Crouton's First Swim-Video Link

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Crouton

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I took Crouton to her first swimming class today! She's 9 and has been scared of water her whole life (tripped into lake while hiking). The whole lesson she was just splashing wildly for the ledge but at the very end I was able to get this video of her finally swimming for the first time in her life!! Albeit she hated the whole experience, as you will see from her face, and also probably hates me for it. Well here's the youtube link.

Ps. Wet Shelties look like a bit like drowned rats, especially blue merles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNEhBKteWEs
 
She did great!

How long was the swimming lesson?

My Sadie does great in the water and really likes swimming, but Ginny just seems panic stricken and never seems to get over it. I'm not sure if I should keep trying or if I'm just making her fear worse. :rolleyes2:
 
Ha! How cute! Crouton does look like a drowned rat. :wink2: I would post a picture of my Buffy looking the same, but then she would be all embarrassed. My theory is that most Shelties dislike water unless they have a really positive experience in puppyhood or are pretty daring.

I take Buffy to the dog beach relatively frequently, and we've actually been to most of the dog beaches around the Chicago area. She has never actually gone in the water despite having plenty of opportunity. She hasn't had any traumatic experiences in water, unless you count baths in my bathtub. (Buffy would probably count those as traumatic experiences.... :lol:)

At the dog beach, I have seen her go into the water about ankle deep, but that is it! She also drinks the water until I clap at her and tell her to stop. But I can't imagine her going into the water voluntarily. I think she treats the water kind of like a big scary dog - give it plenty of space and don't mess with it!

But on the other hand, Ty down the street has gone swimming voluntarily (with his life jacket). He's also a Sheltie, but he's much more of a daredevil than Buffy is. Silly boys...
 
OntarioSheltie said:
She did great!

How long was the swimming lesson?
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The lesson was 30 minutes the trainer said some only need one but she probably needs a few more, also she said 30 minutes of swimming is like a 3 hour hike. I believe her because Crouton was panting hard some from nervous energy.

Diana said:
Ha! How cute! Crouton does look like a drowned rat. :wink2: I would post a picture of my Buffy looking the same, but then she would be all embarrassed. My theory is that most Shelties dislike water unless they have a really positive experience in puppyhood or are pretty daring.
Click to expand...

Yeah doesn't she maybe she doesn't like getting wet because we always tell her she looks funny and skinny. Your theory is accurate teacher said different breeds do better in the pool but also it's the individual to, as she had a lab that was scared of wate :eek2:. Crouton though was so scared at one point she was hugging the instructor (you know the head on shoulder kind of hug) and the teacher couldn't help giving her face some kisses.
 
Awww...poor little puppy. She did awesome but yeah, that tortured look on her face slays me :lol: You'd think with all that fur it would feel good to be in the water...maybe it weighs them down or something? That's a cool set up - is it specific to teaching swimming or is it for rehab?

When Clancy was a teenager, he tried to walk across my mom's swimming pool cover....he made it almost half way and back before it gave under his weight and he went right under...Thank heavens I was there to haul him out by the scruff of his neck (literally!) because my mom wouldn't have been able to. He appeared to blame the whole incident on me somehow, rather than being grateful I saved his life. Shelties!
 
Aww! I can't help but think she is super cute!

My two are the same way...not into swimming at all!

One of mine will wade in at the dog park, but absolutely hates swimming (we made him do it at the lake). My other one loves water coming out of the hose or the sprinkler, but I doubt she'd wade in on her own.

You've inspired me to take them to the beach soon to see how they'd do.
 
I've never heard of swimming lessons for dogs! I've always thought it just came naturally! (I mean the action, not necessarily the liking of it).

When Indy fell (jumped???) off the dock, he seemed to do a pretty good job of swimming on his own. Can't say he liked it much though....though the silly pup still walks too close to the edge, and I'm sure will land in there again one day.

I wouldn't worry, except the current on the river is so strong, he could end up downriver even before I knew he was gone! Makes me think I really MUST get both dogs practising getting to shore.
 
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