Sara doesn't like water...what can I do?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Sara doesn't like water...what can I do?

    Ok so I ahve had the kiddie pool out for Sara the most she does is drink it. She will not go in the pool, or near the big pool at my MIL's. It was very humid here yesterday and I think she should cool off. She is under the canopy in the shade but it's still hot. So I sprayed her down with the hose. First off she kept trying to run away. I don't want her to fear the water, but I want her to be cool. So, should I spray her or not? I don't want her to be mad at me, of course but I'm hot, so I'm sure she has to be hot.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I did the same thing for Mocha Jean when we got her (for her first summer) and she
    treated it like a giant drinking bowl. But up a the cottage she swims like crazy.
    What I did for at home was put a sprinker and keep it low so she can stand above
    it and drink from it. Then it's like a giant drinking fountain and she gets wet at the
    same time. 
    Pam

    • Gold Top Dog
    To get Maddi to swim, I threw a really yummy treat out into the water (it helps if it floats), and if she went after it, I praised her like crazy.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I second the treats in the water thing. I put some treats in Max's little pool, and he goes in to get them. That's also how I got him in the water at the park, but he won't swim there, he just walks in it, but that keeps him cool. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    Yesterday we spent the day in the pool and I decided to finally try what Mic suggested to see if we could get Bailey to not be so afaraid of the water.  He said to hook a leash onto her and not let her out when she tried.  So we tried to get her to swim back and forth between me and my mom, which she did but only b/c I wasnt letting her get to the side.  We eventually just gave up... but will try again next time.  She is so tense and crazy we are both all scratched up.
     
    I had treats in there and nothing but when I got some raw ground beef she would lean over the water to get it, I'll post pictures. 
     
    I think we are going to get a kiddle pool to get her started and throw some treats in it...?  I like that idea.  Maybe you can get in with her... or start with only a little bit of water and gradually add some...?  
     
    I dont know about spraying her with the hose... I did that to Bailey and she ran so I quit because I felt like I was making it worse...
    • Gold Top Dog
    If she doesn't like water it's no big deal. If she has enough to drink and shade, she'll be fine.

    I wouldn't force water activities on her. I wouldn't spray her, especially if she doesn't like it. Let her get to know water on her own terms. If you push the issue she'll really hate it.

    Stevie decided in his last two years of life that he liked water instead of absolutely HATING it. But it was a huge surprise to us. I never pushed it on him. He used to walk backward if you opened the sliding glass door and it was raining outside. He'd hold it for HOURS rather than get his paws wet.

    Then we moved to Alaska and he had to deal with snow. [:D]

    So their tastes can change. But some dogs like water and some don't. That's okay.
    • Gold Top Dog
    We didn't think Wesley likes water (he hated hoses and the shower)...  But then we were hiking on a trail with streams and brooks and the otehr dogs were playing in them, and Wesley wanted to play with the dogs - so he ran in after them.  Then slowly, each time we were there, he would first only go in to the ones the other dogs had "shown him" and then started to go in all the little streams (but all water he could stand in easily).  Then - this weekend, we discovered a pond out in the woods and two other dogs were swimming (playing fetch into the water).  Wesley kept running up and down the bank of the water like crazy - trying to figure out how to do what they were doing, so we tossed a tennis ball in, and he, after a moment's hesitation, went right in after it - HOORAY!!
     
    I think it took for other dogs to be doing it, and him to want to play with them, to get him anywhere near that water...  Is there somewhere you could take Sara to see other doggies swimming?  If not, if it is really hot, I would take the hose and hose downt he area she lays (or get her to lay on a cool wet towel) to get her belly cool and wet (I think I have heard that this is the area you should tryt o keep cool)...
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    • Gold Top Dog
    I agree - seeing other dogs go in the water willingly (without being unwillingly sprayed or forced in) seems to be the quickest route.  Gracie loved rivers/lakes/streams/ponds but did NOT like the waves at the ocean coming toward her.  Now, after watching her Golden pals go crashing into the waves, she'll walk a few steps in.  But I don't expect her to swim - she's got toothpick legs that don't make for good "oars" in the water.
     
    If you're worried about how hot she's getting, you can always take her temperature (rectal thermomoter).  Shouldn't exceed 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit.  Heat exhaustion is a very real and scary thing.  I was told at 104 (or 105) the dogs begin to lose their ability to regulate their body temperature.  At 108 degrees you're in brain damage territory.  Scary stuff.  If you put cool wet cloths on the areas that are more exposed (ie, less hair = easier spots to release body heat) like between their back legs, that can help. 
     
    Just make sure not to give ice cold water to drink - some folks believe that ice cold water can cause internal strictures that lead to bloat.  Those of us with barrel chested dogs worry about bloat a lot, but there's still no hard evidence to prove what exactly does and does not cause it.  I'd rather not chance it, so I always give room-temp water.