water entry

[lampinglurcher 36]

ive been musing over the last couple of days about the way dogs enter water for a retrieve. some people think about how to obtain world peace, i think about dogs.

what got me thinking is the fact that one of my two retrievers jumps into the water flat out and hits it hard, the other one will run in but doesnt really like having to jump in from height. why? there hasnt been much difference in their upbringing, if anything maisey (the one who wont jump in) was introduced to water sooner. they both like playing in the water aswell.

are there any particular breeds that excell in the water and any that dont like it as a rule? im talking gundogs here. ive seen labs that love it and some that hate it, same with spaniels etc etc, any reasons for this like is it the way theyre introduced?

 

cheers all

 

LL

[Guest ESS]

CONFIDENCE

[coldweld 65]

Or brains fast water entries look good!

 

 

But the dangers are sub surface sticks/objects and can end in impalement.

[lewismac1 1]

Yeah it's mostly down the the breeding and how they were introduced.

Black Lab's- if they are introduced properly are mostley fearless of water.

 

Here's one of the pup's going for a retreive

 

[young_london_hunter 9]

great video

[Dave C 63]

Thats a bold entry to water, well done.

 

Dave.

[v-max 2]

Hi water entry is as said a confidence thing & how it was introduced. as for dogs like lewismac1's dog that is great to see but water can hide many dangours to a dog just under the water & should be given respect. Nice vid lewismac1 & my dog do much the same but some times it worries me when they do it on the rivers with rocks etc but mine calmed down with age too as they learn & get older. Young dogs can be fun when trainning especially when you get a good young dog blod/strong & confident & trusting in you.

[Guest ESS]

Hi water entry is as said a confidence thing & how it was introduced. as for dogs like lewismac1's dog that is great to see but water can hide many dangours to a dog just under the water & should be given respect. Nice vid lewismac1 & my dog do much the same but some times it worries me when they do it on the rivers with rocks etc but mine calmed down with age too as they learn & get older. Young dogs can be fun when trainning especially when you get a good young dog blod/strong & confident & trusting in you.

 

 

I always start with the pups as the weather warms paddling in the sea or slip way with the older dogs build it up slowly..I found labs have little fear of water nor feel the cold as much with there double coats.

I did come unstuck with a little cocker who decided one day to jump straight in off a canal towpath into canal seemed a very long time from when it went under to when it submerged.I was lucky it didnt put her off .

This season one drive at the side of a fast flowing river the same little thing was sent mopping up after the drive she was out of sight for a fair bit of time all me dogs had returned bar her I walked up to try and find her,I spotted her swimming against a fast flowing river bird in mouth me heart in mouth as she fought against the current.The water could not have been much above freezing and was fast flowing with snow melt of the moors .I wish I had a camera with me that day ..

One of the highlights of last season ...lol

[kiwi 4]

i use a pups desire to enter as a gauge to how my breeding is going, i like a high drive in the water department and breed for it

pup at 4 mths the last litter was like this.

[lewismac1 1]

As v-max said a bold entry to water can be very dangerous for the dog.

Anything under the water like submerged rock are death traps for young dog's.

Right enough i have found that when the dog get's experience under it's belt and mature's. it will be less likely to jump in.

 

But does not change the fact that it is great to see so much confidence in a dog

[kiwi 4]

only age can cure overconfidence but give me this type of pup over one that sticks his toe in to check the temp anyday, you will find the overconfident pup also attacks cover the same way.......if you worried too much about hazzards like submerged rocks you would just stay at home wouldn't ya

[Dave C 63]

I agree Kiwi, Everybody knows that there are hidden dangers everywhere but its something you have to expect and accept when you begin to work all dogs, now the dog that sits on the peg may have fewer dangers but that dog possibly wouldnt be the choice for hunting dangerous and rough terrain ie old quarries, thick woodlands and Fells and Crags etc, it depends what you want from a dog, i do hunt such land and prefer a dog that has a bit of fire in its belly.

 

Dave.