My pup hates water, does your Dobie swim?

4666 Views 17 Replies 16 Participants Last post by HarvestMoon, Nov 8, 2011

Sylvs

Discussion Starter · Nov 7, 2011

Hey there

I have been watching you tube and searching internet for some ideas as we have a problem with water.

I would like Portia to swim as it would be a perfect way (and gentle on the pup) to get rid off that mad energy, but I feel like I am losing the battle here.

I am trying now for 3 weeks to get her in (v v gently), either swimming pool or a pond with easy access - no interest at all.
I have even tried other dogs to 'help' with playing in water - hoping she would join in but noooo - she is just watching from the dry side.

Bribery with treats and toys doesn't work with her either.

So, does your dobie swim/ like water? Any advice? Cheers everyone!

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

o0 sHaDoWoLf 0o

· #2 · Nov 7, 2011

I went into the water first, my Dobie is 4 months old and I went into the Ocean and he followed me in. You can see the pics on one of my threads called Odin Update.

Reactions: 1

dapple

· #3 · Nov 7, 2011

Here are Lily and Strider swimming at the beach next to my house.

Lily and Strider swimming in Lake Ontario - YouTube

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elly

· #4 · Nov 7, 2011

Just keep on trying, I keep on trying with zabar and at once he swim away, and he like to swim so very much, he is a very good swimmer, when he sees water he like to jump in.

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Reactions: 2

jessy102386

· #5 · Nov 7, 2011

My boy loves water as well he was three months old in this pic, but everytime someone is in the shower and leave the door cracked this is what we get...

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Reactions: 4

sammers26

· #6 · Nov 7, 2011

My guy hated water until he was 2! he still isn't the fondest of water but he will go in if we go in...GOOD LUCK

Reactions: 1

Toby'shuman

· #7 · Nov 7, 2011

Toby would jump, side step, run a mile rather than go into water, even on the hottest days, then yesterday whilst we were at the beach he ran through a rock pool.

Personally speaking seeing as you live in South Africa I wouldnt encourage your dog to go into the sea and neither would I let him go into any expanse of water inland that you havent checked for crocs. I say this because my friend who lives there went out for a morning swim in his pool and just as he was about to jump in he saw a dark shape on the bottom. A 5 foot croc was sat there waiting for anyone daft enough to go swim with it. :bigmistake:

Reactions: 4

Hilton's Mom

· #8 · Nov 7, 2011

Our Hilton isn't a fan of water either. I'm quite keen for him to swim because it's such great energy release! We have a nice big pool at home, and on Sunday (it was really hot, you'll remember) we went to the park and played for quite a while. He was SO tired when we got back and hot!!! We decided to have a swim and try to get him in the water. He wouldn't get in so eventually I picked him up and put him on the step and poured water over him. He was quite rigid at first but then started driking the water and we got him to walk around on the step. This seemed to relax him and now he's happy to get into the pool on the step, but still not keen on swimming. Baby steps

I would say try to get her comfortable in shallow water by putting her in it and loving her lots while she's there so that she has 'good memories' of the water, and slowly take it from there

Good luck!

Hope to see you at the park soon!

Reactions: 1

ZeldaRules

· #9 · Nov 7, 2011

Prime didn't swim for the longest time. I used to take him to the dog park and he learned by watching other dogs leap into the swimming pond. One day he surprised me and just jumped in. He looked like a candle at first;

MsDxP5_QskE

He has since really started to get the hang of it:

yGKBTnfZ8zk

Reactions: 3

Sylvs

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 7, 2011

Thanks for all your replies! Dapple, Elly, Jessy, ZeldaRules - you guys have been blessed with water babies. Thanks for your photos and videos - your dogs are stunning! And Prime is just hilarious! :rockstar:

I guess I just have to continue with baby steps, like you say, until it clicks for her.

I will give her a break today - she just lost her K9 - blood everywhere and lots of crying.. Aaaaahhhh..

Reactions: 1

cheechbalzano

· #11 · Nov 7, 2011

So glad you made this post. All my dogs hate water. Arius is the worst. He hides even if he sees me unravel the hose. I've tried treats and even their favorite toys and nothing seems to work. Being November and our pool is closed I'm gonna try again next summer. I'm hoping I can come up with some new ideas by then.

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Faireview

· #12 · Nov 7, 2011 (Edited)

4

My Chase LOVES water. It's not uncommon to find him in an empty bathtub looking for water to play with. He's only been swimming once (I need to find a good lake), but I literally had trouble getting him out of the water and back to the car. He kept sprinting back in as we headed to leave.

Here are some pictures from his first swim. Sorry about the prong and flexi. We stumbled on this place while out doing something else, and I only had the prong in the car as a collar. The lake wasn't fenced and near cars so he had to stay on leash for safe wading. It was such a cool entry to a lake that we couldn't pass it by! He loved it!

Chase wasn't the biggest fan of water when he was younger, so your pup may come around and decide to like it. Keep trying without pushing the whole water thing.

Find the Doberman...lol

And because I think this one is kinda pretty

I tried to edit out the leash (and collar), but it didn't work so well.

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Reactions: 3

Paladin

· #13 · Nov 8, 2011

Roxy will walk into the pool to the sun tanning ledge but she is a not a fan of swimming.

Reactions: 1

cheechbalzano

· #14 · Nov 8, 2011

Hey "Faireview" those are some great pics. I'm hoping it's their age and hopefully by next summer they'll be right in there like your Chase is. By the way Chase is beautiful. Love the pick that you edited out the leash. You can tell he loves the water.

Reactions: 1

jhowell

· #15 · Nov 8, 2011

Faireview said:
My Chase LOVES water. It's not uncommon to find him in an empty bathtub looking for water to play with. He's only been swimming once (I need to find a good lake), but I literally had trouble getting him out of the water and back to the car. He kept sprinting back in as we headed to leave.

Here are some pictures from his first swim. Sorry about the prong and flexi. We stumbled on this place while out doing something else, and I only had the prong in the car as a collar. The lake wasn't fenced and near cars so he had to stay on leash for safe wading. It was such a cool entry to a lake that we couldn't pass it by! He loved it!

Chase wasn't the biggest fan of water when he was younger, so your pup may come around and decide to like it. Keep trying without pushing the whole water thing.

Find the Doberman...lol

And because I think this one is kinda pretty I tried to edit out the leash (and collar), but it didn't work so well.

Wow, Chase looks so much like Beckham or vice versa. B started out not wanting to get in our pool. He was just a puppy. Now he will come in the house and be wet. I know he has taken a "wade". LOL Hoping next summer he will be more comfortable with it.

Reactions: 2

pwncakesauce

· #16 · Nov 8, 2011

Kaiser is terrified of water. I can't even touch him with running water when bathing, I have to fill a pitcher with water and very slowly pour it across him. He has showed no interest in swimming either.

Reactions: 1

GingerGunlock

· #17 · Nov 8, 2011

Elka hasn't yet been to a place where the water was such that she could swim. However, there are creeks in the park where we walk, and on her own, this summer, she decided that splashing in creeks is fun. Since I didn't care one way or the other, I just thought it was cute and was proud of her for working up to the big creek from the small stream all on her own. We'll see, if I ever get her to one of the lakes by us. Or the ocean! o.o

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HarvestMoon

· #18 · Nov 8, 2011

Unfortunately, I'm another one with a Dobe who has no real interest in the water. She will go in a pond or lake when it is warm, but only to her belly. But she will not touch the pool with a ten foot pole. And I really, really wish she would like it so she could cool off in summer and enjoy a good swim like some of the other DT dogs.

One suggestion would be to get a doggie lifejacket. I like the Ruffwear ones. I have yet to get one, but have heard several others say that it helps the dog to feel a little safer in the water while they are getting the hang of it. I'm planning to get one for next summer...

Reactions: 1

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