teekay Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Went for a walk this weekend with the dogs and, as no one was around, I let Jenna and Luka off lead. We were walking around a reservoir and I was totally shocked when Luka decided to go for a swim. I think the ducks were an incentive :laugh: Now, he didn't gently wade in though, he launched himself and then he panicked ( So did I, a little :) ) he really isn't the greatest of swimmers. Instead of paddling under the water like my other two, he paddles vertically like he is trying to climb out of the water. There is very slow forward progress. He did manage to get back to the bank but made me think about whether you can train a dog to swim better. Obligatory pictures of walk :D Fluffy butt :laugh: With Jenna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 My Dally swims like that :laugh: I bought a life jacket for him and it's worked a treat. I don't always use it now as he's getting better coordinated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 (edited) I have tibbie-owning friends who have relatives who adopted a failed student guide dog (wanted to play with every dog he met). He couldn't swim.... sort of didn't know what to do. So his 'dad', who happens to be a dog trainer, had to teach him. I don't know how, tho'. His pic at a swimming lesson (click to enlarge): I googled & found this: Edited August 12, 2013 by mita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 My Dally swims like that :laugh: I bought a life jacket for him and it's worked a treat. I don't always use it now as he's getting better coordinated. Thanks Spotted Devil, do you think the life jacket actually held him in more of the right kind of position to swim, or just stopped him looking like he was struggling? If it actually trains him to pull under the water instead of on top of it I may get one, although as he doesn't like water usually I'm not sure how much use it would get. It would provide peace of mind though. I will look into it, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 I have tibbie-owning friends who have relatives who adopted a failed student guide dog (wanted to play with every dog he met). He couldn't swim.... sort of didn't know what to do. So his 'dad', who happens to be a dog trainer, had to teach him. I don't know how, tho'. His pic at a swimming lesson (click to enlarge): I googled & found this: Thanks Mita, I actually didn't think to Google, that's very unlike me :laugh: Not sure where I could go to try and coax him into the shallow water. Will have to investigate and look for suitable areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I had a dog that did that, she swum every week for 16 years almost and never swum normally lol. What breed is Jenna? She's gorgeous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 I've been walking my basset along in the shallow water, in the past she wouldn't have even set foot in it but she will now follow the kelpie in until the water is up to her chest(not very far when your legs are that short!). I think a gently gently approach where you just encourage them in depper a bit at a time is the way to go so they learn that they can move forwards through the water and that there is no need to panic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 My Dally swims like that :laugh: I bought a life jacket for him and it's worked a treat. I don't always use it now as he's getting better coordinated. Thanks Spotted Devil, do you think the life jacket actually held him in more of the right kind of position to swim, or just stopped him looking like he was struggling? If it actually trains him to pull under the water instead of on top of it I may get one, although as he doesn't like water usually I'm not sure how much use it would get. It would provide peace of mind though. I will look into it, thanks I think it lifted his rear end and thus dropped his front end - even with lots of rear end awareness he has always been "front wheel drive". Zig didn't like the water much until he got sick of watching Em being rewarded for water retrieves :laugh: He's still not the most efficient swimmer but I think he has improved a lot since I bought the life jacket - it's given him confidence too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 I had a dog that did that, she swum every week for 16 years almost and never swum normally lol. What breed is Jenna? She's gorgeous. Thanks MUP, Jenna is a crossbreed before I knew better. She's a Golden Retriever x Samoyed. I often get asked if she is a Maremma but she is much smaller. She is a gorgeous girl though :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*kirty* Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Maisie used to swim like that. We just encouraged her to swim lots (we used to have a pool and she loves the water) and she worked it out herself. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 That's a good idea Kelpiecuddles. There is an on lead only beach that often has still water around, I should take them there more often. Thanks SpottedDevil, that makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph M Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Gus the Flattie is the WORST swimmer. Mostly due to his enthusiasm, just throws himself in and panics, similar to Luka. I had to fish him out the other week and he tried to get back in again! We're seriously considering a life jacket and perhaps a trip to the doggie pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airedaler Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 I have a life jacket which I used with my adult Airedale a few times. Anyone who is interested is welcome to it but it would need to be collected as it would be difficult to post. (SE suburbs of Melbourne) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voloclydes Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 My dal Leo couldn't hardly run when he came here is not suprising he could not swim! He used to try and walk at the v Back end which included frantic drowning at the front. We went on a trip and I wasn't buying the damn dog a life jacket when we only go near water about every 3rd year. I bought a walking harness so I could hold the middle up... Cheap harness from supermarket was $20.00 so even In salt water I didn't care about it being wrecked. It helped and now he swims normal.... He just needed lessons... to dog what most do naturally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 teekay - I posted this elsewhere but you can see the difference in natural swimming ability in my dogs...(this is before Ziggy tried a life jacket) Confident in water... Not so much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotdashdot Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 3rd one in this thread with a dally that couldn't swim. I think the fact that we got Cleo home at the beginning of winter didn't help - too cold to take a pup swimming, even though we have a beach and river really close by. By the first summer, she was hopeless, would run through the waves at the beach but hated the river and creeks. Got her a lifejacket and it helped, she used to freeze and sink if her ears got wet, now she's a bit better and will take herself out deeper. She's no water baby though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tibbie_tabbie Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 My jack is a great swimmer, but she stresses about getting in...until she sees a dragonfly ; p My tibbie is NOT a water baby and so stays put on the kayak with me, at the beach he stays a good distance from the water. When he has fallen in (life jacket on) he just panics and does the upright swim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voloclydes Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 That was Photo was Leo but the whole paws came out as well. You will note he could not run either, he used to tip over... Lots at 11mo old. He just unco... Totally. The other dal she glides elegant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 There's someone on here with Rotties either Griff or Dyzney that showed a video of one of their dogs swimming and it was hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 Oh yes, Spotted devil, that second one looks very familiar. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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