Swimming

 Yes, I do worry about this with Luke and Callie, and he is always in a jacket if there is any sort of water movement. He can swim pretty well, if there isn't much current. However, the best swimming places here have a current. One of them here has a bridge over part of it, and I am pretty sure smaller dogs have gotten swept under the bridge. It's a small, concrete bridge, with just enough space with a dog to go under it when the water is low. It often floods during periods of prolonged severe rain, or during hurricanes.  He also is willing to go till he drops. Callie just started to swim last summer, and she really wouldn't go far without the jacket. She was really a clumsy swimmer when she started, and splashed like a little kid. Luke is much more of a natural swimmer, and has better form. Because she was sort of thrashy, she'd have a bit of trouble getting herself turned around to come back. She  may not need her life jacket this year, and I may test her without it at first. Luke will always be in his unless it's calm waters.

Jewlieee

They pace themselves.

The first time B decided he to swim he was in a large, strong river. Some kids paddled by and were calling out to him and the next thing you know he was swimming upstream after them. I was terrified as I had seen him attempt to swim in a lake prior to then and he would just sink.

Fast forward over the years and I've seen him chase geese with no intent to stop - (I had to get a boat to go get him, more than once) and personally I now always have a life vest on him around the local lake and other bodies of water I know he will swim in.

I don't think this is necessary for most dogs and having grown up and always known tons of labs and goldens I wouldn't worry about them - they swim very efficiently instantly (I suppose some don't but all the ones I've seen hit the water and feel more at home than on land LOL)

In our case, he isn't an efficient swimmer, he has no switch that would tell him he's had enough, and his coat, feet and overall structure aren't helpful for swimming, ie don't help his buoyancy.

All this really to say, I think its about knowing your dog. If he's enjoying swimming and not possessed with it or a chase, or is just doing retrieves, let him swim to his heart's content!

 Karen, that description of Bugsy swimming cracked me up. Callie, despite looking like a tiny golden, does not swim like a golden. And she did chase geese last year, and I had to wade out and get her turned around to come back. She really could not figure it out. Luke on the other hand swims like he was meant to swim. He just doesn't have the strength to swim like he wants to in the areas available to us.

Karen, I agree that knowing your own dog is the most important thing in regards to whether they would swim to the point of exhaustion.

kpwlee

having grown up and always known tons of labs and goldens I wouldn't worry about them - they swim very efficiently instantly

I don't agree with the above based on my experience and observations of retrievers.  I've seen highly driven Labs come close to drowing because they wouldn't quit swimming after a wounded bird or a bird blown away from them by windy conditions.  Wind can whip up waves that can exhaust a dog quickly.  I've seen a few instances of dogs needing rescue and they were all Labs.  My own six month old crazy Lab pup scared the crap out of me at his first Hunt Test.  I truly thought he would drown because he would not give up trying to get to a duck that was being blown away from him.  A good recall is a life saver but in some weather conditions a dog won't hear even a loud "come in" whistle or will ignore it if they are crazy to retrieve.  I got my pup out of the water, duck held firmly, but we didn't pass that test because I chose to get him out of the water at a different position from where he entered, which disqualified him.  A ribbon wasn't worth it and I learned a valuable lesson.  Don't count on judges or dogs to make decisions that could impact your dog's safety.

Know your dog and keep weather conditions and your dog's physical condition and temperment in mind when your dog is in the water. 

All that aside, I'm glad Zeke has discovered he likes to swim.  :) 

Jewlieee

Well b is a crazy neurotic dog like my sister's corgi lol! He doesn't count ;p but yes it is all about knowing the dog.

LOL well said!

Jackie I did mention that I presumed that not all retrievers can be completely trusted - I have seen a field lab at the beach make itself sick on the salt water and get weak looking in the water. Any high drive dog is at risk of going beyond its physical capacity IMO

kpwlee

Jackie I did mention that I presumed that not all retrievers can be completely trusted -

You might have.  I'm a little testy today so sorry if I sounded rude and argumentative.  One of my pet peeves about retrievers is people assuming they swim perfectly and efficiently the first time they're introduced to water because it's not true.  The other is that they are all soft mouthed because that's not true either.  I could go on and on about the myths people believe about retrievers.  Like any breed, they have certain traits (or should if they're well bred, a very iffy thing) but a retriever isn't born retrieving, swimming well or gently holding objects. 

You did say that it's all about knowing your own dog.  No arguments from me in that regard. :)

I think he will probably be okay swimming, he is fit and did swim pretty well. I think he only went in that far because there was a duck in the water! I think I will probably just have to let him swim at the park; hopefully he will come out when called. But I won't go there if there's going to be ducks, i.e. when it's really empty.

The dog park is the only place I'd let him swim, and it has a big, but shallow (or so I've heard) lake.  Lots of dogs swim there, though most don't swim across the lake. (Silly Zeke). It just really surprised me, which is why I got worried. That and his recall is selective while at the park. It's good until he's chasing something.

 Our first dog was mostly lab, and she did not know how to swim when we got her at age 2. We eventually got her to do it, and she became a good swimmer. Luke actually out swims many a beginner retriever, and I've sent him out to entice dogs who weren't sure they could let their feet leave the ground.

Our previous dog didn't like being in water (not even feeling it touch his feet at the ocean), so we never encouraged him.  Ruby likes the kiddie pool, and I think she'd like swimming, but we don't have any safe places I'd feel comfortable letting her try it.  I've heard of too many people letting dogs in the ocean here, only to have them start to get carried away by undertow.  Then you risk a person drowning, trying to retrieve the dog.

But, if I had a safe, clean lake that I knew was a good option, I think Ruby would like to try it.  But being the totally neurotic person that I am, I would make sure she had the best life vest possible!  My Mom's boss has a tiny Yorkie that they take on their sailboat all the time.  She wears one with a handle on it, and they've had to pull her out of the water a couple times when she's fallen in when getting in or out of the boat.  She looks like a little handbag when wearing it!

 Maze, part lab, was terrified of water until she hit 5 years old.. Don't ask.. LOL. But because she isn't a strong swimmer and may never be, I'm looking at a life vest for her.  I do take her to the ocean to swim and that's where I'd be using the lift vest, if I went to the local river at the dog park, it only comes up to her knees so it doesn't worry me.

Really if you're not sure about his swimming strength, get the life vest. and attach a long line

tacran

My Mom's boss has a tiny Yorkie that they take on their sailboat all the time.  She wears one with a handle on it, and they've had to pull her out of the water a couple times when she's fallen in when getting in or out of the boat.  She looks like a little handbag when wearing it!

Luke and Callie have handles on theirs. I actually only have used Luke's handle to drag him away when he wasn't ready to get out. 

 I own a retriever breed (who am I kidding, she owns me and has me well trained).  She's definitely a water dog and took to it pretty much the first time we took her.  I don't have to worry about her swimming because she does pace herself, which is surprising to me because she ain't too swift sometimes lol (and I do mean that lovingly).  I've seen other dogs that will swim until they drop - so knowing your dog really is key.