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???????

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!

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>

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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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.

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

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.