View Full Version : Swimmers???
redneckgirl
06-16-2005, 05:33 PM
I know labs and German Shorhairs love to swim but what other breeds love the water? I'm a big swimmer, floater, fisher and need a water dog. Does anyone have a Austalian Cattle that loves the water?? Is it common for them?
gaddylovesdogs
06-16-2005, 05:40 PM
It really depends on the dog, not so much the breed. My canaan dog mix loves swimming, just as my lab does, and my shepherd mix likes it OK.
BigDog2191
06-16-2005, 06:02 PM
The only breed I know of that's a MAJOR swimmer would be a Lab.
Also, Newfoundlands were used to rescue swimmers and I hear they really do love water.
So, Newfoundlands is another...
Saje has one if you want to ask questions.
bubbatd
06-16-2005, 06:43 PM
My Uncle had a GS that loved to swim....my cousins have spaniels that love to swim...my goldens loved to swim , but my Chip must not have been introduced when a pup as he only wades !!! Whimp !
BigDog2191
06-16-2005, 07:18 PM
Rocky hates water--except to drink it, of course! :D
Patrick and Lino
06-16-2005, 07:19 PM
A blue heeler (Australian cattle dog) loves to swim, but like all dogs, you have to introduce it to water as young as possible. A fear of water is something that you will never change when it is older. Oh yeah, especially with salt water. I had a Germ shep that loved to swim in fresh water, in her first experience with salt water she drank about a litre and didnīt want anything more to do with it
I have an Austrailian Huskey or is he an Alaskan Shepherd, any way he likes to play in the water. On his first river trip he launched right of the raft and he had never even seen that much water.
Newfies LOVE WATER I have never met a Newf that dosent take to water like rice.
It just depends on the dog as an individual. I own 3 Newfoundland dogs and not one of them will or can swim. They will wade and avoid water at any possible risk :rolleyes: I live by the ocean, and we walk by lakes and brooks daily, so they have ample opportunity. My Rottweiler loves to swim.
I have also met many Lab's that will not swim. I know of one man who owns a Doberman who swims daily with his dog, Dobes are not normally water dogs,but, I would certainly rather see that dog rather than any Newf's around here if I were drowning! :D I have a friend who has 9 Newf's and not one of them can swim either.
I have a newfie cross and from everything I've read about them they need to be introduced to the water properly. It's not natural in all of them but if you get in there with them and teach them how to swim (the hesitant ones) most of them will love it. I read a book about the breed. Regardless, Maverick loves the water and can't get enough of it. Although with his new haircut it might be a bit cold in the river right now!
All my dogs love to swim except the corgi! The husky is usually the first one in and then the dobe does bunny hops out into the river untill he just goes under. I've always had mine in the water since they were little so otherwise I don't think any of them would like it. The dobe just doesn't like waves,I think they confuse him!
bubbatd
06-17-2005, 10:02 PM
I'm hoping with our doggy trip this summer that Chip will learn to enjoy the water. With Hunter loving it so... I plan to take one of those weiner floats and then slowly get him to come to me.... I've never been in the water with him beyond knee high. Hopefully, he will enjoy by the 5th water day...if not, I love him anyway !!!
Grammy, I read that (some) newfies are taught by you going into the water with them and when they have to swim you sort of scoop up their bum with your arm and stay with them, holding them up until they get the idea. I guess they don't get so freaked out that way. I don't know. Maverick always went in the water. He didn't swim at first but he got braved and braver...
Love4Pits
06-18-2005, 02:45 AM
A few of my Huskies absolutly love the water and dive into my pond every chance they get in the summer. All the others would rather have their toe nails clipped lol. Most of my Chins enjoy the water. Zeus though he hates a bath love to wade in murky mucky pond water lol. My other pitbull Tundra could care less she will swim but it is'nt really her thing and she along swims a bit to cool off then jumps out. Babe my thrid pitbull I have yet to really get her into the pond im almost afraid to with her pretty white coat lol but she does enjoy laying and I mean LAYING down in the kiddy pool i have for the dogs and lapping up water she will lay there for hours on end if i let her. She also enjoys the hose sprayed on her. My friend Jamie has an Akita Buzz who avoids the water at all costs and I have yet to see a Akita who did enjoy the water. Our once feral stray Maxis is still far to timid to even introduce him to swimming though im sure he has in his days in the wild. We have yet to even give him a bath trying not to freak him out.
Dakotah_2009
06-18-2005, 08:28 AM
i have an Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler) and he likes the water...he likes to take baths too, the first dog that has ever liked bathes. but Levi likes the water, but if I haven't have introduce him to the water I don't think he would have liked it.
bubbatd
06-18-2005, 12:50 PM
Saje...we'll go at it slowly....I've only waded with him.....the float may give him some confidence along with me holding him.
poodlesmom
06-18-2005, 01:17 PM
Standard poodles & Portuguese water dogs generally love the water. Many different spaniels, Chesapeake Bay retrievers (altho they aren't the breed for everyone). Out of all the dogs I have had over the years the only ones who were water-phobic were the Great Danes.
The key to most dogs is a low-keyed, gradual introduction. The first year they may not do much actual swimming but with patience and plenty of opportunity most will. Making it a big time fun event with toys and laughter I have found also helps alot. :)
redneckgirl
06-18-2005, 02:35 PM
Do ya'll have pics of your dogs swimming??
3furkids
06-18-2005, 03:04 PM
My friend has 2 porties (Portuguese Water Dogs) and the adult is into water sports and goes swimming often. Here are pics.
The baby
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5db02b3127cce9192367667f200000016108CbM2rdy0b-
The adult (X-mas pic)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cc31b3127cce9dcf4520111400000016108CbM2rdy0b-
The baby is a wavy and the adult a curly.
Saje, I just wanted to explain to you that with my Newfoundland dogs not being able to swim has nothing to do with their not being introduced to water properly. These dogs are bred for the show ring, not for proper behavior conformation, the conformation of my dogs is completely wrong for swimming. These dogs are big, poofy and are being bred more for being pretty rather than being proper for their job. My dogs with the conformation they have would most likely drown from the excess coat.
I have had Newf's in the past (a few years ago), which I used to partake in water rescue with, we had fun with it. I have owned Newfoundland dogs for the past 25 years and I have found a big difference in the way they are being bred.
Just by reading a book on dog breeds is in no way a true reference to the breed. Some breeds the breed clubs try to continue breeding for behavioral conformation, where some other breed clubs are breeding only for a fantasy pretty conformation...whatever is winning in the show rings. Unfortunately the Newfoundland dog breed is suffering right now, unless you get a Newf from someone who is still breeding for the proper conformation the chances of your getting a Newf that cannot swim is pretty high.
For myself, my rescues and mongrels have been my best swimming buddies. I would suggest anyone wanting a good swimming companion to go to your local rescue and get a retriever mix, poodle mix or a Newf mix. ;)
Renee750il
06-20-2005, 09:06 AM
I didn't realize things were so bad in the Newf world, Athe. Why, or why can't these breeds be appreciated for what they can do and what they are instead of an arbitrary standard of "pretty" that has nothing to do with anything? :(
Renee750il, with the Newf's they are breeding for CKC and AKC show are being bred with conformation that's not proper for the job they were intended for, and they are certainly not proper conformation for swimming. Sometimes what happens is a big beautiful dog starts doing all the winning, then every one else tries to breed for the same look. The dogs I own have done fantastic in the show ring and my male was specialized, they all got their championships in 3 countries very quickly. When I look at them I see poor conformation (I'm not going to complain too much as I got the dogs for free and the breeder takes care of all expenses, can't get a better deal than that :) ). The only thing that concerns me is that once you start breeding without the proper behavior conformation for the shape of the dog, the breed as a whole starts to fall apart. I have seen Newf's that have coats so long they resemble Afghan Hounds! some of the Newf's you see in the ring are completely scissors all over. One of my Newf's has proper length coat, my girls have too much coat,much too long and poofy...but, it's what is winning.
Hope that explains it a little. There are still some breeders who are still breeding for proper conformation but sadly they are not winning in the show ring.
Renee750il
06-20-2005, 11:57 AM
The same thing has happened to the German Shepherd, the Doberman, the Rottweiler . . . the list could, I'm sure go on and on. It's happening as we speak to breeds like the Border Collie, the Collie, the Australian Shepherd . . . The true Fila people will fight tooth and nail to keep our dogs from being recognized by the AKC and its like. I dread seeing what is going to happen to the Neopolitan Mastiff since its recognition.
bubbatd
06-21-2005, 12:46 AM
It's sad....I noticed this in the 80s with the Goldens.....shorter legs, etc etc. I read a report of a Golden judge that really put this down too. She hated the shorter gait, cut flags etc etc....did my heart good !
I heard the border collie club made quite a fuss when the AKC first tried to recognize the breed. They drug their heels the whole way knowing that the kennel clubs would ruin the breed. I was talking to a lady who was showing down the States, the judge put a border collie with a square head up. She went up one side of him and down the other :) she said a border collie should not have a definite stop etc. etc. I was quite proud of her for supporting her breed and making sure the judges don't ruin it.
I think we have to rethink a few things when showing. Make sure the dog still has the proper behavior conformation to go with the shape of the dog. Put the dog through some breed field tests.
gaddylovesdogs
06-21-2005, 10:22 AM
I have a border collie. She is a rescue. If I were going to purchase one from a breeder (which, BTW, I wouldn't), I would be looking for a working BC, not a show BC. They were bred to herd, they are herding dogs. They don't need to be gorgeous, they already are. Show dogs should also be what they were bred to be.
3furkids
06-22-2005, 10:02 AM
BC are not recognized by the CHC here in Canada and BC breeders and owners are happy with this. They don't want them shown and losing their herding instinct.
Luv_them_doggies
06-22-2005, 11:49 AM
english springer spaniels
yanya
06-22-2005, 07:15 PM
My little Corgi loved to swim last year, but this year she only jumps on the ring of the pool for a quick drink and then hops down.
nicco
06-23-2005, 05:42 AM
My great dane loves to swim.But she only swims if I'm in the water too.Otherwise she just goes a little with her feet and then back to me :D
I don't know if it's true but I've heard that corgies and bassetts and dogs like this don't swim very well and they might even drown because of their little legs and big bodies...
Kiss Kiss
Nicco
Ratboy
06-23-2005, 11:36 AM
My friend's PitBull loves to go swimming in Lake Erie when they go out on Grandpa's boat. They throw the ball, and he goes and gets it. If they don't toss it, he takes the ball from person to person and bugs them until they do. He doesn't swim well at all though. Not enough blubber to float at all, and the feet don't move a lot of water. Grandpa's black Lab is a rocket compared to him in the water, and gets the ball first 100% of the time. The pit swims up to him and takes it out of his mouth and brings it back to the boat. He never seems to tire of the game. He caught a Walleye one time while swmming. It wasn't very big, but he sure was proud of himself.
frznbuns
06-23-2005, 11:54 AM
I have 3 dobermans. Raven the oldest likes the water. She is a good swimmer and loves the water hose. Spirit will swim if he needs to fetch something but otherwise does not like water. Gypsy can't swim a lick!! She will go into the water to play fetch but only if she does not have to swim.
All three hate the rain!! Even if it is drizzling a little. I think that they think they are going to MELT!! :D LOL I have had to hold an umbrella over them to get them to go potty as I am getting wet! Oh well, that is a Dobie for ya! :D
Now my nephew has a yellow Lab that is about 15 months. You can't get into the pool without her trying to SAVE you. She thinks she is the only one who can swim!! She has been doing this since she was 4 months old.
kirby
07-21-2005, 12:26 AM
thats great ha ha ha! I just took my pup swimmin fo rhte first time on saturday, he's 12 weeks and is a natural, he did a great job, but i hear that heeelers are really good swimmers :D
Sprout
07-21-2005, 01:18 AM
Just get a young pound dog and introduce the water to them when theyre young, it really depends on the dog :)
But Golden Retreivers like to, if youre looking for some 'pure' dog or something
My dog loves swimming and playing in puddles but hates baths. Maybe it has something to do with the porcelain in the tub, I don't know. It took him a while to get him used to the water, almost a month's worth of going to the lake 2x a day before he realized he could swim. Now I can't keep him out of the water!
Renee/Fila: From what I've heard, the ASCA fought long and hard to keep the AKC out of the breed and succeeded up until the early 90's. Now there is a definite distinction between working lines and show lines and it's stupid. The dog that moves "right" in the ring would be worthless in the pasture and the heavier, longer coats and bone structure contribute to that. Not to mention the color affair people have with merles now; it's loooong been a standard coat color, but a lot of the BYB's and puppy mills havn't figured out that breeding two merles = lethal whites. There are too many blind or deaf dogs in rescue these days because of it.