looking for advice

**sebsyd** · 08-06-2008, 07:56 PM

I have started to have a problem with my female, Sydney. We have a pool and when my grandchildren come over to swim she goes bananas!! She will stand on the edge of the pool and bark at them constantly and try to pull them out. What she usually ends up doing is nipping them in the process. It is not done with harmful intent. These kids live next door and she sees them every day and plays with them. She has never bitten or showed aggression towards them at all. I honestly think that she believes that they are drowning. She will do it to an adult also, but not nearly to the extent she does with the kids. Anyone else have this problem or any ideas how to curb it without removing her from the pool area??

Travis · 08-06-2008, 08:00 PM

Does she go in the pool to go after them?

Maybe try including her in the activities until she gets used to it?

I'm no expert when it comes to this and I'm sure other people will chime in with better ideas.

**ellenm** · 08-06-2008, 08:02 PM

Rex did this with anyone swimming at our house in Virginia...we called him the psycho lifeguard! He would go from barking that you were in the water to leaping on TOP of you while you swam!

Thus...he was put in the house while swimming occurred. She's either worried, or her prey drive has totally kicked in with the splashing, jumping in, that kids do.

I'd remove her from the pool area before someone gets hurt unintentionally.

waiting · 08-06-2008, 08:54 PM

I would put her away for pool time. Then there is no stress just fun, and the dog is safe as well. Everyone can run and jump in play Marco polo etc. with no repercussions.
I don't see any harm and I think it does a dog good to be separated once in awhile and learn that side of it to.

**sebsyd** · 08-06-2008, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis

Does she go in the pool to go after them?

Maybe try including her in the activities until she gets used to it?

I'm no expert when it comes to this and I'm sure other people will chime in with better ideas.

Syd doesn't like the pool, although she loves the river and beach! So, no, she doesn't go in unless she slips, which she has done on occasion. She knows to swim to the steps, so she doesn't panic. We taught both our dobies where the stairs were in the pool just in case they fell in accidently.
She is fine when the kids are out of the water. Super dobieguard maybe???

**sebsyd** · 08-06-2008, 11:27 PM

I was looking for an alternative to putting her away because we are out at the pool for long periods of time and her brother just loves being out there! We have be putting her in the house and in her crate, but I feel like I am punishing her. Maybe she was a super lifeguard in another life!

**RedFawnRising** · 08-07-2008, 12:33 AM

What do you think changed?

I mean, you said this problem just started? Is the pool new? Or was she formerly interacting in a more laid-back way before becoming psycho lifeguard?

If she's been able in the past to be present and appropriate, I'd get her busy doing something more desirable and productive.

Maybe clicker train her to bark once only, then maybe to fetch a ball thrown from a kid in the pool to poolside, bring back and offer back to kid in the water. Things like that--to keep her busy and get the kids involved--will get everyone back on the same page of having fun rather than being annoyed. (I am sure you will of course provide good adult supervision and guidance to the kids during this re-training.)

**dax0402** · 08-07-2008, 11:31 AM

Our Dax used to go crazy when anyone was in the pool. Especially if they were swimming or splashing. She would race around the sidewalk. I either had to put or outside the fence or put her inside because the sidewalk is rough and she would bloody her pads up. The new guy Baron is so laid back someone being in the pool doesn't bother him. The only thing he got a little excited about was my nephew and his girlfriend came up to swim and were diving off the diving board and he got excited and was barking then but stopped as soon as they were in the water. Think they all react differently. Lois

**sebsyd** · 08-11-2008, 10:34 PM

[quote=RedFawnRising;226262]What do you think changed?

I mean, you said this problem just started? Is the pool new? Or was she formerly interacting in a more laid-back way before becoming psycho lifeguard?

The pool was in when the pups came to live with us. She has been like this since day one of pool opening for the season. She just becomes the phycho lifeguard from hell the minute the kids jump into the pool.
Since I have posted this, I have put on her ecollar and just give her a buzz when she starts to bark insanely. As long as I keep constant vigilence and the control in my hands, she will be ok, but the little devil is so smart that when she sees me put the control down, she goes right back at it. I am trying to be very consistent with her. Hopefully, she will get the message.

**RedFawnRising** · 08-11-2008, 11:30 PM

Oh my, that is too smart, silly girl.

Good luck, hope you can get her to tone it down!