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teaching pup to swim

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TRAUM...@webtv.net

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Sep 3, 2001, 11:55:57 AM9/3/01
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rickt

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Sep 3, 2001, 1:11:19 PM9/3/01
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Eight Weeks?

As he grows, he'll develop a healthy fixation for water; all labs do, in
time. But you may want to allow him to explore and learn slowly, as he's
too young to be in deep water.

My yellow lab pup (now 9 mos) has been exposed to lakes and rivers
consistently. He began venturing into the water on his own since he
was a tiny pup. But I never forced him. As be became stronger and more
confident, he felt better about jumping into the water, without being
nervous.

Again, that takes time.

As he grows, you'll want to gently coax him in by throwing a tennis ball
into the water, but no so far that he has to swim. He needs to learn that
he can get around in the water, and that Nature has given him the
equipment to be a strong, capable swimmer.

My pup is now obsessed with swimming. Recently, he put on a show at the
beach, where he went after tennis balls in the surf. He's become a very
strong swimmer, and he'll remain focused on the water until he becomes
exhausted. It's a lab thing.

Anyway, you'll find that your pup will develop the same skill sets. But
give it time. He's too young to be exposed to deep water, especially
he's not following his own curiosity.

In article <19213-3B...@storefull-147.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,
TRAUM...@webtv.net wrote:

> anybody have any tips or know where to find info on basic water
> training?
> my little buddy (8 week yellow lab) will go into water but will not
> venture out further than where he can stand. i am unsure about the idea
> of just tossing him into deeper water. but he is too afraid to be coaxed
> into deeper water.
> all books i have read build from a dog already used to water and able to
> swim.
> how do i get him to hat point?
> thanks for all the help.!!!!!!!
> ed
>
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Bre

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Sep 3, 2001, 1:18:55 PM9/3/01
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Hi Ed,
Do not under any circumstances throw him in!!! That will scare him and
then you will have a real job on your hands to get him to swim.
At 8 weeks he is still a baby, let him play in the water and find his
own way into deeper water so to speak. It may take several weeks for him
to gain confidence but he will swim!
My girl was about 12 weeks old when we started her off playing in the
water, and it only took a few trips before she swam. But it is important
for the pup to have fun in the water.
This week I rescued a 7 month old male lab who had never been in the
water and he swam the first time we took him and he loves it.
Just don't rush your pup, you have plenty of time to get him swimming.

Bre

TRAUM...@webtv.net wrote:
>
> anybody have any tips or know where to find info on basic water
> training?
> my little buddy (8 week yellow lab) will go into water but will not
> venture out further than where he can stand. i am unsure about the
> idea
> of just tossing him into deeper water. but he is too afraid to be
> coaxed
> into deeper water.
> all books i have read build from a dog already used to water and able
> to
> swim.
> how do i get him to hat point?
> thanks for all the help.!!!!!!!
> ed
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------

--

On the Ladder of Knowledge, the top is not in reach.
Be brave enough to ask and kind enough to teach.

Mark & Lori Feldman

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Sep 3, 2001, 9:40:35 PM9/3/01
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Greetings Ed,
At eight weeks I would be more concerned about where you are trying to get
your Lab to swim. Parvo for example, is a very contagious disease and can
be a very deadly disease.
My sisters Lab as a puppy was nervous about the water and they wondered if
Caley would ever go in. I spent the day by their pool with my Labs and
Caley. Both Travis and Meyer are lovers of the water. The most important
thing I feel, is to show them where their exits are. A safe place that they
know they can stand steady. Caley now actually loves the pool and
especially loves lying on the float cushion and float around the pool.
Caley is a rescue dog that I got for my sister.
Patience will pay off in the end. Do not rush it......it will come.
Having a sense of humor is very helpful also. Good Luck
Cheers,
Mark and the boys of Lormar Labradors
--
Come visit Travis and Meyer
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/6616/

Bre <barlee...@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote in article
<3B93BC0E...@ns.sympatico.ca>...

Gilles A

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Sep 3, 2001, 9:02:10 PM9/3/01
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> ... I spent the day by their pool with my Labs and

> Caley. Both Travis and Meyer are lovers of the water.
>
A few people told me that it was very bad for the dog's skin to go in the
pool.
It has something to do with the chlorine of the water.
Does anyone know if it's true that we shouldn't allow our dog in the pool?

Gilles


KrisHur

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Sep 4, 2001, 7:18:22 AM9/4/01
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It does strip away some oils from the skin, and dandruff can result. I spray
my girl down w/ Perfect Coat Conditioning Spray after a swim to replace the
oils. Other than that, I have never had a problem.


"Gilles A" <Gilels.Ar...@Videotron.ca> wrote in message
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KrisHur

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Sep 4, 2001, 7:20:34 AM9/4/01
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"Mark & Lori Feldman" <lor...@gte.net> wrote in message
news:01c134e0$fb235540$61b8173f@alfredte...
> snip

>Caley now actually loves the pool and
> especially loves lying on the float cushion and float around the pool.


I thought my girl was the only one who did this! It's very funny.
See Kali on her float at:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1557541&a=11821513&p=53001475&f=0

Juli Jer

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Sep 4, 2001, 9:10:45 PM9/4/01
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That looks soooo relaxing! No wonder Kali enjoys this.

--

Juli Jer
jj...@erols.com
.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._
Dogs and hedgehogs
.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._

Marie

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Sep 4, 2001, 9:27:01 PM9/4/01
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My male lab is now 1 years old and still wont swim !!

He's been paddling up to his max leg depth but just wont go any
deeper......as soon as he knows his feet wont touch the floor next step he
walks back into shallower water.

He's been going to lakes, ponds, sea etc since he was about 20 weeks old and
has never had a bad experience to put him off. He likes the water. I think
he doesnt know he can swim!

Im sad he wont swim, as its good exercise and i presume he'll love it
when/if he ever swims.

I've tried coaxing, even getting in deeper and calling.....nothing!

I agree with ed.......any advice ??
Thanks
Marie


KrisHur

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Sep 5, 2001, 7:13:02 AM9/5/01
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I helped to get the 2 y.o. across the street to swim by holding her firmly
(one arm around the back of the hocks and one arm across the chest--not
under the front legs) and walking her into our pool. Once in and far from an
edge, so that she would have to swim, I would slowly let her go. She would
freak a little, splashing around, and go for the nearest edge but I would
pull her back in and guide her to the stairs. It didn't freak her out enough
that she would run from me when I would go to pick her up again, well maybe
a little, but once in my arms she never struggled. After 2, hour long,
sessions of this
she now jumps in and races my girl to get the ball.

Kali (my girl) learned to swim at a pond. As a pup, she watched the big dogs
fetching tennis balls out of the water and after their owners convinced me
that she wouldn't swim away, that she would hang out w/his dogs I let her
go. Waiting and watching the other dogs play, I think, got her so geared up
that she just followed the other dogs. However, one time I let her in w/out
any other dogs there and it took me 20 minutes to get her out! She would
stand just out of my reach and stare at me.

Short water story:
Kali loves water so much, that shortly after she learned to swim, while DH
and I were in Central Park, we dropped her leash so that she could more
easily play w/a pup that some people were walking. As soon as the leash hit
the ground she stopped playing, looked up at us, looked down the hill at the
pond and RAN. DH ran after her but couldn't catch her and she jumped right
into the pond where the row-boats are and stared out to sea. DH jumped in
after her, grabbed her and brought her out. There's a line of benches that
surround the pond on this side, on his way out DH received a round of
applause. That was funny.


"Marie" <mar...@REMOVEMEpepper2.karoo.co.uk> wrote in message
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JohnO

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Sep 5, 2001, 10:06:11 AM9/5/01
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Nope, you're not the only one ... LOL It is funny to see. I still get a
kick out of the photos in the links below.

My boy Roush loves the water. He always has since a pup and could never keep
him out. The last year we had our above ground pool we decided if he wanted
to use it (with supervision) he could. He was the only one that would whine
and cry when we closed the gate and wouldn't let him in.

Below are a few links to some photos of him. Yes, he did learn to climb
out by himself and although he did need a hand getting started up the ladder
he could do it himself. He did need help to get on the float.


http://www.vikinglabs.com/roush/r14.html

http://www.vikinglabs.com/roush/r12.html

http://www.vikinglabs.com/roush/r13.html


As to the chlorine in the pool ... I think as long as it's not an everyday
thing and they don't spend a lot of time in it I doubt if it is harmful. If
the PH is good and the chlorine is at a normal level it should be ok. It's
in the water most of us (and our Labs) drink.


"KrisHur" <kris...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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KrisHur

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Sep 6, 2001, 7:25:14 AM9/6/01
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Very handsome, he looks so proud w/his handlers holding the ribbons! Love
the pic where he's sleeping w/his tongue sticking out.


"JohnO" <joh...@NOSPAMhome.com> wrote in message
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