Swimming

samckinner · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:18 pm Post subject: Swimming

Hey All

I was just wondering if any of you have any advice on getting Haus to get into the swimming pool. I think it would be good exercise and cool him off in this Texas heat. He has started to lean over and drink out of the pool, but hasn't attempted to get in.

Thanks

Sundown127 · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject:

Don't force him! Bribe him to get into the shallow end (assuming you have one). Use a toy he really loves, and throw it just in front of him so he has to wade into the shallow end a little to get it. Then, if he is getting it, put it out a tiny bit further each time, until he is eventually swimming.

Another trick I have heard used is to get Cheetos, and throw them into the water (they float!), just slightly in front your Weim, so he had to wade in to get them. We all know Weims will do almost anything for food! Laughing

But basically same idea as with a toy. Very gradually getting them to go in a bit further each time, till they are actually swimming. They are far more likely to enjoy swimming if they first learn to enjoy wading in shallower water.

samckinner · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:44 pm Post subject: Swimming

Sundown127 · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject: Re: Swimming

LunaBrown · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject:

If you can find someone else with a dog that loves to swim, get them to come over and SHOW him how much fun it is... that's what we had to do with Luna, and it worked! Very Happy

krisnkaipo · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:17 am Post subject:

Be careful what you wish for! We taught Wilson to swim and now if there is water he is in it! I turn around for a split second he is in the pool......

He is tennis ball crazy so we threw the ball in the water and he had to have his ball, the rest is history!

DanniGirl · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:30 am Post subject:

I agree with LunaBrown and Sundown127.
Whatever you do, don't force him. Slowly coax him into the water (and praise him for going in on his own) and another dog who loves swimming can help!

weim2mom · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:48 am Post subject:

Wrench · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject:

The more he sees you in the pool the more he will want to go in too. We have a baby pool and Wrench hated it at first...he was so small though he could barely climb in and out on his own. We would get in, and now still do for play and splash around like we are stomping grapes...we look like idiots but have fun...he now loves the pool a ton and just goes and layes down in it at 6 months old all the time....also we have a game of throwing toys for fetch and he would get them and we would leave toys in there and he would get curious enough to save his toys....slowly though...he figured out how to move the water to move the toy to the edge and then go around and get it!

BEANSnBERRY · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject:

Could you take him to a lake or river where other dogs are playing in the water? That's what worked for me, too. Now I can't get him OUT of the water (I think he may actually be part otter! Smile

I'm with everyone who said DO NOT FORCE HIM. Sure fire way to make him hate water.

A lake with a gradual slope and other dogs having a good time, it could take a few trips, but I bet in no time he's playing and swimming too Smile

Pinchc44 · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:09 pm Post subject:

Hey Fellow Texan, I know what you mean about the heat here. Down right HOT!!! Anyway, what we did was go to Lake Grapevine with our girl last year and just went in the water with her with her leash. My husband and I and our GSP/Shar Pei just played in the water and eventually she got in on her own.

Funny way it ended though. On that particular trip Sade was about chest deep in the water just standing there and this little fish was attracted to her her pink belly and came up and started nibbling on her. I swear the look on that dog's face was priceless and she high tailed it out of the water. My husband and I were crying we were laughing so hard. We had to coax her back in and from them on she kept a look out for fish.

Christie & Sade (aka fish bait)

Jameson-Ginger · Puppy Joined: 09 Aug 2008 Posts: 39

I was at a loss how to get Jameson in the water. We ran into some very nice weim owners that said they could get him to swim. They slowly got him out farther and farther into the water using toys and going farther with him with their weim. An hour later and some funny speed boat impressions Jameson was swimming like he has been doing it forever. The worse thing you can do is force them into the water. I would try to find a lake somewhere first to get you weim in.

Imaweimlover · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:06 pm Post subject:

I also agree that forcing him in the water is not a good idea and could scare him enough that he might never go in it. We took Georgia to the "doggy beach" for her first swim (see the Gallery photos). I threw a ball in the water and she jumped in after it, not realizing that it was water. She turned around and jumped right back out. She was very tentative around it for the rest of the visit. She would not follow the other dogs in the water. I had to coax her in by stepping in first. And then she wanted to jump up on me, like "pick me up, Mom!" Each time we've been to the beach since then she has gotten a little more relaxed around the water. I do less and less coaxing and now she follows me right into the water.

cockyweim · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject:

I had to help Blitz into the pool and held him up so that he could get his bearings and really have to help him learn the stroke because Weims are not always natural swimmers. No he dives in and swims around. You can pick him up and carry him in and hold him while he get over the panic and then stay with him until he gets the hang of it.

JacksMommy · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject:

We are also fortunate enough to live on a lake that starts off quite shallow.

With Jack, I held him the same as my 8 month old son when he was a puppy, and we'd go in the water together.

Now Jack LOVES water and like many other weims, when he sees it - he's quick to run for it.

.... Even those disgusting ponds full of duck poop and other ungodly scum and stinky bacteria!!!