Hi, All, I need your help. Since our 5 month old Piper was a rescue Lab, we don't have much history of her and how she became frightened of water. We had her in a swim jacket as tried to gently hold her in the shallow end of the pool to get used to it (as we've always used those with our other dogs over the years) and she totally had a panic attack. After much thrashing in the water, she got away from us and jumped out. A couple of days later, we both tried holding her again and guiding her in the shallow end without the swim jacket, and she still became very upset. We could feel her heart race and she looked on the verge of going into shock, so we took her out immediately. She doesn't mind baths in our bathtub, but she is frightened of garden hoses and of the pool now, of course. A friend suggested that I buy a plastic kiddie pool from WalMart to get her acclimated, but I know she'll jump out of that, too! Should we just keep trying to 'swim her' in the shallow and just be prepared to try to hold onto her better (she's a slick one!)? I just don't want to further traumatize her since obviously she must have had a bad experience with hoses and water while she was a shelter before Lab rescue was able to get to her. Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions! Susan and Piper
Hello there I think it's a bad idea to physically make a dog do anything, particularly in terms of holding her in water. Does it matter if she doesn't like water? If you want her to swim, start by running across seriously shallow puddles and tiny streams and work up from there, slowly, slowly - but don't force her into water or hold her in water. That will just scare her.
Harley didn't like the water when she was younger. I tried everything to coax her in (verbally coaxing), but she wasn't having any of it. When she was just over 5 months she fell in a duck pond - I had to pull her out. For the next 5-6 weeks she wouldn't go in water at all. After this she started paddling and I left her to do what she was happy with. At 6.5 months old she was playing with other labs in the shallow water - one swam out deeper and she followed. Now at 23 months old, we can't keep her out of the water! I think it's best to let them do it in their own time. Some dogs will never like water though, or do, but won't go further than paddling.
I agree with the others - let her do it in her own time. Don't force it, and don't put her in the pool. Spend time around puddles and gently sloping accesses to streams and lakes. You could try tossing floating treats into the very shallowest bits to encourage her to paddle. But if that doesn't work, certainly don't force it. As Julie said, does it matter if she doesn't like water? Our first family dog hated water. It meant the car stayed cleaner. Bonus
I have to agree too - don't force it. Don't put her in the pool. Some dogs just do not like being in water and never will.
Some good advice above and I totally agree with not forcing her into the pool and holding her there. The suggestion a kiddie paddling pool may be good if it has just a couple of inches of water in the bottom and let Piper experience it at her own pace. I'm lucky in that Juno has always loved water, my problem is trying to keep her out of it at times. Go slowly and gently and let Piper dictate the pace around water and you may be surprised at her response if she feels more confident.
I agree .... our other Lab, Maggie LOVED the water and we couldn't keep her out! It was quite annoying actually at times. We put our new pup Maui in the pool soon after we we got her at about 10 weeks. Did it the same way with did with Mags, my husband in holding her. She's wasn't freaking out or anything, just a little timid. When he let go she swam like crazy and got our herself. We've done that a few more times and a few times in the morning while she's been running off her crazy energy in the morning, she's actually fallen in, swam to the edge and I've helped her out! We had my daughter's chocolate labs here recently and they of course love it ... Maui's either stood at the shallow end and barked and/or ventured in on her own. We're just 'letting it happen' at her pace. She's still a little timid, but certainly not afraid and we don't want to make her that way either at 13 weeks. I think if you give her time, let her be around the water, eventually she'll go in on her own, once she has more confidence. Good luck!
My Molly, who is 21 months old simply doesn't want to know about water. I have had since 8 weeks so I'm pretty sure there has been no water related trauma in her life. I've taken her to the Nature Reserve and offered her the chance of a frolic in the brook. Just not interested.
Yes, don't force it. Let her do it on her own, perhaps throw biscuits in shallow water or a tennis ball, watch older dogs playing in the water. Forcing her (or holding her in the water) will only re-inforce her fears.
