Any Helpful Thoughts Would be Appreciated

did you walk her into the water and get into the pool with her a bit? My first thought is that she does not actually think there is water there, because it is not like water she is used to...and she might even smell the chlorine...

So did she jump freely into a pool like the one at events before?  Or did she start hesitating the first time she jumped at a competition where they used the pool?

One thing that might be happening (and the inability to hold a stay is a clue here) - she might be over/hyperstimulated.  This can look like fear and indeed it's very close in a dog's mind, because they don't like being out of control of themselves.  You also mentioned something in another post where she's shaking by the end of a day (same dog, right?).  This is a dog, I'm guessing, who really is taking everything in.

The answer is to work on focus and quiet control.  Instead of trying to wind her up, think of ways to calm her down and make you and that bumper her entire focus.  If you haven't read it before, check out "Control Unleashed."  It's aimed at super tense, hyper dogs, but many of the techniques and the overall approach can improve performance for any sensitive dog. 

Think of it from the dog's point of view.  For you, the point is for her to jump as far as possible.  But the dog doesn't know anything about that.  For her, it's about getting to that bumper so she can bring it back, as fast as possible.  She knows the way to get to it fastest is by leaping.  So I'd work to improve her drive to retrieve it to you.  Someone recently showed me the wisdom of shaping the end behavior first and most in a working dog.  I'd guess that applies here too.

rwbeagles

did you walk her into the water and get into the pool with her a bit? My first thought is that she does not actually think there is water there, because it is not like water she is used to...and she might even smell the chlorine...

She knows water is there, and there is no chlorine. Usually it is from a fire hydrant and not treated as it is only for a couple days. Then the pool is dismantled. (Splash pool portable pool) That is why I chose to start her from the ramp again, pretending she never has done this.

So did she jump freely into a pool like the one at events before?  Or did she start hesitating the first time she jumped at a competition where they used the pool?

One thing that might be happening (and the inability to hold a stay is a clue here) - she might be over/hyperstimulated.  This can look like fear and indeed it's very close in a dog's mind, because they don't like being out of control of themselves.  You also mentioned something in another post where she's shaking by the end of a day (same dog, right?).  This is a dog, I'm guessing, who really is taking everything in.

The answer is to work on focus and quiet control.  Instead of trying to wind her up, think of ways to calm her down and make you and that bumper her entire focus.  If you haven't read it before, check out "Control Unleashed."  It's aimed at super tense, hyper dogs, but many of the techniques and the overall approach can improve performance for any sensitive dog. 

Think of it from the dog's point of view.  For you, the point is for her to jump as far as possible.  But the dog doesn't know anything about that.  For her, it's about getting to that bumper so she can bring it back, as fast as possible.  She knows the way to get to it fastest is by leaping.  So I'd work to improve her drive to retrieve it to you.  Someone recently showed me the wisdom of shaping the end behavior first and most in a working dog.  I'd guess that applies here too.

Originally she jumped freely into a pool at events. This is not the same dog as my shaker. This is my lab, the other is my young golden. Can "overstimulated" look the same as "shutting down" She used to have a real problem with that. It is gone in most instances but this weekend on the dock she did "drop her ears, and lowered her head" not completely the old "eeyore" look we used to get but hints of it. Yes I do believe she takes EVERYTHING in.

She does not appear to me to be a "tense, hyper dog". However she has endless energy and can go for HOURS. I like to say she has a "switch" that can turn on and off, and she likes to conserve her energy. I classify her as an "introvert" but I could be wrong. I will check out the suggested reading. I may really help me with the young dog too affectionately nicknamed "devil spawn".

I try to think of it from her point of view, and I may be failing her here. I do not care if she jumps 2 foot or 20000 feet. I know she loves to do it, I just want her to have fun on event weekends too. Perhaps that is an idea, she does retrieve fast but perhaps I need to practice more just doing that at the park or something.

The "first" time she ever stopped was at her third event. We were at a Dock Dog competition and they had a strange pool set up. It was at a Bass Creek store, and the end of the pool looked like it was under the canopy of the store. From the dock it looked very strange. I did not blame her for questioning that jump. I swear the dog the broke the world record (28'10";) looked like he was going to land on the roof. Her next event she jumped but seemed more backed off. I also am trying to take her away from my DH. I handle her in agility, take her for walks, run her on the bike, I am the "fun" person. I noticed last weekend at a practice dock he got her to stop, trying to be "perfect" ARGH! I said just wing the toy, he did and she jumped. He also can not sound different between happy and angry. It does confuse the dogs they tend tune him out. I have no objection to acting like a fool making happy squeaky noises to let her know I am pleased. I do this with her in play so she knows the reaction.

Thanks for the "food for thought". I adore this dog, I want to have even more fun with her. I don't care what she does as long as she has fun.
 

Is it possible her reticence might be due to discomfort of some sort? Think her joints are doing okay? If she's ever so slightly stiff/off, it would make sense that she would be a lot more cautious about jumping. Sounds like it could be primarily behavioral, but it never hurts to at least think about other options! 

Can "overstimulated" look the same as "shutting down"

Very much so.  So much, that it's the first thing I think of when I see a dog start getting "that look."   Think of it this way - you are at the fair, you are eating delicious junk food, you been riding really fun rides, your kids are yelling at you for more money, your husband is pointing out that the show you really wanted to see is in five minutes and it's on the other side of the grounds, it's been dark for about twenty minutes and the lights all come on and the fireworks start.  They are beautiful but what is your first impulse?  Probably to sit down with your head in your hands and give your brain a breather!

Shutting down isn't a sign that what you are doing is bad - it's not a pain or fear response.  It simply means, "Too much information!"  The "bad" shutting down, learned helplessness, comes into play under much different circumstances and looks rather different.  Fear and/or pain looks still different again.

You can increase her tolerance for stimulation by simplifying things and making it really clear what her job is.  As I said, try starting from the end first (the retrieve), increase her drive for that, gradually re-introduce factors like distance, new environments, and then water, then distance over water.

There's someone who has put out a book on clicker training the hunting retriever - have you seen that?  I've heard it's awesome.  If nothing else it will give you an outline on how to break this task into smaller chunks to work on.

Yes, I know she knows all this already.  But, I've got a dog who can fetch sheep 400 yards away, but for formal training I'm pretending we are starting from scratch, because he has the same need to have things broken down into very obvious jobs. 

I just had to give up a dog because someone kept pushing and pushing him when he had the same need, and he eventually quit altogether.  I adopted him out where he wouldn't see sheep because although he won't work if you put him in front of sheep, he cries and barks if he hears sheep being worked and he can't go.  So it's important to make sure you don't make the thing your dog loves most, something impossible for her to do.

Cita

Is it possible her reticence might be due to discomfort of some sort? Think her joints are doing okay? If she's ever so slightly stiff/off, it would make sense that she would be a lot more cautious about jumping. Sounds like it could be primarily behavioral, but it never hurts to at least think about other options! 

Your points are well taken. No I do not believe there to be any "issues" as she jumps over agility jumps without getting near the top bar and she jumps off docks that are non competition, and loves to run as fast as her legs can carry her. It seems to be specific to jumping into a pool now.

Funny though in agility we run Belle "preferred". Some of my friends do not know why I am,  as she is quite good. I guess they think of preferred as "lesser" I don't know. My choosing preferred was because she is SO big, landing off the jumps is a lot of force on her joints I am hopeful by jumping 4" less she will be able to continue longer. If she jumped regulation she would be a 24" jumping dog. KNOCK ON WOOD she is my "sound" dog... shhh don't let anyone know I noticed.