Jack's Swimming Lesson... - Labrador Retriever Dogs Chat Forum Board - Dogs, Puppies, Photos, Training, Pictures, Rescue Forums

sillysally · 04-25-2009, 05:06 PM

DH is going to work on trying to get the DVD on the computer so that I can post part of it...but here are the pics...

They did cavaleties first (if anyone recognizes that toy in his mouth let me know--he loved it and I'd like to get him one)...

Getting into the pool....He likes to swim in lakes but really did not like pools in the beginning of this session....

The therapist is holding a treat to try to lure him onto the first step.....

Finally she got him in--I love that she took her time with him instead of just grabbing him by the life jacket and hauling him in. you can't see it here but there is a shelf in the pool before it gets deep that they walk them back and forth on first...

After a few more minutes she convinced him to come out and swim with her....

Part way through the session she stopped and massaged him...

He got more confident with each time out and by the end of it was swimming just like he was in the lake...

And after, of course, he had to do post swimming zoomies....We tried to reason with him, telling him it was not good for his elbow, but he ignored us and we had to corral him instead...

Golightly Labs · 04-25-2009, 05:16 PM

What a great day he (and you) had!!!! The pics are terrific. I never even thought about putting a life vest on Holly when we learned! Would have made he much more confident, I think. Now she's an expert, lol.

greenfreak. · 04-25-2009, 06:39 PM

Great pics! I'm glad he got to enjoy it.

Sparrow173 · 04-25-2009, 07:31 PM

Looks like a real thorough session. All I could think of was "What a fun job to have!"
How often/how long will he have to do this?

Daisy and Miia · 04-25-2009, 07:42 PM

That is really great! And the pics are wonderful.

sdb17 · 04-25-2009, 10:28 PM

Nice pictures.

sillysally · 04-26-2009, 06:43 AM

Thanks everyone!

The therapist that is working with him is a canine massage therapist as well. We were going to her far the past month or so just for that, until I felt OK with him going in the water with his ear issues.

We'll probably do the indoor swim for a few more weeks until the weather gets warm, and then ease him into swimming at the lake. For now this is a good way to get him back in the water since he has not been swimming since last year. We plan to go here in the winter this year--the swimming is just so good for the joint issues!

LadyBuckeye · 04-26-2009, 09:13 AM

I love the pictures!!! What a neat place. My girls had that toy. I finally threw it away about 6 months ago...now, to remember where I got it...either target, petco or petsmart. I have a pic somewhere of Molly sleeping with her head on it.

Edit: Oups, not on it but it was never far away

KrissyK79 · 04-26-2009, 06:10 PM

Love the pics!! It must feel good to see him looking confident!

Here's the toy!! I found it at Walgreens!

http://hartz.com/Hartz_Products/Dog_...foam_bone.aspx

R&R's Mum · 04-26-2009, 06:22 PM

Very nice that she took her time with him, that toy is a flex floam or something. Mine have a few balls and it squeaks well, but DOESNOT hold up well to three tugging!

04-25-2009, 05:06 PM	#1
sillysally Retriever Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 421 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Jack's Swimming Lesson... DH is going to work on trying to get the DVD on the computer so that I can post part of it...but here are the pics... They did cavaleties first (if anyone recognizes that toy in his mouth let me know--he loved it and I'd like to get him one)... Getting into the pool....He likes to swim in lakes but really did not like pools in the beginning of this session.... The therapist is holding a treat to try to lure him onto the first step..... Finally she got him in--I love that she took her time with him instead of just grabbing him by the life jacket and hauling him in. you can't see it here but there is a shelf in the pool before it gets deep that they walk them back and forth on first... After a few more minutes she convinced him to come out and swim with her.... Part way through the session she stopped and massaged him... He got more confident with each time out and by the end of it was swimming just like he was in the lake... And after, of course, he had to do post swimming zoomies....We tried to reason with him, telling him it was not good for his elbow, but he ignored us and we had to corral him instead...

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04-25-2009, 05:16 PM	#2
Golightly Labs In a 12 Step Lab Program Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,098 My Mood: Thanks: 59 Thanked 51 Times in 48 Posts	What a great day he (and you) had!!!! The pics are terrific. I never even thought about putting a life vest on Holly when we learned! Would have made he much more confident, I think. Now she's an expert, lol.

04-25-2009, 06:39 PM	#3
greenfreak. Tricia :) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,319 My Mood: Thanks: 10 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Great pics! I'm glad he got to enjoy it.

04-25-2009, 07:31 PM	#4
Sparrow173 House Broken Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 213 My Mood: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Looks like a real thorough session. All I could think of was "What a fun job to have!" How often/how long will he have to do this?

04-25-2009, 07:42 PM	#5
Daisy and Miia Honey & Paige Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 11,906 My Mood: Thanks: 46 Thanked 66 Times in 37 Posts	That is really great! And the pics are wonderful.

04-25-2009, 10:28 PM	#6
sdb17 Senior Dog Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: So Cal Posts: 908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Nice pictures.

04-26-2009, 06:43 AM	#7
sillysally Retriever Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 421 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks everyone! The therapist that is working with him is a canine massage therapist as well. We were going to her far the past month or so just for that, until I felt OK with him going in the water with his ear issues. We'll probably do the indoor swim for a few more weeks until the weather gets warm, and then ease him into swimming at the lake. For now this is a good way to get him back in the water since he has not been swimming since last year. We plan to go here in the winter this year--the swimming is just so good for the joint issues!

04-26-2009, 09:13 AM	#8
LadyBuckeye Senior Dog Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 4,964 My Mood: Thanks: 64 Thanked 285 Times in 222 Posts	I love the pictures!!! What a neat place. My girls had that toy. I finally threw it away about 6 months ago...now, to remember where I got it...either target, petco or petsmart. I have a pic somewhere of Molly sleeping with her head on it. Edit: Oups, not on it but it was never far away

04-26-2009, 06:10 PM	#9
KrissyK79 Back to work :( Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 7,932 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Love the pics!! It must feel good to see him looking confident! Here's the toy!! I found it at Walgreens! http://hartz.com/Hartz_Products/Dog_...foam_bone.aspx

04-26-2009, 06:22 PM	#10
R&R's Mum Same old Luvmydog2much Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Windsor Ontario Canada Posts: 5,323 My Mood: Thanks: 2 Thanked 28 Times in 21 Posts	Very nice that she took her time with him, that toy is a flex floam or something. Mine have a few balls and it squeaks well, but DOESNOT hold up well to three tugging!