new dog never been in water

[bigfoot2012 0]

i

Edited June 13, 2012 by bigfoot2012

[ftm 3,357]

dont know a definite answer mate with her being 4 yrs old but im afraid you will have to take the plunge![literally] pick a warm sunny day[that might be hard lol] and you will have to walk her in and swim around with you it might take a few swims mate but once she getsthe hang of it it will do her confidence the world of good and she will soon start to enjoy it as most gun dogs like swimming-billy

[bigfoot2012 0]

to

Edited June 13, 2012 by bigfoot2012

[Casso 1,261]

ive just bought a well trained gundog but she has never been in water, she will need to go in water quite a lot for me, ive been trying to get her used to it gradualy, but she will onley go in as far as she can feel ground under her feet, ive been trying with a dummy for 3 weeks, 3 or 4 times a week but she is still doing the same, does anyone have any ideas, and do you think she will aventualy. she is 4 years old

i would try to build up frustration in her for the dummy, if you are taking her that much she is still getting access to the dummy regular and hedging her bets that she will get it at some stage, if ya get my drift

 

i would built up her longing for it for maybe a week giving her no other avenue for work just lead walking for exercise,

and when you do decide to try her again make sure its warm and she's very hungry and straining for work

,

it may not make her love water but if she's driven enough she might just take the plunge and find out it not as bad as it looked,

best of luck with her, its important thats she's very hungry when you do try her,,

[3175darren 1,101]

Like above, but what I do is take her for a long walk get her warm,if you have another dog with you,all the better walk straight accross the river at a very shallow part,each day dont push her too hard just make it a part of the walk,take a straight line accross to the other side,try not to look back at her,do this every day for a week or two,then after that walk to the river and stand in the middle of the shallows for a few minutes,once she is comfortable to stand with you,then progress to deeper water until eventualy she has to kick off and swim right behind you,dont mess keep to the straight line through,she will soon see the river as natural part of following the pack,I think you will find she will do the rest herself,I find it best to walk slightly up stream with a nervous or unsure dog,avoid letting her get out of her depth if you can,she will do it if you take your time, and dummies do not have the same apeal as shot game,I have 6 dogs and all love to swim, even the lurcher and the teckle terrier, done right all dogs will swim in my veiw.

hope this helps

darren

[Mooch. 177]

I "taught" mine at a training class with another dog. I threw the dummy into a pond for mIne and he ran around and around the bank trying to work it out. Eventually we sent the other (experienced) dog. I tried again with mine and he knew what to do but still wouldn't go in the water so out of frustration I pushed him in! He swam straight to the dummy, took it on his mouth and swam back. I now have trouble keeping him out of water!

 

I wouldn't actually advise anyone to do it this way but it worked for this dog.

[RubyTex 1,957]

To teach my dog one of us went to the other side of the river and made a big fuss, he ummed and ahhed for ages working it out then took the plunge and never looked back. Teaching my bitch was easy, down the beach, both dogs off the lead, dog runs into the sea, bitch follows probably before she knew what was good for her, it was fooking freezing that day

[spec 45]

loads of really good advice already given but I'd say what's most likely to work if possible is taking a dog who LOVES water along with you on a hot day, get in yourself too (wear waders if you don't wanna go the full speedos!) and play with the confident one in the water, chuck a ball and generally make a big fuss. Odds are the bitch will be too keen to get involved to remember her dislike of taking her feet off the bottom!

[bigfoot2012 0]

l

Edited June 13, 2012 by bigfoot2012