how do they act around a POOL?
Here is my question... we have a built in pool. My 12 year old Bichon never had any interest in it. I always leave all the sliders around my house open (they all face the pool) during the cooler months. It just occurred to me that Lucky may want to jump in the pool. Do OES typically like to swim? I just pictured a 110 pound dog jumping in and then running through my house!!!! Not a great visual 
Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I teach him not to go into the pool unless "invited" or should I show him how to get in the pool so that he knows how to get out in case he ever fell in. Hmmmmm I really don't want a huge wet dog running through the house 
As usual, thanks for any help...... |
|
|
Some dogs take to it naturally and quickly. I remember three who played in the pool daily...in fact it was hard keeping them out of the pool on hot days......and Phoenix has plenty of hot days 
Others are terrified of water. How do the baths go? If dog is calm in the wash tub, you might want to start with a kiddy pool, just walking through it, throw in a favorite toy, etc. If there's no problem there, then carefully invite the dog into the water, one step at a time. Day one is paws, when comfortable there, sit on first step, etc. If you have kids and the dog loves the kids, this may be a mute point, dog and kids seem to work it out. Under no circumstances leave the dog unattened around the pool. Even if they know the step....and that takes time to teach...they may get too tired or panic to reach it. That's why pools need gates! Look into a doggie life preserver. My MO loves water until it comes to her ribs and then it's panic time. |
| My personal fear would be if they learn it is ok to be in or around a pool and they fall in when the cover is on they'll get pulled under and drown.
Mine are taught they aren't even allowed on the approx 2 feet band of concrete around the pool. |
| I bathed him 3 times before I started with a mobile groomer. He doesn't even seem to notice the water. He just kind of looks like....hmmm is it over yet? He doesn't LOVE it and play in it, he just sort of sits and even tried to lay down Sort of like in the rain..it doesn't faze him. My Bichon HATES the rain as well as the pool.
As far as pool covers go....we don't use them in Florida. We did up north, but down here the pools are always uncovered. The steps aren't like those of a ladder, they are in the shallow end of the pool that you can gradually get into and out of the water. Honestly I really prefer he doesn't go in the pool...it just seems like it would be a disater. HOWEVER..I do have to say, these dogs are awesome! They just seem so laid back and easy going. Just a ho hum type attitude. Yes we have kids, 2 boys ages 9 & 7. The 7 year old and Lucky are inseperable...they are best friends! Any one else have doggie pool stories? |
| WE live in Florida too and have a pool. My two - one 10 weeks and the other 5 months never have been in the pool. nor are they ever alone on the patio-pool area . I am so afraid of them failing in. Eventually maybe teach them -if they show interest- where the steps are. right now they are not interested - just look at the pool. at night when the light is on, gigi barks at the pool.
again, they are never allowed outside by the pool alone. |
| Yep - Morgan fell into my sister's pool within 60 seconds of being taken outside near it - he fell in the deep end and had to be ushered to the steps - he was terrified after that. Marley kept drinking out of it. Neither of these are good scenarios.
That was about a year and a half ago. Now Morgan loves to walk into the lake where we live, Marley not so much. If Morgan has a vest on he will swim. Like it was said - the dog should never be unsupervised around water. |
| Sammy had her first experience with a pool when she was 6 months old. She had no clue and walked right in and promptly started drowning. My boys rescued her within seconds and we all laughed at her sorry state and thought she would learn and understand the concept of a body of water.
Noop...within minutes, she walked right into it again and couldn't swim if her life depended on it. She did have a long coat and it must have dragged her down. That night she threw up all the water she swallowed in her crate. She never did learn to swim but she did learn not to step into it again. Loving and Missing my sweet Sammy girl.  |
| Lulu and Ellie love to swim. Lulu learned to swim in Lake Michigan while I lived in Chicago. We would go to doggie beach and after watching all of the other dogs in the lake, she eventually joined them. I think it was much easier for her to learn in that she was able to feel the bottom and if we went out further she was swimming. There was also a great sand bar that we would walk/swim out to and once we go reached the sand bar it was only about 1 to 1 1/2 feet deep. Boy did the dogs have a great time.
Now Ellie is a different story. I took her to swimming lessons but already had a good feeling that she was going to be a great swimmer. She loves the pool and would be in it all day if I would let her. Like everyone else has mentioned, she is not allowed in the pool unless I am out there with her. I am a big "Nervous Nellie" about one of them getting scared and then not be able to get to the step. My pool has about 4 feet that is only about 8 inches deep so Ellie would always play in that before I taught her to swim. Almost like a kiddie pool. Your visual of a wet dog running through your house is a very common occurence at our house. Thank gooodness for hardwood floors and the beach towel that is always there to clean up the water. I have posted pictures of my two swimming. |
I'm curiuos...did you mean you took the dog for swimming lessons?  That is the best idea I ever heard but didn't know swimming courses were offered for dogs...where did you find such a thing?
I would love for my dogs to learn to swim! I live near the water, lots of canals that lead to the Ocean, and lots of parks with deep Bays also leading to the Ocean. But I am freightened my dogs may not know how to swim... You can e mail me privately - although I think many people would be interested to learn where they can get swimming lessons for their doggys! Diane |
| I took Ellie to a place called Urban Tails in Houston. They offer free puppy swimming lessons once a month. I thought we would try it out and see what it was like. Urban Tails is a kennel that offers day care and grooming and a few other things. They have an indoor pool with a beach entry and actually have instructors there. Not sure what constitutes a dog swim teacher. Never the less we gave it a try. I thought if Ellie needed more lessons than I would get her registered. I think they offer the class as a way to promote their facility. In our class, we had several dogs that had been going for several weeks and you could tell the joy and excitement the dogs and more so the owners had when their dog got into the pool and actually swam. It was a very interactive class meaning the owner could get into the pool as well and was encouraged too.
I would check around to see if any of your local kennels/doggie day care facilities have a pool that might offer swimming lessons. Or if you're in the Houston area, come on over and we'll teach your dog how to swim. Lulu and Ellie would love to have another swimming buddy. We recently had a giant schnauzer come over to swim with us and he didn't know how to swim at first but loved playing in water. After a while we couldn't get him out of the pool and boy was he a very very big dog! He made Ellie and Lulu look like guppies. |
| We have a pool and 2 sheepdogs--one has nothing to do with the pool unless we are in it and the other one likes to go down 3 steps and dunk his head in the pool to blow bubbles. He too will not actually swim unless we are in the pool. I would really prefer that Baxter (the one that likes to blow bubbles would stay OUT completely!) After grooming it is NOT a good thing for him to do. With my two I think that because we do not encourage them to play in the pool--they really don't have an interest in actually 'swimming' unless we are with them.
I believe it does depend on the dog and how you introduce them to 'what the pool is for'. They will occasionally drink from the pool which I totally discourage-by keeping a big tub of really fresh water for them to drink. When given free access I take my chances with Baxter--Baley I don't worry as he has no real interest. |
| Our Drez used to LIVE for the summer so she could swim. When my husband put the steps in every spring (above ground pool, but portable steps, not a ladder), Drez was the first one to go in, no matter the water temp. She had to be in the pool when even just one person was in, because she had to "herd" them. If we kept her on the deck behind the gate because we wanted to swim alone, she would bark her fool head off and run back and forth. I loved that she loved to swim to much, because it really did help her pain in her later years, with a bad backside and hips.
Now Sammie, on the other hand, so far hates the pool. We've tried her in it a few times, and she swims, but it's a panic swim - like, get me outta here!! I agree that as long as the pool is open and accessible, supervision is a must, whether they can swim or not. Do I understand correctly that you keep your doors open, as in - no screens? Couldn't do that here - too many flying nasties would come in the house. |
yes we keep it open as in no screens, but the whole pool and lanai area is under a screened bird cage so bugs and such can't get it. It is pretty much the norm to have a bird cage around your pool in florida. It makes the lanai really like an outside extension of your house. If I knew how to post a pic I would show you but I haven't really got that far with posting yet  |
| Bella has never been close to a pool. We have a friend with a sheepie that onlygoes into the pool to "save" people. Charles, the OES< gets very upset if someone is underwater and will dive in to "rescue" them. However, if people are not in the pool Charles treats it like a potted plant.
The only water Bella gets close to at our house comes from a hose. |
| LOL, I read your post with amusement. Today while I was chilling out in cool spa, minding my own business... *splash* in came a flying mass of hurling sheepdog, in coat. My spa is deep enough so she had to swim in circles or sit on the step. And swim she did.
We just left the Sierras where she had a pond in the yard. She was in it at least once every hour - it is VERY messy. So here is hoping your dog doesn't want to swim. My experience is that dogs love it obsessively or try to avoid it. I think it is a hardwired thing. Good luck! PS Every swimming dog I have ever had has always been able to find their way in and out of a pool, pond, river and tub. But if in doubt, they do have those critter ramps that might be helpful. And certainly if you can train yours to avoid the area, I would! |
oesmom2 wrote: WE live in Florida too and have a pool. My two - one 10 weeks and the other 5 months never have been in the pool. nor are they ever alone on the patio-pool area . I am so afraid of them failing in. Eventually maybe teach them -if they show interest- where the steps are. right now they are not interested - just look at the pool. at night when the light is on, gigi barks at the pool.
again, they are never allowed outside by the pool alone. I concur...lol!! All OES owners do know sometimes they um..surprise us with their antics and you never know!! I would be careful... |
QuailTrail wrote: PS Every swimming dog I have ever had has always been able to find their way in and out of a pool, pond, river and tub. But if in doubt, they do have those critter ramps that might be helpful. And certainly if you can train yours to avoid the area, I would!
Sad story about a dog who was not able to find his way out of the pool: http://familydog.yuku.com/topic/18266/t ... -this.html  |
Valerie wrote: Sad story about a dog who was not able to find his way out of the pool::(
Wow, how completely tragic. I would never feel comfortable letting my dog roam unsupervised. I am interested that the rescue felt this was the "perfect home", as they opted not to use the invisible fencing. Rescues always take a while to settle in, before they show their true behaviors. So I am not surprised the guys went for a stroll when left to their own devices, even though they had never strayed before. It is heartbreaking this baby didn't have the benefit of a watchful eye on him. Despite the posters assumption, we don't know what really happened. One doesn't know if the dog couldn't swim; find his way out; or succumbed to some other tragedy, since there was no supervision. I am guessing they didn't do a necropsy either. So very, very sad. |
| Well we've had Lucky since June 7th and every day....a dozen times per day we walk right by the pool on our way out to potty and so far he has shown zero interest in the pool. Even when the kids are swimming, he doesn't seem to want to go in....thank goodness!!! I'm so hoping he stays that way like my Bichon. 12 years and my little one still has ZERO interest in the pool!!! Maybe Lucky is going to copy the behavior of Teddy. Teddy is definitely....what Ceaser (dog whisperer) would call, a balanced dog. I truly think so far it has helped tremendously in the training of Lucky!! |
| Friend in Florida has the bird cage around the pool. Sheepdog swims laps with them every day. Otherwise she won't go in the water without her uprights. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|