Can all labs swim?

clairiscrazy · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:49 am Post subject:

hi welcome to this great site

my late choccy lab HATED water she would not go near it and when i needed to bathe her she was one unhappy lab..

but the 2 labs i have now wow just try keep them out of it..lol..

gazette · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 3:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks all,
we took Rubino last night. After an edgy start, she became confident really quickly. Didn't want to go home in the end!
Thanks again for your advice, you're a pretty friendly bunch.

CharlieBrewer · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 4:01 pm Post subject:

We have many different breeds of dog that come into the pool at work - including plenty of labradors - the majority of them can swim, however some may just not want too! Wink

Thunderballs · Account Deactivated

For my money, if your lab cant or wont readilly swim there is something wrong with them.

I actively took my pub off the lead from 12 weeks and she was introduced to water straight away. A swimming lab is a real joy and great fun.

While everyone elses dog is poncing around at the beach or park, a swimming lab will be straight in that water putting on a great show for everyone.

You need to be careful to introduce them to water in a progressive manner and not pressure them into water that is too cold in the early stages, but they should love that water.

You see so few dogs swimming at the beach or in the park so get your labrador in there - it is what they were bred for !

rosiesmum · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:43 pm Post subject: swimming

hi

We got our lab Rosie in July, she's 14 months and initially she didn't like water at all. I don't think she'd had any expereince of it. We walked her beside a river, she would go down and sniff and run back as the water would come in. This graduated to paddling, just enough to get her toes wet and out again. We walked her beside a lake sometime later, expecting more of the same, but my husband starting skimming stones, whereupon we hear a spash and rosie is in. I think instinct took over. Once she had been in once that was it, we couldn't keep her out. It seems you had a similar experience. Bet you were proud when she took the plunge!! Swimming is great for them, our vet reckons that swimming is particularly great exercise for labs as they can have problems with hips etc. Health benefits aside it is fantastic watching a lab swim,they do it so well.

Very Happy

Amandajvv · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:55 pm Post subject:

If your lab wont swim, there is certainly nothing wrong with them! They instinctively know how to swim but may not be very good at it to start with. They are all different and some like it and a few don't. Obviously how you introduce them to water plays a factor but don't force something if the dog is uncomfortable doing it.

dandog · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:34 pm Post subject:

Dan was just the same as Rosie! When he was little he was very wary of water and didn't want to go in. It was at our training class that a 'puppy dummy' was dropped in a very shallow ditch to encourage him to go in but obviously we were very aware of not giving him a fright. He was so funny - he was tippy-toeing into the water and seeing how far he could stretch his head out and reach the dummy! Well, that didn't last long Shocked

Now he literally leaps in to any water - all four legs off the ground - you can almost hear him going 'wwwhhheeeeee'! I love watching him swim but I do get a bit neurotic walking him where I know there is water in case he can't get out so I have to watch out a bit.

Have to say that I don't agree with you Thunderballs - why should there be anything wrong with a lab who can't or won't swim? Personally I'm not a particularly good swimmer and don't really enjoy it but I don't think there's a lot wrong with me Rolling Eyes

woody · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 6:43 pm Post subject:

At the training class we go to there is a nearly 2 yr old standard poodle (never been trained before and lovable but loopy!). I was speechless this week when her owner invited my lab Cara to her dog's 2nd birthday party. It is to be a swimming party at a special dog swimming pool. Apparently you can get in the water with your dog if you want to, and they have lifejackets for dogs not confident in the water.
I think that I may have to have some other urgent appointment that day, it doesn't appeal to me at all!
Have any of you come across a doggy swimming party? My son has been speculating about whether they would get party bags at the end!

BuddysBuddy · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:40 am Post subject: Dogs choosing not to swim!

Buddy can swim, but right from the start as soon as he got about ten feet from the bank he just turned right round and came back. This happened even with two other Labs swimming out about forty feet to retrieve. Now he will not swim. He loves the water and paddling, but is happy to let other dogs swim out for objects. He really does just stand and whine if a tennis ball goes out too far!

I refute any claims there is anything "wrong" with hiim - he just has his own opinions! It has certainly been his own decision - which I respect - and his introduction to water was pleasant and relaxed.

Maybe he can't do a thing with his fur once he's washed it?

Julie & Buddy

Topseyt · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 3:44 pm Post subject:

Charlie loves water, and the muddier the better. There are some places during our walks where I just have to put the lead on him, or he comes home grey.

He wasn't so sure about the sea when we took him to the coast, and seemed afraid of the waves, but he will dive into just about anything else and can swim quite nicely.

Helen