Dock diving helping water enry? - Labrador Retriever Dogs Chat Forum Board - Dogs, Puppies, Photos, Training, Pictures, Rescue Forums

Baron · 11-16-2009, 01:02 AM

My lab loves water and would swim a ocean to fetch his dummy. He is always at full speed when sending him in to retrieve a dummy but just when he reaches the water he slows down and then enters the water slowly and then goes for the retrieve.

I would like him to dive in and hit the water hard. And i would not send him into water where i know he can hurt himself while diving in.

Can dock diving assist in this or not? I took him to the water this weekend and of the dock threw in his dummy but just of the edge and told him to fetch. He then moaned and wanted to jump and eventually jumped in and was then submerged for a second but retrieved the dummy. But after that jump he would not do it again.

How can i go about it and would dock diving better his water entry?

ChocolateDawg · 11-16-2009, 03:56 AM

How old is the dog? And how long have you been water retrieving with him? It could just be a matter of maturity and/or lack of experience. Time would then take care of the problem.

When a dog continues to hesitate at the end of a dock, we usually start the dog closer to the end and throw the toy closer. I'm not sure if that would help with shore entries or not. But you might try it. rather than throwing the toy way out there and letting him run to the edge of water, start him right at the water's edge and throw it shorter so it doesn't look like such a big leap for him.

Then if he enters better, keep doing it that way for a while and slowly working him farther back for the start and throwing the toy a little farther out. In other words, work it at baby steps.

Again, I have no idea if this will help with shore entries or not, but it does help hesitant dock divers.

To answer your question if dock diving would help the hesitancy on short entries, I really have no idea. I've never known anyone who wanted to try it for that reason. But from the way you described him on the dock, it sounds like he's just as hesitant or even more so on the dock right now.

Baron · 11-16-2009, 04:20 AM

He was introduced to water about 2-3 months ago. He is really confident in the water but wont jump into it rather find his feet inside the water first and then speed up into the water. But he is still only 10 months and i should probably just be patient.

I laid down on the edge of the dock and placed his dummy just a arm stretch away. And then splashed water onto it and eventually he jumped more of a slide little jump. But that was the first and last jump for the day. He didnt want to try it again even if i made him so excited about the dummy.

I bet if i jumped in and called him he will jump in after me but the water is freezing!

11-16-2009, 01:02 AM	#1
Baron House Broken Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 26	Dock diving helping water enry? My lab loves water and would swim a ocean to fetch his dummy. He is always at full speed when sending him in to retrieve a dummy but just when he reaches the water he slows down and then enters the water slowly and then goes for the retrieve. I would like him to dive in and hit the water hard. And i would not send him into water where i know he can hurt himself while diving in. Can dock diving assist in this or not? I took him to the water this weekend and of the dock threw in his dummy but just of the edge and told him to fetch. He then moaned and wanted to jump and eventually jumped in and was then submerged for a second but retrieved the dummy. But after that jump he would not do it again. How can i go about it and would dock diving better his water entry? __________________

11-16-2009, 03:56 AM	#2
ChocolateDawg Dock Diving Addict Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Watkinsville, Georgia Posts: 2,162 My Mood:	How old is the dog? And how long have you been water retrieving with him? It could just be a matter of maturity and/or lack of experience. Time would then take care of the problem. When a dog continues to hesitate at the end of a dock, we usually start the dog closer to the end and throw the toy closer. I'm not sure if that would help with shore entries or not. But you might try it. rather than throwing the toy way out there and letting him run to the edge of water, start him right at the water's edge and throw it shorter so it doesn't look like such a big leap for him. Then if he enters better, keep doing it that way for a while and slowly working him farther back for the start and throwing the toy a little farther out. In other words, work it at baby steps. Again, I have no idea if this will help with shore entries or not, but it does help hesitant dock divers. To answer your question if dock diving would help the hesitancy on short entries, I really have no idea. I've never known anyone who wanted to try it for that reason. But from the way you described him on the dock, it sounds like he's just as hesitant or even more so on the dock right now. __________________ Nancy Team 4 Dawg Flite website Sally's blog Sally's Dock Diving Music Video Sally and Spud BFF Music Video

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11-16-2009, 04:20 AM	#3
Baron House Broken Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 26	He was introduced to water about 2-3 months ago. He is really confident in the water but wont jump into it rather find his feet inside the water first and then speed up into the water. But he is still only 10 months and i should probably just be patient. I laid down on the edge of the dock and placed his dummy just a arm stretch away. And then splashed water onto it and eventually he jumped more of a slide little jump. But that was the first and last jump for the day. He didnt want to try it again even if i made him so excited about the dummy. I bet if i jumped in and called him he will jump in after me but the water is freezing!