My other Aussie, Charlie, was terrified of water for the longest time. If someone/something was even making splashing noises (using a hose, standing on the shore, a dog was running around in a lake/pool, etc) he would stress out and stand at the edge of the water/by the person and just bark bark bark bark and whine whine whine. I liked to think he was "worried" for the person but really I just think it stressed him out that much. Over the years, he slowly ventured into water, and when I took him to the dog park with a lake last year.......... he followed a friend's dog in and started swimming. I was AMAZED. Of course, this was my last "hurrah!" with him before I handed him off to live with my ex for good (joint custody of the dogs just wasn't working out and was too much stress on us and the pets). It was kind of like his "going away" present to me, like, "Look at me, mom! Don't worry about me, I'll be fine without you." I still miss him