First trip to swimming water

[Charles Rocheville]

Took Riley to a indoor dog park (Fido's) yesterday that has a large pool.  He dawned his life vest with a handle on the top of it.  They had a few different doggie entry platforms and a exit dock.  Well, as he does with everything he sat at pool edge and surveyed  the situation.  When I pushed him lightly and coaxed him to go in, he put his wheels in four wheel lock.  Kept the pressure on and he was in.  Of course, he made a bee line of the shortest route back to the pool edge.  The addendant, grabbed him by vest handle and held him arms length from pool edge, and let him just swim in place then pulled him out.  Did this a few times.  Then took him to the opposite end to be able to swim some distance.  I had him sit on the platform, had about a two foot drop to the water.  I then kept slowly pushing until he was off.  The first time he hit the water was like someone doing a cannonball, head went under water.  He came up like a shot, and swam to opposite side of pool.  The second time he realized it is better to jump off, so he could keep his head above water.  He got a lot of praise with each entry, and really didn't get upset, although he probably would of prefered being somewhere else.  He seemed calmer towards the end,  as his eye's where as big as plates for awhile.  Next time, maybe I can get him to use the exit dock.

 

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

So glad that you got him in! Sounds so fun, we don't have anything like that here, Keep going back so he gets used to it and snap some pictures if possible???

[Donna K & Quincy]

Riley, how lucky you are to have a pool where you can go to swim.BTW, you'd have to push me in too and I would be sure to find the quickest way out.

[Frannie & Callie]

Great job Riley!!!!!! Maybe you can teach Callie to be a little braver in the water!

[Dori & Rua]

WTG Riley!  That is really great Charles. And where are your pictures, Charles?  What kind of Doodle Dad are you...you are requirement to take pictures of "firsts" like that!  LOL 

 

Rua would love to visit your cool indoor dog park and try that out. 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Yeah, Riley!! You're on your way to becoming a water dog!! 

Hopefully Riley will enjoy it more and more as time passes. It took Tara some time to warm up to the idea of swimming but now she really enjoys swimming in lakes and rivers. We haven't tried a pool swim yet. We don't have a dog pool anywhere near our place or I would definitely take her!

[Charles Rocheville]

Not saying Riley is there yet, as far as a swimmer.  He just did what he had to do.  I think he will ok in the water with a few more trips to the pool.  My Lab, Moose when he was young didn't like to get his head under water.  I filled the bathtub up gradually and put pieces of hot dog on the bottom of the tub.  By the time the tub was full, he was diving down a foot or so to get that hot dog.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I never heard of an indoor dog park, how cool. Jack will not go in a pool period. When I was staying with friends who had a pool, I made him go in and learn how to get out just in case he ever fell in and was not supervised, which never would have happen but you never know.

 

I tired everything to get him to go swimming but he is not a water boy.. He just now will tolerate his baths. At the ocean or a lake where he can sniff by the water, he will to down there and look and maybe get his paws wet, that is it......

 

 

[Charles Rocheville]

It was difficult to get him in, and then run to the other side to coax him over.  I will have to bring my sister in law next time to take some pictures.  He has done nothing today, except sleep so must of worn him out a little.  Of course, it doesn't take much for the little excercise he gets.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Good for Riley!!!!  I wish we had something like that near us.  Rooney doesn't like water at all - I try to coax him into our pool but so far no luck, maybe wearing the life vest would help.  Glad you had so much fun, next time take some pictures for us.