Doodle afraid of the ocean, river or lake....

[Vickie Barter and Nikita]

Hello, I had a purebred lab who happily played in the ocean, river, lake, swimming pool, mud puddle (get the idea?). So after 15 great years with him we decided to get a Labradoodle after he past. I thought okay lab loves water check, standard poodle bred to like water check....no shedding no brainer.

Nikita is 3 years old as of this past January. She is great for baths never gives me a bit of trouble. But I cant get her into the ocean/river/lake to play. I have gotten in with her and she just wants to run away. I think the sound of the waves scares her. I am okay if she never gets in... I am her mommy and love her PERIOD. But when I think back to how happy my lab was and the exercise he got I want her to enjoy it to. But I do not want to scare her in any way.

So my question does anyone have any suggestions?

The one thing I have not had the opportunity to try is.. I have not found another dog playing in the surf when we have been at the ocean/river/lake.

Thank you in advance for the suggestions.

[Ginny Nightingale]

None of my doodles like the water that much and I know two poodles who do not either--we live on a creek and they will play in that--mostly they just walk around and get a drink--it is up to their "knees"--but they will not go past the very shallow part of anything deeper-- I am not sure if anyone has been able to teach their dog to like the water, but having another dog there to show them the ropes sounds like a good idea to me--might work! I think that generalizing a breed's behavior  can be a mistake and there are lots of labs and poodles who do not swim--as a matter of fact, I have a friend with a Portuguese water dog that does not swim!! But they are all still just as loveable-- as you said!