dgsorensen
JH
Posts:27
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| 07/02/2012 10:34 AM |
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I have a 10 week old pup who seems to have a lot of anxiety about going into the water. We have taken him to the beach and at first he ran in up to his belly then took off for shore and now refuses to get any where near it. We've tried throwin toys into shallow water and enticing it with treats as well as calling him when we are in the water. I plan to use the dog mainly for upland bird hunting so it's not necessary that he swims but i was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions to help him overcome this fear over time. |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 07/02/2012 1:03 PM |
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Poor baby. He's only 10 weeks.
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7841
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1190
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| 07/02/2012 1:23 PM |
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I can barely keep Bella out of water, though I do think some have more of an innate interest in it than others (just like people). Her first exposure since were in a snow covered world, was baths. Her breeder said she didn't care much for baths, but we got her and took a bath slow and showered (no pun intended) her with attention and treats during. After that first bath, she LOVED baths. She'll come running even now at the turn on of the faucet to see if it is her turn.
I let her take bodies of water on at her own pace, which didn't take long. But we got her at 11 weeks and she swam for the first time (not just going in the water, but full on swim) around 7 months. So give it some time and go at pup's pace.
When you mention beach...it could mean a number of types of bodies of water. Are you on a coastal beach? I'm wondering with his readiness to go in but that not lasting long if maybe something startled him. Do you have things like jelly fish? |
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Rose
MH
Posts:362
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| 07/02/2012 3:40 PM |
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Our GSP was nearly 3 when he finally got over his fear of water. This dog was so sacred of water, when we would wade across a brook(knee high water), he'd stay on shore, bark and bark - until we went back to carry him across!
What finally worked for us is bringing him to shallow brooks with fish - he'd get so excited about the fish, he would be more bold about going into water.
Seeing other dogs in water also greatly helped.
It's colder here, the water here is not very warm, that is probably another reason he does not like it; I've accepted that he may never be a water dog. |
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dgsorensen
JH
Posts:27
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| 07/02/2012 4:10 PM |
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We live in Iowa so I'm pretty sure we don't have any jelly fish. I was not actually present the first time he was introduced. My girlfriend took him out while I was at work so I was hearing that story from here. The body of water we were at was an old gravel pit which are know for sudden steep drop offs, some just a few feet out. I wonder if he didn't encounter something that like before he was ready to be that deep.
Another friend of ours has a GSP who loves water and we have tried to get Tucker to follow her lead but the other dog doesn't stay shallow enough to where Tucker might feel comfortable. We were out last night beside a man with an Australian Shepard who loved playing fetch in the water and Tucker seemed to be very interested in watching him play.
I've also heard a kiddy pool with shallow water and some of his favorite toys might help. Any thoughts? |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7841
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| 07/02/2012 4:17 PM |
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| The baby pool would probably help, but I would also let him watch and take it all in. Dogs learn allot by just watching. He will get there with a little patience on your part. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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dgsorensen
JH
Posts:27
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| 07/02/2012 4:26 PM |
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| Sounds good, Getting him used to water isn't high on the priority list. We need to let him get used to his new surroundings and work on obedience training first. I was just seeing if this was normal for a GSP pup and seeing if there were some easy things that we could do for the time being that would help without causing a more profound fear of the water. |
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Binni
Pittsburgh, PA
MH
Posts:76
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| 07/02/2012 9:30 PM |
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Binni has mixed feelings about the water. She is 9 months old. We put her in our pool and she did swim for a bit. Although, she didn't seem thrilled. Let's put it this way, she didnt' try to go back in. I bought her a baby pool and she does like splashing around in that. Her FAVORITE thing is to get a bath. I know this because, when we can't find Binni....... just go pull back the shower curtain and there she is!!!! Sitting in the tub, hoping and praying that somebody is going to turn on the water and give her a bath. (which happen often, because she is a digger and is always getting dirty) silly girl |
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tgatto
Lake in the Hills, IL
MH
Posts:411
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| 07/03/2012 11:26 AM |
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Have you tried walking him into the water with a leash? I teach my dogs to swim by walking/running with them on the beach, gradually getting them deeper and deeper, until they swim. That initial lunge off of their feet where they have to paddle seems to be the most stressful for them, but if I have run them back and forth a bunch, then force them over that little hurdle, I can usually throw a toy, and they will do it on their own (gradually).
Found some pictures of teaching our Boston-Mix to swim:
The initial hesitation:
Progress:
Little deeper...
Of course, having another dog that swims does help...
Of course, by that time, she had a good comfort level. That is basically how I taught all 3 of my dogs to swim. |
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It is watching the dogs work that I thoroughly enjoy, and love. I could get by with just watching them work - if it weren't for all the training, and the joy they exhibit when they pick-up, and deilver to hand a bird that they pointed, and you shot. - Todd |
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tcross
MH
Posts:62
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| 07/26/2012 10:08 AM |
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| My gsp, Dunkan (just 2 years old now) wasn't real fond of the water to begin with. last summer he would go out up to his knees, but not any further. i tried getting him to go further with toys, treats etc... but once he gets to the point in the water where he can't touch the bottom, he freaks and heads back. he didn't/still doesnt' seem to understand the concept of swimming as he is always trying to feel for the bottom. he is getting more and more brave now since we have a small pond and he's always chasing frogs. he actually seems to have a fetish with the frogs and points them for 20 minutes at a time... once and a while he'll catch one but doesnt' know what to do with it, so he just drops it and goes after another! he'll go up to his chin now, and a little further when he's chasing a frog, but he is still not real sure about it. |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3134
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| 07/26/2012 2:08 PM |
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At that young I think staying in water where they can touch and just walk without swimming is good...
both of my dogs like their pool and the horse troughs and lakes... however the bath tub or shower they very much hate.... both of mine got introduced to water when they were bigger pups like 6/7 months... |
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Tizziec
MH
Posts:66
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| 09/09/2012 5:03 AM |
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| Our newly adopted 3.5 year old did exactly the same thing. He went up to his stomach, but since then will stand just short of his toes getting wet LOL the resident dog (springer) is in the process of growing gills he is in the water so much. I am really hoping it doesn't take long for Jake to hit the water, mommy and daddy are avid rowers on the local river and spend as much time as possible there in good months! I am actually hoping to try him in one of the boats next week to see how he likes it. The springer LOVE LOVE LOVES to ride on my stand up paddle board when I have that out (make an interesting work out for me too) |
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chaelaa
Ontario
MH
Posts:62
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| 11/12/2012 11:42 PM |
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My gsp King wasn't too fond of water either when he was 10 weeks old! He's almost 2 years old now and it was only this past summer where he proved he can swim! It also helps if you get in the water with them, king and i have had some swimming races towards his favourite squeaky toy and he seemed to enjoy this a lot! He will still sometimes hesitate to go too deep if he is alone though, but it's a work in progress. Just keep exposing your puppy to water in positive ways and he will learn to like it it eventually  |
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- Michaela |
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Pinarelloman
Posts:16
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| 04/03/2013 2:23 AM |
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We started with a baby wading pool & put about 3-4 inches of water in it. Play with her favourite toy & throw it in the pool. Gradually make the water an inch or so deeper over several days until the wading pool is about 8inches deep. Then just leave it & keep throwing the toy in the ppol.
This worked for our pup.
She still has only swum once, but runs into the water at the beach. Initially she would not go near the breaking waves. Now she is Ok till about chest deep.
She is 6mths old.
Trial and error & perserverance. |
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