Max is 2 years old and loves the pool and will fetch. Every once in a while she will jump in at me. If I have dove in, she will always jump in and swim towards me or other times, if she is amped up, she will jump. The problem is, she is snapping and clawing when she reaches me. I have to move fast or have something to block her with or get clawed. She is not aggressive at any other time. Maybe she is trying to save me or something. I have no idea how to correct this and would really appreciate any suggestion.
Hi @Mel Davis find a bunch of toys suitable for a pool eg a large ball that floats. Use the toys to redirect her claws from you to the toy. Positively reinforce her playing with you with the toy as the conduit. Why a bunch? Use a different toy each time you go in the pool. Put the other toys in storage until the next pool party.
She is just trying to play with you, in the pool. The water contributes to arousal levels for a lot of dogs, because they love it. I think Michael's idea is good - have something for her to bite onto when she reaches you, which isn't you. Like a rope tug toy or something, and try to play with that when she gets to you.
One of the limitations of the software used here is that after 5 minutes have expired it is not possible to edit. I cringe at some of the howlers I have let through.
