YAY its almost swimming time!

[DabiansDad]

wel pretty soon the weathers going to get much better and were going to open up the pool.
dabians just over 7 months now and swimming will be awesome excersise for him, since i jsut cant seem to tire this **** dog out!
lol, i just stand thereand throw the ball and I get more tired.
anyways, hes never swam before, i would assume just throw the ball in the pool and hell just naturally go for it?

[sheltiepups]

I wouldn't know, my shelties have never had the chance to swim. I would just try it once, and see what he does. I wouldn't push him if he doesn't like it.

[Pugdawg1]

If my silly little black pug will dive into water to get whatever I am throwing, I bet your brave dobie will as well. Just keep it fun though, don't make him to what he's not comfortable with. He might want to take his time, to work up the oomph to get in there. Once he does though, he may love it. Then again, they are all such individuals.. so ya don't know, til ya give it a shot.

[calgal]

Maybe you should get in the water first and let him follow you. Put a kiddie pool out and fill it with water for him to play in till he finds out water is fun.

[nor'eastr]

My Giant has loved water since she was a pup. She just dove in herself.

She LOVES the water!

[LuvMyPups]

You might want to make sure he can swim before you just let him dive right in after the ball. Like Cal said maybe you should let him follow you in. All three of my parents older pugs swim, the oldest seemingly a fish in her past life will spend more time in the pool then the family. They have their own pool toys, and floats. We did howeever "teach" them to swim first. Not all dogs are good swimming. We had a Keeshond that was pitiful in the water and Tori is as well.
I had a boxer, shep, lab mix that loved the water but the first time she "jumped" in herself (trying to "save" Lacie the pug) She panicked and had to be pulled from the water. Just let him take his time and hopefully he will take to it right away....

[oc_spirit]

Don't expect him to dive in although that might happen. You're better off though to encourage him to go down the stairs at the shallow end. Be careful if someone's in the pool and he does decide to "dive in". He might not be expecting the lack of surface and panic and try to climb on to whoever's in the pool, people have almost drowned this way and have suffered some pretty nasty scratches and bruising.

[Rip's Girl]

Be careful about introducing him to water. My Border Collie's first experience with the pool made him wary of it for months. He basically figured he could walk on water, and hopped right in. He splashed around in cold water for about 30 seconds until he got to the steps and he ran as far away from that big mean pool as he possibly could.

Start out throwing a toy/treat (no greasy treats, though) onto the first step of the pool. If he steps down onto it to grab the reward, praise him. I just did that and started throwing the toy out farther and farther, and eventually my dog wasn't wary of the pool anymore.

[IceyBlueSibes]

Originally Posted by oc_spirit

He might not be expecting the lack of surface and panic and try to climb on to whoever's in the pool, people have almost drowned this way and have suffered some pretty nasty scratches and bruising.

Ack, I know this all too well with Sarge LOL About 2 seconds after he can't touch, he turns back around LOL He likes to stand and wade in the water, and stick his nose in there to look for fish... but he tries to climb up on you and he's got the boxer legs 100%.... OUCH! LOL

Sheiba and Denali love to swim, Sheiba loves it the most. I think they enjoy it cause the cool water feels good. It's been off and on here the past couple of days and I can't WAIT till its good enough weather to go swimmin'! I love goin to the beach and havin' cook outs!

[Barrett]

Bailey loves to swim in the lake. I put a life vest on her though....I don't think doxies were ment to swim well LOL. She loves to just float around. Last summer she would float around with her face in the sun and her eyes half closed, relaxing. She actually fell asleep and her head went into the water and startled her. We laughed and she gave me a angry look and paddled away from me.

[RedHotDobe]

Dobes + water... wait, Dobes and water don't mix! Well, Duke will go wade in streams, ponds, etc., but Dobes + rain, now that is a combination that just does not go!

Anyway, I'd start off small as far as water goes, Dobermans are not exactly water-inclined.

[axel_2078]

Originally Posted by Barrett

Bailey loves to swim in the lake. I put a life vest on her though....I don't think doxies were ment to swim well LOL. She loves to just float around. Last summer she would float around with her face in the sun and her eyes half closed, relaxing. She actually fell asleep and her head went into the water and startled her. We laughed and she gave me a angry look and paddled away from me.

Hahahaha. Now that's a cute story.

[Carrie]

Red Hot's right. Some Dobes like water, but they're kind of famous for not. Lyric, my Dobe thinks it will murder him if he gets in past his fetlock joint. LOL.

So, if you really want him to swim and like water, do like Rip says. When I first had my Lab, even she was, as a pup apprehensive. So, I'd hold her in very shallow water just like a little kid who's afraid. I held her up and let her paddle her legs, then let her get out. Just gradually you can try getting him use to it. But any unpleasantness or force will just turn him off to it, even more. Good luck. It is fun to see a dog having fun in the water.

[DabiansDad]

thansk for the replys everyone, the pool should be opening next week but its soposed to rain alot so it may be 2 weeks from then.....we work alot :-)

[Barrett]

I wish we had a pool. Lucy's doctor wants her to swim everyday to build up her shoulder muscles. We are buying a big above the ground kiddie pool for the dogs this summer. I know Bailey will love it but I hope Lucy won't be afraid of it. I'll get her a life jacket too.