Don't golden retrievers like to swim!? My Golden Retriever is 8 months old and when I get into the pool she...

Question

looks so scared of the water and won't come near it!!!

I got her from a breeder and her brothers and sister like to swim so it is not like she wasn't breed that way or anything...lol...i guess she is just...different ;)

oops...."bred" not "breed" in the first detail update

Answer 1

Dogs, like people have different personalities. My daughter had a male & female G.R. The male loved the water the female hated it.

Answer 2

Well all dogs are different. Sure, most Golden LOVE the water and can't get enough of it and some either don't like it, or haven't been introduced to the water properly.

Don't force her to go into the water, do not make her more scared than she already is. If you 'throw' her in a pool or hose her down with water, she will know for the rest of her life that she has had a bad experience with water and won't go near it again.

Answer 3

(1) Are we talking a regular swimming pool? An inground with gradual steps or the basic above-ground thing???

(2) If she is expected to leap into a pool rather than being able to walk in, well, what do you expect

(3) Goldens generally like water (but I had one who sunk like a rock - dreadful swimmer.) HOWEVER, you have to introduce them to it. You can't just dump them in and think they'll swim like a fish.

I see people who stand on the beach here on Lake Michigan and can't figure out what that retriever puppy isn't just charging into 5 foot waves!!

FInd somebody of water where you can wade in with her. Pick a camday when the water is flat without waves. Put her leash on and coax her to walk next to you. When it starts to get deep enough that the water is almost over her back, crouch down and hold her and support her. Ease her out to where she is paddling a bit with your hands under her belly. Use a reassuring positive voice - good good. Don't let her panic, pick her up in your arms if she gets upset. Try again later

Be gradual about the whole thing and let her figure it out.

Even my wonderful field bred Golden had to be introduced to water - and he went on to be able to do directional retrieves in 5- 6 ft waves on the Great Lakes.

Answer 4

i breed golden retrievers and mine were the same way, they didn't like the water at first but the more you get them around it the more they will like it. it took my pup about 2 weeks to get used to the water. she did not want anything to do with it, now i can't keep her away from it. when i fill her water bucket she has to drink from the fauset. i have a kiddy pool that i got in the spring for all my goldens and they all play in it and they love it alot. just be patient with her and she will come around and then she will love to be in the water.good luck.

Answer 5

Not all goldens like the water right away. Some have to be introduced to it and others will take right to it. Try coaxing him in and show him what it is. Could be he's just not sure what to think about the pool.

Answer 6

Dogs can actually be permnaently scared of water if thy are forced into it when young. So I say just intoduce her to it gently. Start holding her while sitting in the steps, then have her wlak on the first step, then carry her aroun in the water and so on, and eventually she'll start swimming.

Answer 7

Give him some time, my dog hates the water but after a year she even goes swimming herself.

Answer 8

lol, it's weird, but some water dogs are like that.
I have a black lab and she is the biggest pansy!
She's terrified of water. It takes 20 minutes just to get her outside when it's raining! (ironically her name is April.. April showers..... yea....)
I don't know what else to tell you, it's just how they are. we like to say that April is special and it's more funny than anything else now.

Answer 9

they generally like water--if she's been hosed or had a bad bath experience sha may be leary of it......