Dogs and Water

[osh]

Hi there,

I have a Smooth haired Fox Terrier, whom I adore. He is feisty, and excitable and fun to have around.

When out walking he is fine until he gets to water (lakes/rivers etc). He seems fascinated and intrigued by the water, but he wont go in - until you throw a stick in. Then he wades in (only up to him belly) to retrieve the stick (even though he ignores sticks when thrown at other times). Anyway, I wondered is there any way to get him accustomed to water so he would go in more readily, he always seems excited when playing with water, but reluctant to start swimming?

many thanks

[FP]

Could we mate him with my cross bred Irish Terrier.  We can't keep her out of the water - any water that is except her bath.  We have to coax her out of stagnant ponds, etc. and when she gets in a river she swims down the middle of it with us rushing along the bank alongside trying to call her in to shore.

Seriously though - the other day I met a couple at the river who had a rescue dog with the same problem as your dog.  They solved it by getting in the river with him on a leash and swimming with him.   After a few goes he was off on his own.

[woofgang]

That's what my friend who trains gundogs does.(goes in with the dog)  Before you do this though think!! I had a water adoring weimaraner. We took him on holiday boating on the Thames Fabbo!! everwhere we tied up he went swimming....we spent the holiday SOAKED and had to use our towels to keep him dry enough not to soak the boat we had rented...he did have a lovely time though

[shaneystar]

Apart from getting in with him...bit chilly...just keep egging him on.He will swim.I was amazed when we moved to the coast and I took my dog on the beach.He had never seen the sea before and the first couple of times stood there barking at it.The third time we took him down there my son threw a ball into the sea and that was it.He was up to his neck swimming away merrily.Now we have a job to keep him out of the water!!

[hairylemon]

Grab him by the scruffof the neck and fire him into the deepest part. that'll cure his fascination fairly lively