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

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Vern loves to swim. Fudge is more hesitant. When we got our pontoon boat, we added a dog ramp for them. Neither dog will jump off the boat into the water, but they like going up and down the ramp. I think a ramp or stairs would definitely help. Fudge also likes swimming more when we are in the water with her. Good luck!!

[Pat and Traveler]

Trav loves to go into water, but only up to his belly.  He has no desire to get that wet stuff on his back!  He did accidently fall off a rock into a pond one time, trying to get a stick, and had to swim to shore, but he sure didn't do it on purpose!

[Lynda Kamrath]

I guess I will find out next week.  I have a swim lesson arranged for my ALD at a canine rehab center.  The therapist takes him into a pool and teaches him how to get in and out of the pool.  Then I can take him to the therapy pool and throw things for him to fetch in the water but cannot get into the pool with him.  He loves running in the surf at the ocean but I have not seen him swim yet.  I have been tempted to take him  in the hot tub when we are going to change the water and it has been cooled down a little.  Apparently they keep the water in the therapy pool a little warmer for dogs because their temps are a little higher than ours.  You learn something new every day.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Ollie does not like water and will run and hide on the deck when we drag out Cubbie's little kiddie pool.

[Sally]

Duncan doesn't like water either. He won't even step in a puddle!!!! He's a really dainty drinker so as not to get his beard wet and will not go further than the sand at the beach. He will make it to the wet sand but that's only because he's so fixated on scent and his nose is to the ground. I've accepted this too. I have a little hard plastic pool which he won't go in. It's ok. I just wet his belly with a wash cloth when it's hot outside and we stay out for limited times during the peak sun hours. I too wish he'd just enjoy the water but it's not worth forcing or traumatizing him. I don't even bathe him. He only gets bathed by the groomer who's been grooming him since he was a pup. It's routine for them but if i try and bathe him he freaks out.

[Martha Hanson]

These comments have all been so helpful!  Bailey seems to like the water ok. She's fine with baths and she enjoys playing in the water as long as she can keep her feet on the ground.  The comments about steps and ramps have really helped so I think we'll give that a try.  We would never force her but she gets so hot in the summer and she looks at us so longingly when we're playing in the pool I think it's worth some renewed effort.  Thanks everyone!

[Richard Crowe]

Holly was terrified of the pool until her buddy, our daughter's Lab, came to visit.  Shadow, the Lab, didn't like the pool either but soon they started swimming together and having a load of fun. If Shadow is not visiting, Holly will jump into the pool with us, swim for a couple of minutes and then call it quits.  However Holly and Shadow will swim together for hours, especially if there is a ball to chase...