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Thread: Clover doesn't like water :(

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
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    If you have her at the beach, try just walking her into the water with you, and not making a big deal out of it. She's still a baby, she has a lot to learn about the world. You could also carry her in while she is still small, to a point where it is deep enough that she'll have to swim, and set her in the water and praise her when she starts swimming, so she's know she can control herself in the water, and that swimming is an okay thing to do!
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  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by Karen View Post
    If you have her at the beach, try just walking her into the water with you, and not making a big deal out of it. She's still a baby, she has a lot to learn about the world. You could also carry her in while she is still small, to a point where it is deep enough that she'll have to swim, and set her in the water and praise her when she starts swimming, so she's know she can control herself in the water, and that swimming is an okay thing to do!
    We did do that once. She swam great for a few seconds by herself. Lots of treats and praise. When we got to shore she ran to the top of the beach and wouldn't come close again. D:

    Clover, Loki, Shadow, Pixel and Kyo

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
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    I think it's really about NEVER forcing them to go in unless it's on their own accord, and praising them wildly when they choose to. Chance is terrified of water, but I've trained him to go in and out of the kiddie pool on command. I started by throwing some kibble into the kiddie pool and telling him "up", then I would tell him "out." I'd do this every day throughout the day. Now he enjoys it and thinks it's a game. He still won't really retrieve a toy out of the pool, he just picks it up, carries it for a bit and drops it, lol.

    I've accepted that he'll never be super enthusiastic about water. But there are sooo many activities I can do with him besides taking him swimming. Fetch, frisbee, agility, flyball, obedience, hiking, canicross, tracking, weight pull, and that's just naming a few!

    Since she's still a puppy, she could learn to love water. Try the "kibble in the kiddie pool" method daily. Some people also say that letting them play with a water-loving playmate can really help. Just a few ideas.


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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    Michigan
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    If you have access to a real pool, where you are ALLOWED to bring dogs in, I'd say bring her out on a boogie board or some other flotation device and see how she does. I wouldn't FORCE her into the ocean or anything extreme yet. Just keep trying the kiddie pool (maybe even get a boogie board for that?) or a real pool (with a boogie board) at first. My first dog, Sassy, was perfectly content on a Boogie Board, she LOVED swimming, of course she hated it at first, but the boogie board worked for us.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    wisconsin
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    6,164
    Don't worry! My lab mix who is 3 now, wouldn't swim for the longest time. HATED water, couldn't do ANYTHING to get her in.

    For some reason, starting last year, we can't get her OUT of the water!! She will literally swim until she passes out... she loves it!

    I suggest just giving her time. We praised Sydney when she would go in, and we didn't push the issue. I think what Karen said is right - she's a pup, has a lot to learn yet. I'm sure she'll come around! It might not be this year, but maybe next year? Don't worry

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  6. #6
    Thanks, I haven't really been making a big deal of it. I take her down by the beach every now and then and let her sniff around but she won't go in really. I'm hoping maybe next year!

    Clover, Loki, Shadow, Pixel and Kyo

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
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    Iowa!
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    Lots of dogs like carrots. Let her try them as treats. Get the baby carrots. Then you can put some in the little pool and maybe she'll like trying to get them out of the pool.

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