WTD? Now You Swim!

[Donna K & Quincy]

OK, so now that summer is almost over, my darling Quincy who all summer wouldn't go in the water past his belly decided today would be the day that he learned how to swim. We were at our favorite ball playing place, a lovely meadow near a pond, it had rained earlier in the day so I ended up with a somewhat dirty doodle. I was planning on giving him a bath anyway, so I was just going to give him a quick dip in the pond to get the dirt off before getting in the car. We were just ready to leave when a gentleman arrived with his 1 year old yellow lab. I decided to stay and let them play a little while. The lab was swimming out to fetch sticks and Quincy was happily splashing around in water up to his belly. In the process of playing he somehow got himself in deeper water and had no choice but to swim. He looked so funny trying to keep his entire front end out of the water, but after a few seconds he was swimming away like a natural. I was standing on the shore cheering him on and being quite the pleased doodlemom ( not quite sure what the lab's owner though about that) who was so excited that her webfooted dog could finally swim. He learned how to swim, great, it's 8 hours later and he's still not completely dry,even after doing some blowdrying. If he had decided to do this earlier in the summer he probably would have ended up a shaved doodle.

[Pocket & Beth]

Wonderful story! So nice to hear there is still hope for Pocket, he still only goes up to his belly.

[Suzanne & Jack]

We had the same kind of experience. Jack normally doesn't even like to get his feet wet, but last weekend we went to a dog swim. There he was wading up to his chest and then he even jumped into 3' water. I hope he remembers this next summer.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I just read the post out-loud to Knox. He just doesn't understand what is so great about swimming! He's thinking that Shelby doesn't get ANY attention at home from her mommy and has to prove her worth to her at the dog park!! Ha! After all, her mommy was a collegiate swimmer so what better way to make her proud! Someday we want to see a 'mother-daughter race!!' Seriously, I keep thinking that each time we go to the dog park that that will be the time he learns and then won't get out! Wishful thinking...

[Christine & Shelby]

Shelby hopes her goldendoodle friend Knox reads this. Shelby loves to swim and fetch sticks/balls/whatever from the water. Knox will wade in only to his belly/chest. Shelby wants Knox to swim. Maybe, just maybe - he will see this post and give it a try!

[Christy and Yoda]

This happened to us last summer and now his favorite thing is to swim! We were bewildered that our water dog was scared of the water and then out of the blue one day he just took off!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Way to go Quincy!!! Tara had a similar experience this summer! The stick we were throwing went further than she could wade out to and she just took off swimming like she had been doing it forever!!! DH & I were jumping up and down for joy on the shore and probably looked quite odd to those around us!!! We noticed everyone kind of moved away...:)

[Tessa, Ellie and Wheezy]

Awesome!! I hope next summer ours learns to swim!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm sure you were a proud "Doodle Mom". You may have trouble keeping him out of the water now that he's a swimmer!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That happened to Jack a couple of summers ago, he went in too deep after a ball. When he realized he couldn't stand up and would have to swim, he looked so panic-stricken and floundered around so much that my daughter was getting ready to go in after him! He made it back, but did not look at all natural, and will not go in that deep again for love or tennis balls. I'm glad Quincy decided he likes swimming after all.

[Joyce & Wilson]

Love this!!!