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How to introduce a dobe to a pool?

1K views 24 replies 19 participants last post by  Jackandmo 
#1 ·
My puppy had his ears posted last summer, so I didn't try to get him in the water, but this year, I would really like to teach him to go in and have fun. Should we try to carry him in and wade in that way, or entice him with toys from the pool itself? He doesn't seem to have any interest in the pool, but then, he's never seen us in it.
 
#2 ·
Thanks for posting this. I'd love to get Hades in my pool as well but so far he's not a water fan. I don't know if I can change this. :/


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#3 ·
I'm also curious about this. Peach used to hate the water but then slowly eased her way into liking it after she realized she couldn't get to us in the pool. We have a sitting ledge so she was able to acclimate herself.

Crixus on the other hand is terrified of water! He runs away from the little waves on the beach, poor thing! Haven't tried the pool with him yet. :(
 
#4 ·
Maybe start with a nice sturdy raft that they can lay on with you in the pool standing next to it? You could always start with little light splashes to get their attention. I was at my mom's friend's pool and her dog doesn't like the water. I got him to come in the water on the steps by doing little light teeny tiny splashes that made a sound that intrigued him.

You could also always throw a toy they like in and see if you get lucky lol. I would try to get them interested just enough and then let them sniff it out. Or, like that youtube Doberman video, you could get a slide!

KNX8Ba_rpYs
 
#6 ·
I've tried showing Hades that video in the past. He just runs away. Maybe if ******* was in the pool he'd get in ;)


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#5 ·
Some dogs take to it with glee and others don't really care for it. I'd suggest a life vest to make him feel more secure/supported while learning to swim and some toys for play.

Definitely show him where and how to safely get himself out of the pool in case he should ever fall in unexpectedly.

My girls haven't been catered one way or another when it comes to water but it's one of Tali's great loves in life and Fiona is completely indifferent to it. Tali blazes out into water, leaps into it, and swims to her little heart's content. She sunbathes in the kiddie pool in the backyard on hot summer days. Fiona will wade out just to chest deep and stand to cool off, then she's done for a bit. And Fiona could not care less about the kiddie pool other than using it as a large drinking bowl as she sees fit. Just different personalities.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Oh heck, I have spent all my time trying to keep Toby out of our pool. Oh okay, it isn't a pool but a huge water tank, but we do swim in it in the summer so please can I call it a pool, on here at least. (to the authorities it is a water tank, lol)

The other day Reina fell in our water tank. Thanks to Russell barking like something demented and Toby running into the house and jumping on top of my son she was pulled out, very wet, very unhappy, very scared and a little hurt. She tore her shoulder muscles trying to get out.
When we built the pool we looked into getting a scamper ramp for the dogs but decided to fence it off as we couldnt see where to put a ramp as the sides are only a foot or so wide.


Pic of our water tank when we filled it last year. As you can see the walls aren't very wide and we couldnt work out how to afix a scamper ramp to it properly.

We are now reviewing the fencing, as obviously it isn't sufficient to keep Reina out and therefore Toby.

Toby fell into the river last year. Yea gods, talk about scary. I have tried to teach him to swim since, but he just struggles so much and becomes so terrified I have decided the best course for him is to keep him away from water.
 
#8 ·
I'm no professional trainer, but I would second the choice of using a life jacket initially. Also, be sure to let the dog venture into the water safely and by its own volition. Don't force, pick up, dunk, or drop your dog into the pool.

I'd start by everyone involved with the dog getting into the pool on a good day after a successful and short training session to increase focus and responsiveness.

I'd possibly attach a lead to the dog, just for safety/security, and bring in some of the dog's favorite toys and/or treats. I'd stand by where I'll be instructing the dog to enter the pool and exit, lead in hand, almost in a heel position, and encourage, encourage, encourage!! Stand on the first step, dog beside you, and encourage encourage encourage to step onto the first step! If it takes, congratulate, treat, and praise!! If it doesn't work, do a bunch of play in the pool to get the dog interested, maybe drip some water on the side of the pool by where the dog is standing to make sure the sensation isn't startling or strange.

Repeat as necessary, moving down the steps or ramp, until the dog is in the water and comfortable!
 
#11 ·
Having taught a number of Dobes to swim, I can attest to the fact that forcing is not the answer. Most Dobes don't seem to have any natural affinity for water, so you really do have to take your time, be patient and make certain there are no negative experiences.

What has worked for me was sitting on the first step in the pool calling the dog an treating when he/she responded. When dog would come to edge of pool eagerly awaiting treat, I then moved further into the pool requiring the dog to put front feet on step in order to get the treat. This can take awhile, and I reward even if they just lift a foot like they are going to try it, even if they don't, or if they make any move like they might try it. Once they get to the point where they will put their front feet on the first step in the water, the rest goes pretty quickly.

Just be patient and take your time and always make it a positive experience.
 
#12 ·
Amalie was not too thrilled about the water until one of her water-loving dog friends (a Labrador) jumped in and swam around, having a blast. Then it was like a light turned on in her head, "oh, this is supposed to be fun?!?!" She is still not a great swimmer (always wears a life jacket) but she certainly has lots of fun splashing around with her dog friends.
 
#13 ·
I took Griffin to the coast on holiday. He had no qualms about the sea and I guided him into the lagoon and swam with him, not forcefully but it did take gentle encouragement and a Kong squeaker to get him to give up his footing. It didn't take long before he was jumping in of his own volition.
The swimming pool, however, was another story. At first he walked around it fine and stood next to it when I was on the step, but then hubby dived in with a big splash. I didn't realise at first that that made him anxious, he started pacing around the pool. Hubby thought this funny so yelled and splashed at him, at which point he took off inside and hid in the furthest bedroom. It was not what I hoped for. It happened so quickly and because I had never seen him anxious before I didn't pick up the signs.
Anyway, he gave the pool a wide berth after that but over the days I coaxed him closer and closer to the pool using treats and then toys. He stopped getting anxious when I got into the pool and eventually I coaxed him to stick his nose in the water to get a toy and then lifted him onto the top step. He was OK with that but not enthusiastic. Next summer I will try again.

So sorry this is not so much a post about what to do than a post about what not to do, and what to watch out for. Good luck! It's wonderful swimming with a dog.
 
#14 ·
My pittie hated the pool at first, and it had steps so she could ease herself in at her own pace. The only way she would get in was on a raft, but she would just float around and not swim. So I decided to take her to the beach where she could run around on the shore and wade in the water. She LOVED swimming at the beach. I continued taking her to the beach for a while, then tried the pool again, and she dove right in. I guess she was able to gradually go into the beach water at her own pace, so it wasn't as intimidating, and once she had her confidence swimming, the pool was no big deal.

Now if she sees ANY body of water, she's in it! That makes boating with her very fun...the whole boat ride you have a dog antsy to swim and there is nothing but water surrounding her. Thank God she has the stay command down or I would be jumping in the lake from the moving boat after a dog :)


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#15 ·
I let the pros handle it.. I took him to a doggie pool (mostly used for arthritic dogs or surgery recovery) but they taught him to swim just fine. :)

We go to a cottage every summer so I wanted to be certain he could swim in case anything should happen.
 
#17 ·
I would start elsewhere besides the pool first. Start with water in general. Maybe a shallow pond or river. Somewhere with little slope where he can wade in on his own. Use toys, treats, praise or anything else that may coax him in. Rams learned to swim after chasing after geese. After a few trips to the shore Rams is now an experienced boater, swimmer, and competant tuber!
 
#18 ·
There's another thread somewhere here where I posted what worked for us. We started with a baby pool and worked our way up. Now we have a Dobe girl who I think might actually be part fish! She LOVES the water so much that once swimming season starts it's a struggle to keep her out of the pool but I agree with the others, you can't force it and you have to get them to enjoy it. It's a process. Definately get a life jacket if you take them in a big pool. I can't wait to start swimming again, a few more weeks of this warm weather and the water should be warm enough.
 
#21 ·
Just sat out by the pool for a little while with Hades. He did fall in the pool his second day here and has been a little scared of getting too close since then...

First he's checking out the weather through his big pink barometer


I did manage to get him to lay down by the pool and splashed the water a bit


But alas, he decided the water was for drinking not swimming. Nom nom? Ack! No Hades!!




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#24 ·
My previous dobe, Mysti liked to go to the park by the lake, and get in the water, she would chase her toy and bring it back, but she would get a little panicky if it went too far and she couldnt touch ground. She would chase the hose at any time, sometimes when washing cars she would try to jump at the water, and I had a couple nice scratches in my paint from her claws. We had to teach her not to jump on the cars when we washed them.

Nexus wont go "in" water, we have a baby pool and she only drinks out of it. She will chase the hose, but thats all. Bella attacks the sprinkler but again wont go in the pool.
 
#25 ·
Our little Drogo fell in our pool after being home a few days. My daughter had to rescue his little butt.

Then, he saw a big ball floating in the pool and when it got to the edge, he pounced on it. The wall wasn't as sturdy as he thought :p

His kids are always splashing in the pool, so I don't think he will have any trouble learning to swim and play.

Now, my FIRST Doberman? She was TERRIFIED of water.
 
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