Doesn't Like Water?

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

I bring the pup to a lake, with a beach area, or at least a gently sloping water entry. Eventually they go exploring and wade around in the shallows. Play fetch in the shallow water. If needed, go wading around in the shallow water, where they can still touch bottom, and have FUN!!! Sunshine took right off to swimming. She did, however, not do it well at all. The front legs would splash the water, her head would go under, she barely moved, just survived. WEEKS, we went to the lake everyday!!! It was embarrassing if anyone else was around. More than once I remember seeing her go under and got ready to run in and save her. She would just bob back up and continue splashing. One of the many, lab puppy owner moments when you just sigh and think, "I have a defective lab." LOL!!!

She has 'taught' several other lab pups how to swim, or at least brave the water. Sunshine wants nothing to do with any other dog or pup when she has a job to do. They can be jumping all around, she sits with eyes focused on me. She would just as soon not have this bothersome thing near her. The pups are fascinated as she takes off, with much enthusiasm, into the water after something. They learn pretty quickly NOT to stand between her and the water as she does not consider things like puppies actual obstacles. They will watch, standing on the shore. Then start wading out after her and eventually they go deep enough to where they have to tread water. Their owners give them their own stick to 'fetch', starting out where they do not have to swim and eventually juuuust to where they have to swim for it.

[amandalmw]

I think Stig was about 6 months old when he started enjoying going in our pool. We thought we go a defective lab at first. He would only stay on the step and didn't care to swim. One day we found him in the pool and now we can't keep him out! We had to block the stairs so he won't be in it all the time. Thankfully, he hasn't learned how to jump in, yet. He wants to but is still too scared.

[Jollymolly]

Give molly a puddle or a pond. But forget swimming she just loves to ru and play in it. Its so funny to watch.

[BaconsMom]

bacon was hesitant at first, but he went into the water first at about 12 weeks. We went in with him, playing with his favorite toys. Now, we cant keep him out!

[happy_blackbird]

We're right there with you. Ellie jumped into the Bay a couple of times when she was at the shoreline with other dogs, but didn't swim, just a quick dunk and out. We took her to Jim's Aunt's house with a pool two weeks ago, 80 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, perfect for swimming. She would not go in, not for roasted chicken, not to get her rope toy, not when we splashed around and called to her. Nope. No way. Uh-uh. She ran around the edges of the pool as my husband swam laps, crying, or would get onto the top step and just shake and cry. She finally slipped and fell in at the deep end, where upon she swam like a champ (just gorgeous) to my husband and the two of them swam together to the steps. But that was that. It's a mystery, as our last lab jumped into icy mountain waters at 12 weeks old and never wanted to get out again. But they are all different and I am betting with a canine companion to show the ropes (and the fun!), both Oliver and Ellie will get it.

[shellbell]

Tux does not like to swim. Doesn't matter if there are other dogs and/or people jumping in the water and swimming, he will not. The most he will do is walk in up to about chest level and splash around in a creek or lake. He won't go in the plastic kiddy pools either.

[barry581]

Ella my first Lab, swam like a fish the first she saw water at 2 and 1/2 years old.

Dusty, Lab #2, swam when she was 12 weeks old, and loved the water.

Clancy, Lab #4 went to the pond with Ella when he was 4 months old. He saw the water, ran straight in until it was over his head, he jumped straight up out of the water, turn 180 degrees in mid air and RAN to dry land looking over his shoulder like "what the hell was that"! Once he got over the initial shock, he walked straight back to the water and commenced to swimming like a fish. He loved being in the water more than anything. When we'd go to my Mom's house on the Rappahanock River in Virginia, Clancy sleep the whole five hour trip. When we got about 5 miles from my Mom's. I'd look in the mirror, and Clancy would be sitting up, alert. The minute I opened the back of the van, he was out, and straight into the river. At midnight, or whatever time we arrived. To say Clancy loved water was like saying he loved to breathe. If there was a puddle of water within 100 yards, Clancy was in it!

Elvis, Lab #5 had a pond at his breeders home and he loved to swim. He came to me when he was 4. He too loved going to Virginia.

Fannie, Lab #7 also loved the water. She came to us when she was 4. She actually lived with my Mom in Virginia for a couple years, and spent every day, winter, spring, summer, fall, in the river.

Noah, Lab #8, my chocolate boy, came to us when he was 8. He didn't know what retrieving was, and he had no interest in water.

Sophie was exposed to water when she was 7 months old. It took 5, maybe 6 trips to the pond before she actually swam. I swear I thought she was defective until it finally happened. She would wade in up to her chest, and she'd watch the other Labs we were with swim, and she'd paw at the water like her brain was telling her what to do. Once she made the leap of faith, she turned out to be a good swimmer.

Bruce had his first water exposure this morning. Went about as I expected. He went in, over his head, ran out. I did get him back in, his front paws going furiously, but he kept try to touch his back feet to the bottom. It will take a few more trips, but he will figure it out.

Even though Ella was a great swimmer, she had to have reason to go in. She would do water retrieves all day long. But if there was no reason to go in, she wouldn't go. Clancy and Fannie swam for no reason other than there was water, and swimming is what you do when there is water!

[MightyThor]

Bruce had his first water exposure this morning. Went about as I expected. He went in, over his head, ran out. I did get him back in, his front paws going furiously, but he kept try to touch his back feet to the bottom. It will take a few more trips, but he will figure it out.

Exactly what thor does. Doggy paddling the heck out of his front legs with his back legs planted firmly on the bottom. They'll get it eventually!

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

Sunshine is also now a dedicated water lover. She is one of those labs that NEEDS to be carrying something too. When we go down to the lake she will RUN ahead, stop, look back and RUN back to me, stick in mouth. When we get 100' or so away, and I see there is no one at the spot, I tell her to go take the stick for a swim. She will RUN down, go swim out and swim until I get to the shore then swim the stick back to me. For her, ALL sticks like to swim. If she hunts up a new one, it has to go for a swim before it comes to me.

[Moby and Barley's Mom]

You can't get Moby out of a puddle, stream, lake or ocean. Barley, of course, has hated water of all kind since we got him at 8 weeks. All he does if Moby is in the water or I am in the water is cry at the shoreline. Bathing him is hell. Actually, I am starting to feel like most things are hell with him from walking, to bathing, to brushing, to destroying his toys. I think maybe I need a break from him as honestly, he may be too much for me.