So Excited!

books4brooke

We taught our year and a half old dog to swim today... He's a black lab, pointer mix, and he has been so scared of water (would pull me to the other side of the sidewalk near sprinklers, was frightened at the river when we put him in last year).  We were at our cabin in the Sawtooths and took him out to the lake.  Slowly but surely, he got acclimated (literally toe by toe)... and about an hour later he was swimming to the middle of the lake fetching sticks.  I have such maternal pride right now!!

brideinboise

Congratulations. Our dog was about the same age as yours when we "taught" him to swim. He is a black lab. He loved it after he figured out how to swim the right away instead of just splashing around. We had him fetch sticks up at Sage hen reservoir. He had so muhc fun we had to drag him out of the water.

Our girl dog has her own little wading pool to keep cool and she loves sprinklers. I haven't taken her to a lake or river yet, because she makes me nervous about running off. Maybe next summer.

triblondie

I am so happy for you (and jealous!).  Our dog Steve will go in to about his chest, then he stops.  Like if he can't touch the bottom, he won't go any further.  How did you help your pup get used to the water?  We would throw a stick out in the water a little further each time....but he stops when he can't touch bottom anymore.  I would love to have my dog swim out the the middle of the lake!

books4brooke

I used my behavioral analysis tricks that I use on my autism kids!!  I took a highly preferred object (he has a tug of war rubber toy) and put it in slowly further and further.  He was really nervous initially and we wouldn't throw it any further than he was comfortable with.  Once he started getting better at it and more excited about the game, we would throw it a little further.  Eventually I had to switch to a stick because I needed it to float.  We threw it barely past where he could touch, and he was hesitant, but he wanted to keep playing.  Eventually he was in the middle of the lake.  I think he even went by himself when we were inside!!  I hope your dog learns soon because everyone made fun of us :-)

triblondie

Thanks for the tips!  I will definitely keep working on it.  I want my dog to fetch in the water darnit!  :0)