoghunter51 on 07/29/2002 12:30:52

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RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

Good advice.
This spring I went through the same thing with my lab. I was a little worried. He wouldn't swim. He would go in up to his belly but no further. Just be patient and maybe try places wiith gradually sloping shores. Everyone else has pretty much said all there is to say.
She'll come around. My dog is now 15 months and I can't keep him out of the water. At the lake he'll swim out to me when I am on my sailboard. I can't go anywhere on the water with him nearby.

RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

I had the same problem with my GSP. She loved to play in the water, but no matter what I did, she wouldn't go in over her chest. I thought she was defective! And then one day when she was about 15 months, my buddy threw a stick and she just took off like a shot. She'd swim all day for me now. I think she just needed to mature.

I'm sure it will click with your lab too.

Solid Liver

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RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

Thanks all. still woking with her but she still wont swim.

RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

Don't worry about it, I posted the same about 8 months ago. I had a Wirehair that did the same thing. I just kept tossing bumpers out and one day she walked out as far as she could go and then all of a sudden she's swimming. She was 1 yr old before she really swam.

RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

I use a slightly different technique for getting the watershy dogs in.
I use three different ways. The first is to get a reliable older dog that is good with the pups. I start throwing retrieves for the older dog and let the pup follow the older dog around. The pup will often times follow the older dog out for the retrieve. They seem to trust the more mature dog that all is fine in the water and it is safe. Do this with a pup that loves to wrestle and chase an older dog. They will usually forget there fear of the water. Another way is to get a pigeon tie its wing down and toss it out just barely beyond the pups reach. A live pigeon will cure a watershy pup almost every time. Another way is to get you and a couple of your kids or borrow your neighbors children. Go down to the local pond and jump in. Splash around, make lots of racket, lots of laughing and excitement. The pup will be beside himself with wanting to join you and will come in like its tail is on fire. One of these three techniques should do it. Like the people above said, never force the dog to go in. Once in the water
try to make it as positive expierience as possible. No difficult retrieves yet, and no heavy duty horseplay.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

Some good ideas above BRDSL43....give them a try and let us know how it goes!

Obviously 'water under the bridge' at this point BRDSL43, but to any others out there with puppies, get them around water as soon as possible! It's just like anything else, the longer you wait the more animosity they have for it. By 10 months that pup should be fairly well 'learned' on hand signals in the water, etc., and headed toward some refinement work.....hard to do if he doesn't like his paws wet! :-)

Just my two cents.

Chad

&quot;Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.&quot;

--Albert Einstein

RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

Few things to try if the pup fetches sticks or bumpers then get it excited about that & keep throwing it farther & farther out in the water you can wade with the pup or you can hook up with some one with a bigger lab that swims & tether the to dogs by the collar & let the big dog go after a bumper & &quot;take the pup along for the ride&quot;. Probaly just a few time seeing the big dog go after the bumpers & get praise will be all the pup needs.

RE: HELP SHE WONT GET IN THE WATER!!!!
 

you know........... i used to agree with all of that.... If fact, when we first bought our lab (who is constantly getting compliments on his hunting skills) we were very carefull with him.

Then the damn neighbors got to him!!! I was going to allow my dog to walk around a ditch (his first hunting season, he still doesn't not swim, about 1 year old) but my neighbors thought that was dumb. I was probably one of the most angry pet owners you've ever seen win they picked up Moses, and tossed him in.

BUT! he swam. and to this day he is still swimming in that ditch, can't get him out. I think any dog can be tought anything... consider holding the dog under the belly and wading in the water with him like you would a child. they'll naturally kick their legs.

Keep missing? naw, just &quot;shooting blanks!&quot;