I will be getting a new lab pup in a couple months. I've had a lab in the past that I never really introduced to water; when I did, it was afraid of it. I am trying to avoid this with my new pup due to the fact that I just picked up duck hunting. Do any of y'all have suggestions on what I should/could do to help out my odds of my dog enjoying the water???

dont do it in the winter! lol

just take him to the lake and let him try it at his own pace at first. some pups are fearless and some need a little encouragment. my deal was to get in the water with them. MAKE IT FUN. and go slow... before you know it they will be swimming circles around you bro. lot of hands on at first so they feel safe if they need it. also don't overdo it.

i have a good book, some says its old, but it still has good info if you want to borrow it.

Sounds good man, I'll pick it up the next time I'm out that way. Within the next month for sure!

2 things to remember. Wait til it warms up a little and bring some waders and get in with the pup. Should have no problem, pup might need a little coaxing but there should be no problem. MAKE IT FUN!

if you have access to a pool it helps. walk the dog down the stairs so it doesnt have to jump straight in. oh and definately go in with him for a while. after a few times he will learn to not be afraid and jump straight in.

I took my first lab out on the lake in the boat. She jumped out the front while the boat was moving. I killed the motor and cut it hard but I still went over the top of her. For the longest time I had a hard time getting her back in the water. The one thing that I helped me was the fact that she loved to retrieve and I was able to coax her in with that.

what age should i introduce them to the water?

i got my puppy home when he ( a boykin) was 8weeks old and took him to our pool... he tried to jump onto a float and missed (i was able to stop him...) and he fell head first into the water... i ran and jumped in all concerned and he came up swiming so i guess i got a little lucky... good luck with your pup.

First thing is to wait until it warms up a bit. Then find a place where pup can walk out into shallow water. Bring along a couple of older dogs and throw a bumper for them. Get them playing and walk out into the water a bit and coax the pup. Don't force the pup, just go have fun and pup will follow and be swimming in no time. I have used this method with all my dogs in a creek that is just barely deep enough to swim in. All my dogs swim like fish and love to retrieve anything from water.
I even have one dog that catches fish!

All great advice, one thing to remember if an accident does happen, ex. dog falls in or has trouble swimming, pretty much anything that would alarm you, don't overreact. The bigger deal you make out of it the bigger impression it will make on the pup. Suede fell in our pool when she was about 3 months old, went straight to the bottom but popped right back up, she was a little freaked out but I just called her to the stairs and she got out on her own and I pretty much ignored the whole situation. You want to feel sorry for the pup and love on it but that isn't what the dog needs. If you have the Chris Akin DVD he introduces a pup to water that really doesn't want to go in at all but Chris gets in the pond and eventually coaxes the pup in. Prolly more info than you wanted ha!

I also am not a pro by any means just telling you what I have experienced with Suede

Make it play. Find mud puddles, one inch deep creek beds for him to explore etc... the first few times... By the time you introduce swimming at 10- 12 weeks water wont be a problem at all. That's what we did. Throw a favorite plastic toy for them to chase into the puddle and let them get the feel for running through water. After a rain take her to a field or golf course and look for the wet spots. Let him walk into the water by the shore of a pond....They don't need to swim the first time they see water - but it might surprise you.

I take mine to the creek when its low.
Lots of places for them to run and play in the shallow water.
In the summer I keep a kiddie pool in the backyard for them.