need help with my lab. he's 4 months old,cant get him to get in the water on his own. tried everything.. runs up toit and throws on the brakes.... carried him out and he swims great.

my fil is a lab trainer might be too far for ya but here you go!
http://sdidogs.com/home.html

If you have another dog or know someone who does you might be able to get him in that way. I know when Maggie was a pup she was very reluctant until I got her around my dads lab and he just bailed off in the water and she was right behind him. After the first time she was good to go.

How old is the dog?

Time, time and more time. Do not rush it. Do not put the dog in the water yourself, it will only create more fear. You are going to have to coax the pup in somehow. I bet if you stood in the water and had a t-bone floating on a paper plate about 1 foot out, that dog would get in the water.

You are looking for baby steps with tons of encouragement.

The water is still cold. You might want to wait until it warms up some.

+1

At 4 months, mine was reluctant too, and now I can barely keep him out of it if it's withing a couple hundred yards. Get the pup around another dog in the water, and they'll be all over it. I'm sure there are plenty around here you could even meet up with for an afternoon. Where are you located?

Another way to do it is bath time, very frequently. You don't necessarily have to (or want to) shampoo them every time, but put em in the tub and rinse em down. They have solid footing and learn water ain't gonna kill em.

Man, I can not keep mine out of the water. She was in it at 3 months non-stop. Of course, I have a swimming pool. I could go out today and throw a ball in the water and she would jump in after it. The water is COLD!!

live in belton

the ol' lady used to work with dogs. want me to ask her??

why not,,,,,,,,,we still goin hog huntin tonight? be here around 430 or so

If I asked you what training book you were following, I bet I know the answer already.

You had two correct answers so far. Use a long lead and coax the dawg into the water WITH you while you're wearing hip boots or waders. Just deep enough that he can't walk on bottom. Slowly ... to pick up a bumper or favorite toy.

Unless you're planning on entering a Hunt Test in the next few weeks, wait until the water warms up. How would you like to be put in 40 degree water as a child to learn to swim the first time.

Good luck with pup!

don't ever do that, buddy of mine has to lift his 95lb lab into the truck


Lots of great advice given. Wait till its warmer, and we'll get Sallysue and my pups out to the lake and watch them go crazy

cold water makes them have loose stool, or at least my pup... I took her to Ironspikes Labs and we did the deal with another dog she went right in.

[quote=TreeBass
don't ever do that, buddy of mine has to lift his 95lb lab into the truck [/quote]

Can you elaborate further?

this is the right place on the quote.cant wait to do it

she said start with a little swimming pool. set him in it. every time he gets out, set him back in. she also said find a way to make it fun. splash some water on him when he's in it. once it warms up more, he'll start doing it on his own.

Can you elaborate further? [/quote]

He has allowed his lab to "train him" to lift the lab into the vehicle. the dog will not load up, but instead will sit and wait until lifted into the vehicle. I'm gonna help him break that habit. It was brought to my attention the other day

I'll shoot you a PM as it gets warmer

A friend of mine had a dog that wouldn't jump into the back of his truck. I had to get my dog to do it in front of the other dog until the dog figured it out.

problem is, his female has no issue getting into the truck! She jumps right up there, but his male just sits down! its friggin hilarious to watch

Oh, and shes a heffer

Had a labrador pup that seemed to be water shy...wanted nothing to do with getting into water.
The pup had a little toy rubber doll she carried around constantly. I threw the doll into the water, and watched her pace the shoreline and bark and squall like the doll was going to drowned. I waded in, coaxing her to come with me to get the doll. The next throw was a little farther out. In one session she was swimming out to retrieve the doll herself. She never balked at a water entry after that.

He has allowed his lab to "train him" to lift the lab into the vehicle. the dog will not load up, but instead will sit and wait until lifted into the vehicle. I'm gonna help him break that habit. It was brought to my attention the other day [/quote]

I was afraid that's what you meant.

None of my business what you do with your own dawgs but do them a small favor ... ask your vet what the NUMBER ONE cause of musculoskeletal problems (other than genetic) is in large breed dogs. It's from jumping down from heights to a hard surface causing constant impact pounding on the wrists, elbows, knees and shoulder joints.

Frequently jumping UP over their own head height may cause stretching and twisting stresses that can and do lead to torn or ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligaments (ACL) with dawgs over 60 lbs. In addition, a luxating patella (detached kneecap) can be caused by either jumping up or down from those heights.

Protect your dawg from injuries due to neglect or lack of knowledge. Please ask your vet about what I've just posted.

Good advice Cappy. I was told the same thing. Zeke is my first lab and while at my first HRC training day and people were checking out Zeke, I complained that he will not jump in or out of the truck on his own. I thought those folks were going to pass out lol.

Anyhow, they explained it exactly as you have and it makes perfect sense. Zeke gets help when he needs it.

you are correct sir, and I do agree having a dog that was diagnosed with hip dysplesia (sp) I'm always watching what she does... but this is not a truck per say, its a small jeep suv that is low to the ground. Its not the dogs fault, its his, and he knows it. Getting out isnt an issue, shoot, his dogs launch out of there. I did mention the above to him as well