Dog Community

Swamp Thing

Posted : 11/14/2006 4:52:42 PM

Here's a new dilema. Dutch, the adopted 7 month old chocolate lab now likes to jet out into the swamp after going outside to do his business.
He gets to go on an hour walk every morning and plays in the yard now and then during the day, so he gets decent exercise. Unfortunately the yard is not fenced in. It is an acre bordered by trees on two sides, the road in the front and the swamp is in the corner in the back. It is very thick black goo that in some places goes up to his chest. He looks like everthing is just fine and then proceeds to go very quickly right into the swamp when he is done pooping. "Whoa", which works off leash in the fields doesn't stop him. "Come" even in the sweetest voice holding the best treat doesn't work to get him out. Today he only came out because he heard me open the car door to get a leash. He thought he was missing a ride in the car.
Any suggestions? I may have to invest in a fence at some point. But for now should I try to walk the perimeter with him on a leash and give him a correction when he strays out of bounds? And what about washing him off. He freaks with the cold water of the hose. Do they make a dog sprayer that holds warm water? Yikes. Thank goodness I found this forum. I feel like I have a support group!

Xerxes

Posted : 11/14/2006 9:46:24 PM

Well of course he's going into the swamp. That's just plain fun. The way I see it, labs are like permanent 8 year old boys. They want to get dirty and have FUN! Bathtime?? Forgeddabout it! This dog needs to play in the water and run, in his mind. You've got to find a way to tap into and redirect that energy.

Elaine

Posted : 11/15/2006 8:40:16 AM

On his morning walk we go off leash into the woods/fields behind my home way past the swamp in a different direction. He goes swimming in the ponds we pass so he is getting some of his yips out.
Are there other ways of meeting his needs for this kind of play while at home? I don't think a kiddy pool will cut it. I think part of it is the sniffing and exploring that he enjoys. But maybe a kiddy pool will make it easier to wash off when he does get into the muck.

Xerxes

Posted : 11/15/2006 8:53:19 AM

The kiddie pool idea is a great one, and yes I think it will help him as well as helping you when it's bathtime.

I do think you need to get a fence. Teaching him the boundaries the way you were suggesting will not work. There needs to be a physical boundary. You could try the underground fencing, but I'm not sure how that will fit into the budget.

Lynn

Posted : 11/15/2006 8:55:04 AM

It sounds like it might be a bit dangerous. Even if it's not visually dangerous, please do be aware of Giardia. The Whole Dog Journal recently had a discussion about how most vets don't think dog's get this bad bug, but in fact many dogs do get it and can make them very sick. If he starts showing the signs of this from drinking this water, then you will need to have your vet send off samples to a lab. The article said most vets who do acknowledge a dog might get it, might try and diagnosis in their own labs, but that they really can't see it in their own labs - the sample has to be sent off. Just a heads up on this just in case.

Keep up with regualar heartworm pills and testing with that stagnant gook in your backyard.

But honestly, I wouldn't want my dog playing in black goo. Running water is one thing. Stagnant water is another. Black goo is really another catagory all together. I wouldn't let him get in this at all. Who knows what kind of bad bugs beside giardeia might be lurking and growing in there?

brookcove

Posted : 11/15/2006 2:10:24 PM

Oh my goodness, let me tell you about Giardia. Never mind, I'll spare you the details. It's a perennial curse of the goosedog handler. You bet dogs get this. They do basically have to wallow in the water, however - but of course that's exactly what we are discussing. [

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What I would do it put out a kiddie pool (might be hard to find this time of year - try online). Get a nice big one! Fill it with water and give him a command for diving in (WATER! or DIVE! or whatever). Potty him on a leash then when he's done get between him and the swamp, turn around so you face the pool, then say your command for diving in and drop the leash (don't use your nice leather leach for this obviously). Make it a giant game. Do this about a million time until you see he's figured out the new game and is even anticipating you. Then try it off leash. Dogs love routines and if you don't provide one, will often come up with one of their own.

Oh, and the stuff in HW pills does nothing for giardiosis. You've got to have metronidozole and it's a BEAR to try to get rid of once you've got it. In fact, there are some indications that it's one of those "once caught, always there" bugs.

Elaine

Posted : 11/18/2006 9:07:40 PM

Wow. Thanks for the heads up. I never really gave the contents of the goo much thought. We have spent a ton on a really good water filtration system for the house because we have a shallow well and we thought someone in the house had giardia. Any ideas where I can find a kiddie pool at this time of year?
I never thought I'd want to see winter come so it will all freeze and be covered in snow at some point.