she gets so hot (black is you know). and it would be so nice and cool for her to lie on the steps of the pool, to say nothing of the fleas it would kill.
thanks
2006-06-13 16:30:38 · 16 answers · asked by angelml@sbcglobal.net 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
You don't want to frighten her so you must take it slowly. Dogs generally wont like pools because it is hard for them to judge the bottom. You will need lots of treats for this. With treats in hand sit on the steps of the pool and call her over. Everytime she takes a step closer treat her. She has to associate the pool as a good thing that she will get treats for being near. As she gets closer praise her and move the treat closer to the water. Once she gets in a good range slowly, using your hand only, scoop some water up and gently place on her body. If she stays give her a treat. This will take time. She has to learn that the pool is a good thing. If she had been thrown in the pool before this may take a longer time because she had a bad experience.
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2006-06-13 16:38:01 · answer #1 · answered by Pawsitive K9 Consulting 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I cant keep my black lab out of water. When she was a pup and I mean pup like 12 weeks old my girlfriend and I went camping and brought her with us well I went for a swim in the lake while my girlfriend held her well she jumped right out of my girlfriends hands and jumped right in the water and swam about 100 yards out to me. From that point on I can not keep her out of water I have a gate on my pool deck so she doesn't jump in during the summer when ever she feel fit. If there's water when where at a park shes in lakes rivers creeks pools she in. Thing is we didn't force her to swim she did it on her terms and at her pace. I can tell you she was a little worried the first time we took her to Lake Erie as the waves where bigger than she was but with in 10 min she was over the fear and in the water. So dogs love water some don't, retrievers by nature usually love water that's why if you look at your dogs paws there webbed as labs where originally breed not to be bird dogs but to swim and retrieve fishers nets. No all retrieves love water though I had a golden once that would not swim no matter what. So again don't force let her do it on her terms and hey lover her weather she only goes in the kiddie pool cool off or if she feels like swim across a quarry with you.
2016-03-15 03:56:29 · answer #2 · answered by Heather 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though everybody assumes that instinct tells a dog how to swim they still have to learn how. Get in the water and call her in with you. If she won't come then pick her up and bring her out to the shallow end and let her get out. You may have to do it several times but make it fun for her by giving her some treats and playing with her. Some dogs (including labs) just will not get into the water so you may never have your little swimmer. I plan on teaching mine at a young age to swim so she will want to be in the pool later on.
2006-06-13 17:58:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would coax her into the shallow end. Try it to get her to go in on it's own with encouragement and maybe a game. I would not force her.
Some labs believe it or not, don't enjoy water.
Maybe you should try a small pond first. This may not be as intimidating as jumping off the side of the pool straight into the water.
2006-06-14 00:53:31 · answer #4 · answered by Susan R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to a beach where you can start off in the shallow water then slowly go deeper. use a leash til she get use to the water and once she feels safe with the water then you can take her into the pool. most dogs like to know that they can reach the bottom of water to get them self out . I've seen dogs that don't care about anything and just jump in. Thats odd because most labs love the water.
2006-06-13 16:51:53 · answer #5 · answered by Sandy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would like to add that one of the most important things you could possibly do after you get her into the water (I used tennis balls when I got my lab swimming) Is to absolutely make sure she know how to get out. If she forgets or isn't taught this and goes swimming when you are not home you could find a drowned dog when you get home. Some companies make pool ramps just for this. A pool ramp might also help you get her into the water easier as steps are difficult for a dog in the water. Please rememeber to teach her how to get out!!
2006-06-13 21:19:03 · answer #6 · answered by rakel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first of all use frontline for the fleas! they wont die in the water they'll only grab onto u as u swim past them! eww.
n e wayz, to get ur doggie in the pool u need to go in it and do not make eye contact with the dog while u splash around and smile and act like ur having a great time. play with on of the dogs toys, a ball, a squeeky toy, etc, while ur in there. then after a bit of time has passed and the dog has watched u try to get the dog to come to u at the side of the pool. then if u do this a couple different days ur dog should eventually come in with u and then it might go in whenever it wishes. whatever u do do not force the dog into the water, that will scare it even more and u might never get it to go in with u. gl2u! have a splashin' good time!
2006-06-13 16:41:25 · answer #7 · answered by ~Lauralyn~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You seriously have to just lead the dog into the water. When you let the dog stop, your letting it gain control of the situation and it will never change. Put your collar all the way on the top of the dogs neck(this controls 60% of the dogs brain), hold her close to you as if giving the dog a structured walk(not pulling you, sniffing around and staying by your side), walk calmy into the pool and when she starts to pull back, you pull UP and FORWARD on the leash leading her into the pool. She should be fine once she gets into the pool because all dogs know how to swim instinctively. After that she should start to leap in the pool.
2006-06-13 17:42:27 · answer #8 · answered by GQ_Quinner 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you gotta work gently with her. take her to the beach or to a pond or somewhere she can sense that it's not deep and get her to play in it a bit. by nature labs normally love water. my dad raises them and has all sorts of problems keeping them out of the creek.
as for the fleas, treat them with frontline plus or a similar product and wait 48-72 hours before letting her get wet. that will let the product get to work properly. if she has fleas when she gets in the water, all they will do is move to an area of her that isn't under water (the head and sometimes the tail).
once you get her in the pool, have fun with the hair that's going to clog your pool filter faster....labs shed like crazy!
2006-06-13 17:25:09 · answer #9 · answered by beckyg_98 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
U cannot teach anyone to swim if u r not emotionally strong.. U should be more practical and just dive into the pool with ur black lab..
2006-06-13 16:37:30 · answer #10 · answered by Santosh K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋