Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

My lab won't swim??!!


pants

Recommended Posts

I have a 11 month old chocolate lab who is afraid to go into the deep water. She loves to go shallow and get her body and feet wet but when she makes her way to deeper water and it is time to swim she turns right around and goes back to shallow water. I have always let her go into the water on her own, never forcing her in. Once the water warms up I am going to try and go in myself and hope that she follows. That is all I can think of. Any other advice? Thanks.

------------------

Link to comment
Share on other sites

She's an "under-retriever".

Ba-dum-dum!

Thank you. G'night!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would think your two best bets are, getting in the water yourself, and getting another older dog and having that dog swim. Throw some dummies for the older dog and have your pup watch that dog fetch them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


First off, make sure the water is warm enough. Right now most water should be fine, but don't introduce them to water in early May or in Lake Superior. What I've always done is start throwing dummies along the edge of a pond or lake, let them splash and run along the shore, bringing the dummy back to you. Keep it fun and keep your excitement up. Eventually throw it out a little deeper, if they like dummmies, they'll go after it. You'll see that at first they don't want to swim, they'll 'bob', hitting the bottom of the pond with their hind feet. Go slow on this, do it over several sessions, make it so they love that retrieving along the edge, throw some up on land too. Also set it up so that the wind is in your face, you don't want that dummy (and dog) going out too deep because of the wind blowing the dummy out (I had that experience with my first lab pup about 15 years ago, I had to wade in and 'rescue' him before he had a bad experience) Also, use the upcoming hot weather to your advantage, on a hot day, take some hikes along a pond and let your dog learn to enjoy the water.

Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't worry too much about that. The best hunting Lab I have owned looking pathetic when swimming out to get a dummy at 1 yr. when I adopted him. I was concerned too for a while but in the end he was a very good water dog.

I have a pool in my back yard and he didn't want any part of it. Shoot a gun off and let him see a duck drop and he would swim through anything.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.