My puppy Simba is 11 weeks. I was hoping and expecting Simba would like to swim as most Labradors do. However today we got him into the pool, I got in with him, and he just swam to the edge absolutely terrified attempting to leave. I tried giving him treats, but that didn't really help. I left him a little while as i held him hoping he would get used to it, but he didn't. Eventually we just took him out cause he was shaking. I am devastated because I did this to socialize him and get him swimming early. I hope I didn't do him more wrong. I feel like he will be scarred and not get into a pool ever again.
I’m sure he’ll be fine, and have another go when he’s ready and can’t resist diving in! Now I could be wrong here, I’ve no idea but it’s just a thought. Someone mentioned to me about being careful not to ‘reinforce’ fear, as in giving them treats and cuddles whilst they’re scared, as they might learn this behaviour? (Difficult I know as you want to comfort them) I would like if someone could elaborate on this if it is nonsense or not? Just something to think about. It’s difficult (and probably wrong) to leave them in a situation where they are obviously scared, but maybe a quick dip, then out to let his fear level drop naturally and then let him get acclimatised, then praise him then etc. Of course I could be wrong but I’m thinking a little bit about how human fear works. I’d like to know a bit more about this myself, I’m sure someone will be along with some proper answers, and I’m sure your boy will be fine.
Hi @Simba Mama I would not have introduced the pup to the water by 'throwing' her in the deep end. Think about throwing a child off the end of a pier so that the child will either sink or swim. Terrifying. Let the pup approach the water in her own good time. Suggest you place a really small amount of water in a baby bath tub and let the pup decide if and when she wants to get in. Please do not force her back into the pool. Pippa has written a wonderful post on introducing a dog to water.
The dog behaviourists who have raised the issue claim that one can't reinforce fear by offering comfort. Offering comfort to a frightened child does not reinforce fear because fear is not an instrumental form of behaviour. The suggested approach is to wait for the dog to display any calming signal however small it might be and then reinforce that behaviour.
Do try not to worry, he's still very young and it was probably just all rather overwhelming for him. Michael's given you some good advice, and you might also find this helpful: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/my-labrador-wont-swim/
It's totally fine to comfort a scared puppy - you can't reinforce fear, so don't worry about that. I agree it would have been best to work on encouraging the puppy to want to get in the pool of their own accord, throwing toys in etc etc - rather than actually putting the puppy in the pool so they had no choice in it. However, be reassured that many youngish puppies are not that keen on water and later grow up to love it, so if you take things slowly and at the puppy's pace and just focus on having fun around water, you have probably done no long term damage...
I was taught for first time swimmers (especially in a pool) to a dog it looks like a big hole with water in it....initially important to be in the water with the dog ...with a vest on your pup....and teach them how to find the stairs to get out. Dobermans are not real fond of the water like some dogs ....but this summer was Hoss's first exposure to swimming at our beaches here is Florida. Initially I did not use a vest on Hoss........not a good idea ......he panicked and I experienced some minor scratches.......but all of our other visits to the water I had him vested......worked out great......the vest I used had little handles on his back.......that was a great control mechanism for me . If he got to close or got the look of whales eyes.....I was able to steer him with those handles........I will try to send a PIC soon.....overall he did great for a Dobie........he likes the water now.....has alot of fun with his water toys. Great workout for him......he sleeps like a baby for days after his swimming trips with us.
Thank you all SO much for all of your advice. I was really devastated because I didn't mean to do my baby wrong. It was not a pool under the ground, it was a pool above ground so unfortunately there were no small stairs or shallow end. Next time I think I will introduce him to a kiddie pool first, filled bathtub, etc., and slowly ease him into deep waters. How long do you guys suggest I wait before trying again?
Thanks for this advice. I will definitely purchase a little vest for him before the next time. I'm also glad to hear that the initial panic is not permanent!
Hi, My pup is 5 months and I started her with an empty bathtub with the water just dribbling. Then I introduced her to the garden hose (now she tries to bring it in the house and I can't keep her out of the bath or shower now....have to keep the door closed. I think a kiddie pool will help, get her used to it empty by tossing her toys in there.
You can try as soon as you like, again, but maybe try a different pool or location - as your pup may have associated negative emotions with that first pool experience! Don't worry about swimming, aim for wading and playing with fishing toys out whilst wading, at first.
Our pup loves the paddling pool, probably a foot deep with water. She also loved the sea and rockpools but she hasn't decided to go in for a full swim yet (5 months old).
I couldn’t get my pup to go into a kiddie pool or the pond until we were hanging out with my friend and her dog. My pup learned from following my friend’s dog and now is confident enough to go in on her own!
Our puppies are water socialized with hoses, sprinklers, an outdoor doggy shower and a baby pool before we introduce a real pool to them. Even those who have a real love for these activities show fear at a real pool and a caution at the beach the first or even second time. Some of them show very little interest and only play in the water to please us. Observing these behaviors shows us how to proceed at the beach or pool when introduced. We always introduce our puppy to a real pool by our getting in and swimming around while talking to the puppy. Inevitably, they become curious and want to be where we are (because they are Labs after all). It it is an in ground pool, we are careful that they don't jump in because that can cause fear - if it does happen we just reassure the puppy by scooping them up and hugging them and showing them the steps out. If an above ground, then we speak to it near the ladder or someone holds the puppy where it can see in. Even then, we encourage the puppy in but don't force it. Some come in with us in a few minutes, others take a few trips to a pool to get to that point. At the beach, there is similar behavior and we don't force them into the water. They investigate the first time (unless we have one of our older ones with us who race to water) and put a foot in - occasionally we'll have one who just races into the water even when taken without pack mates. Before we moved out to the country where the horizon view is not blocked by other buildings, all our puppies showed fear as we came over the dunes and they saw the horizon. But, they quickly got over it and we didn't see it again on trips after.
I would never put a pup into deep water, until he was used to wading and swimming on his own. We always started out in creeks or ponds where the pup could wade in as deep as she wanted. Shortly they became more interested in deeper water, and then we got them into real swimming by throwing tennis balls in for them to retrieve. All of our Labs have been swimming fools.
They don’t lie the kiddie pools. They can’t get any traction on the slippery bottom. Best to let them go at their own pace. Just start easy at a shallow spot on a lake or river and let them wade in to the knees. Throw a few dummies close to shore and soon enough they will be swimming.
