Another quick question or two: 1. What is a good age to introduce our Lab to the water? 2. What's the right way to do it?

In my opinion, you can introduce a puppy to the water at any age as long as the water temperature isn't too low. I introduce pups to water by taking along their favorite toy or training bumper. I'll wade out in the water and happily encourage the pup to come out and check out whats going on. I'll toss their toy a short short distance in the water, I make sure its not tossed far enough to where the pup has to swim but enough to get him/her happy and excited about the water. As the pup gets more comfortable with the water, I'll find a small creek/river some where that doesn't have much the water moving and its shallow enough for me to walk across. A pup will usually follow you across a shallow creek/river just because they don't want to be left behind.

I just make sure the make it one of the funnest experiences for the pup with constant praise.

I'm really glad you asked this. Was wondering the same thing myself. Course it is just now warming up here. We live at the junctions of 2 major rivers. So lack of water is not a problem. Haven't had him away from the house much, except for walks around the neighborhood. So worrying about him going "hog wild" I assume that he should be keeped on a long lead until I "trust him" Thanks again for asking this.

I trained my first lab in a swimming pool. I would jump in and he hated it. He was about 13 wks. He would bark and cry because I was in there and he did not want to go in. A few days later I carried him out there and let him get used to it. Within a week he started jumping in after me. Watch out for their claws! Then when he started retrieving all I had to do was throw a ball in the water and he would go after it. Overall I would not recommend teaching a pup in a swimming pool. They are alot more comfortable when they can wade in gradually. But it worked for Doc. Now you can't keep him out of the pool.

My new puppy Indy was a lot easier. I went to a lake where he could wade in and get used to it. Indy was about 11-12 wks. Then I brought Doc (my older lab) along. Indy would follow him anywhere. Within the day Indy was right there swimming next to Doc. It wasn't a week later I went back to the lake with just Indy. He jumped right in and started swimming around. He actually found an old tennis ball out in the water and brought it back to me. Amazed, I threw the ball back out in the water and he retrieved it. He's been doing it ever since. I guess he saw Doc do it so many times he just picked up on it. And just a week ago I was out there again and ran into a lady who had a one year old chocolate that would get in the water but refused to actually swim. I let the other lab watch Indy a few times and the next thing you know they were both out there swimming together. So if there is any way you could put the pups around a dog that already loves the water it seems to really speed up the process.

I totally agree about having another lab around. Amos loved the water since he was little, and when I got Nya and had her at the swimming pool by herself, she was real hesitant to get in. But then I brought her back with Amos, and after seeing Amos get in, she was quick to jump in right after him. It does seem to definitely help when there is another dog around.

Agreed! Once my puppy Akasha saw big sister Anubis jump into the lake, she was right in after her. Prior to that she hated the water!:)

Our Jack got in with another dog too, but before that wouldn't go near water (it was colder also). It was great. He was still scared at first and only got in up to his thighs, but now that it is warmer and he is a little older he automatically jumps in as soon as we get to the hunting camp.

I think any age, but agree with the good water temp- just think about what you'd want to swim in- and they also say it helps if there is a bank so they can wade in, not just have to jump all the way in.

Here it is

Originally posted by YellowDog03
In my opinion, you can introduce a puppy to the water at any age as long as the water temperature isn't too low. I introduce pups to water by taking along their favorite toy or training bumper. I'll wade out in the water and happily encourage the pup to come out and check out whats going on. I'll toss their toy a short short distance in the water, I make sure its not tossed far enough to where the pup has to swim but enough to get him/her happy and excited about the water. As the pup gets more comfortable with the water, I'll find a small creek/river some where that doesn't have much the water moving and its shallow enough for me to walk across. A pup will usually follow you across a shallow creek/river just because they don't want to be left behind.

I just make sure the make it one of the funnest experiences for the pup with constant praise.
I COMPLETELY agree!!!!