Doodles who don't swim?

[Martha Hanson]

Bailey, our three year old F1b Labradoodle, doesn't like the water.  We have a nice pool in the backyard and we know she would love it if she tried it.  Anyone else have this problem?  Would it help if she had a ramp or stairs to get in and out.  She was traumatized once when she chased her ball into the pool so we got her a life jacket thinking that would give her more confidence but no luck. Thanks! Martha & Bailey

 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Clancy wipes his on the hall wall - just noticed it last week!  Drat, I would prefer the carpet.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Darwin prefers to be in water when he can touch the bottom. Probably because he's not too great at swimming... his bottom sinks. LOL

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

When Haley was a puppy we got a kids wading pool for him but couldn't get him to get in it at all. He doesn't like sprinklers or rain. I think it goes back to when he was 3 months old and fell in the little pond I have in my flower border. It was February and cold.

We haven't taken him to the nearby river to see what he would do because I don't want him in water that has farm runoff in it but I don't think he would go in the water.His swimming or not swimming is not something I am concerned about.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Knox will swim in a pool and at the lake, but there is absolutely no way that he will swim in the dog park's pond.  I think one time he slipped on its algae-covered concrete lip and that did it -- he won't try it again!

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Murphy lives for the water.  Wilson hates it.  We keep thinking he will follow Murphy in but so far no luck.  I am okay with it.  One less dirty wet dog in the house :)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

It does seem that some are born to love water, some can be taught to love it, some will tolerate it and some just don't care for it at all. Murphy jumped in a golf course lake at about 12 weeks and just took off swimming like he had been born a fish. When a pool is around he just flys through the air to get in it, and in the ocean he can bodysurf with the waves. We did have to teach him to enjoy the ocean though and we did It like Kaytlin did, but with a ball.
Bella doesn't even like walking into 6" water in a baby pool and only tolerates our pool up to the second step which brings her to a 18" deep Bimini step that's about 5feet' by 14 feet. It's up to her belly. She goes In if murph and other dogs are having fun in the pool, but otherwise just walks around watching Murphy having fun and tries to bite his head when he comes up out of the water. We take her out deeper, but she just turns right around and goes back to the step. Wouldn't even consider jumping in like Murphy. So who knows what you'll get? If they never went in the pool it would make life a lot easier, but Murphy especially is soooo joyful when he is in water, that it's just a pleasure to play with him in the pool,

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Wilson bites my Murphy's head when he gets put of the water too! How funny!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

It is funny, I sometimes worry she won't let him come up for air! But he just swims to the other side and jumps out before she figures it out. She's not the sharpest tool in the shed!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Fudge does the same thing to Vern. She watches him and then lets him have it when he comes out of the water. What does this mean?? It is like she doesn't like him in the water.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I do wonder what she's thinking. Maybe because poor Murph and Vern are vulnerable and defenseless in the water and Fudge and Bella are seizing the moment!!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Speaking of Bella, she just came running through the house soaking wet after she jumped in the pool and ran to the back door and opened it to let herself in!!!!! So much for not liking the water. I think I will just roll her around on the floor and use her as a big wet mop!!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Some of my favorite pictures of Murphy enjoying water.