Last weekend I tried to get Otis swimming. We went down to the beach near my parents place, and I swam with him. I did have to drag him in though, and he swam around for a bit and then he climbed on me ! I gave him lots of encouragement and held him for awhile, he then swam back to the beach. In the evening we took a walk by a drainage canal that has been built as a flood defense, its quite shallow, and no current, quite safe to swim in, but Otis wouldnt go in, I threw in an old pinecone I found, and he took tentative steps near it, but was just paddleing. Im at my parents next weekend too, and want to take him swimming again, but dont want to scare him off swimming. Any ideas ? Maggie x
Re: Hope I havent put him off. Going in the water yourself is a great idea. Throwing toys in the water might encourage him in too. Don't force him to go in the water though - best to let him do it in his own time And if you are swimming with him try to avoid holding him as he will learn a lifelong habit of coming and climbing on you in the water when he gets a bit tired, and that is not safe (I speak from experience). Try to pick places that have a gently sloping entry to the water and where he can see the bottom for at least a short distance. It's not a bad thing that he is being cautious He'll gradually become more confident and skilled at going in the water.
Re: Hope I havent put him off. maggie otis as already proved to you he can swim, one step at a time with him, he will do it in his own time alone, when he does he will be like a dolphin ;D get him a floating dummy he will be so proud to retrieve
Re: Hope I havent put him off. I'd just let him do his own thing around water for now Maggie,get in and play with him with toys and that might encourage him.Be careful too,I got a good claw raking on my chest off Dexter the first time we were in ! Ouch!
Re: Hope I havent put him off. I agree with the advice not to force him. You might try something other than the sea - the sea is quite a scary place to start to learn to swim. Try a pond or slow river. Charlie was a bit wary at first when he was young. I was lucky and there is a shallow bit of river available (that's just deep enough to swim in the middle) and lots of other, friendly dogs go there. Charlie played around, wanting to follow the other dogs in to swim but not quite daring. Then one day when I thought he was ready, I threw a ball in to the deep bit for him, and he just swam out to get it. Then he followed other dogs into the sea. After that, there was no stopping him. I have to have him on a lead by the river right now, as I can't stop him diving in (and there are otters on the banks in places, so he can only go in when I say). There is an article here: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/my-labrador-wont-swim/
Re: Hope I havent put him off. Riley was a cautious boy, some gently shelving ponds and shallow rivers were our starting point and we just put our wellies on and waded about with him. He loves it now although he still only swims if other dogs are there or for a ball/dummy. I don't think he's figured out that he can go in just for fun - bless him!
Re: Hope I havent put him off. Maggie, take it very slowly , Sam was two years old before he started swimming , he was really scared but I knew that to push him in any way would make him even worse . Eventually, it all got too much, seeing other dogs have fun in the river , I waded in and he followed me, a eureka moment ;D He will now swim in the sea and never hesitates, so I`m glad that I allowed him the time that he needed to build up his confidence
Re: Hope I havent put him off. Maggie, I'm in a similar position with Molly and it's hard to be patient isn't it? However I have had stern words with myself and resisted forcing Molly into deep water (she loves shallow water). I'm encouraged by people like Kate, whose dog came to it a bit later, and keeping my fingers crossed that this will happen for both you and me.
Re: Hope I havent put him off. I think going for a walk with a dog who loves to swim is good - especially if you can develop a little competition in retrieving a ball or dummy. Otis will get there
