I have a 10 week old lab puppy, and I’m feeling so disheartened right now that I might have made her opposed to swimming! We went to the lake today (we’ve been a few times and she’ll wade in the water but never very far). Well I’d read to go in the water with them, so I waded in to my chest while holding her and then stood in there for awhile talking calmly to her and petting her. She was nervous and whining but acted like she wanted to try for shore so placed her in the water and let her paddle to shore while walking with her and supporting her the whole way. She slapped the top of the water with her paws the whole way as if trying to climb out, and then once she was out she was nervous to go Too near the water again. I’m feeling so disheartened right now that I might have ruined her experience with water!
No, don't worry! My OH was really keen that our boy learn to swim - he had horrors of him falling into water and drowning. When Pongo was about 6 months old we were on a walk by a beautiful river, and OH decided this was the time - so he (literally) threw him in the water! Pongo was not impressed, spluttered out of the river and refused to go back. The next few times we were near the river he was reluctant to go in (but not upset about it, he was happy to paddle around in the shallows). Then after a few months we were with other dogs who were enjoying themselves in the water, and he just followed them in a started swimming. And now he loves the water. So I am absolutely sure you've done no lasting damage! Just take it easy, give her the chance to explore the water when you can, and sometimes do the bit of going in yourself and calling her to you - she'll make up her own mind when she is ready to turn into a water baby. Above all, have fun with her!
I absolutely agree with @Rosie above, let her take it at her own pace, your girl is still very tiny and unless she is destined for gundog work there's no hurry! My Cassie has only just started properly swimming and she's turned 2. She first waded into water at around 10 weeks, showed no fear, but simply didn't want to take her feet of the bottom, even in the company of other dogs including Pongo himself! Then a couple of months ago on a walk with another dog she suddenly followed him into a deep river and hey presto she was swimming. A couple of weeks later she joined some other dogs swimming, and just lately in the warm weather has started swimming to cool off on her own. So don't worry, like Rosie says, have fun with her!
