Hi there! My 15 month old choc Coco loves the water and is a great swimmer! However, when WE go in the water, it seems she wants to rescue us. It's very sweet except that she'll jump on top of us, pushing us under the water. She's a very fast swimmer so my daughter can't out swim her and has had multiple scratches on her back. With me, she'll grab my hand in her mouth and pull me to shore. It seems like this is a rescue instinct and I don't want to punish her for it but I'd like it if we could swim with her and not have to tie her up when the kids want to swim. We probably won't be in this situation again until next summer when we return to the cottage and she'll be 2. Any tips or advice? Thanks in advance!!! Vicky
Hello there, and a warm welcome to the forum. It sounds like just a matter of training to me. You'll need the opportunity to train, of course - a hydrotherapy centre that allows fun swims with your dog would be ideal. You want to train your dog to do something other than tug at you or scratch etc. How about swimming alongside you? This is easily done in a hydrotherapy pool. Use a toy as a reward for the behaviour you want to see (the dog swimming in a straight line at the side of you) and be very consistent. I'm sure you'll get there. Best of luck with it.
Hmmmmmm I swim ( or I'm in the pool ) with my dog and frankly I'm offended,he's never once tried to rescue me! I've had a few rakes when I've been in the wrong place at the wrong time so sympathies,it hurts and could really hurt the children. My dog has only just been allowed in the pool ( long story) so he's older that yours,nearly 3, he's actually quite calm around water and our approach has been that it's an excercise tool rather than a free for all fun splash....I think your dog will get calmer as she gets older,it sounds quite hectic and exciting at the moment and she is only a youngster. You could use a favourite toy as a lure to get her to follow you swimming in a straight line ....and she gets it at the end of the length...we did that to teach Dexter to enter and exit by the steps ( sounds much more fun round your place doesn't it!) Angela
I'd like to find somewhere warm enough to try it! My chocolate girl is also 15 months, born 27th April . Here she is: 005 by Jane Martin, on Flickr
Thanks for the replies. I"m hoping it's a youngster issue as well but I will try to find a place to do consistent training. Hard in Canada when it's not summer!!
