Swimming Help?

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RichK
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Swimming Help?

Post by RichK » Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:37 pm

My GSP isn't an efficient swimmer. He swims with his rear under water and his front legs at a severe angle out of the water. Any tips for getting him to level out and swim more efficiently?

Here is a video from this week. When I call his name and order him here he was starting to swim in place and I was worried he was going to go under.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151916980882482

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Double Shot Banks
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Re: Swimming Help?

Post by Double Shot Banks » Sun Oct 20, 2013 5:59 am

My dad has told me he had a lab that did this same thing once. He said he had to go in with it and hold the dog level and that fixed the problem.
Isaac and Banks.
My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.

krakadawn
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Re: Swimming Help?

Post by krakadawn » Sun Oct 20, 2013 6:49 am

Some dogs because of the age that they first begin to swim find it hard to get in that natural position . You should see a difference once he has a dummy in his mouth, they tend to level out quickly. Get him to swim with it and try to develop a good habit for awhile.

Cheers,

Nutmeg247
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Re: Swimming Help?

Post by Nutmeg247 » Sun Oct 20, 2013 4:55 pm

What I did with my pointer is walk him, on a leash, into deeper water on a shallow incline and then keep him in deep water long enough for him to learn to plane out. I only have that one dog in my sample, so don't know if that's a good way to address this, or not, but for that one dog, it seems to have worked.

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Hoosierdaddy
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Re: Swimming Help?

Post by Hoosierdaddy » Mon Oct 21, 2013 1:29 pm

Just to let you know,you are not the only guy that has a dog that swims like that.My male Brit swims exactly the same way.His sister swims like a little torpedo.I have had dogs all my life,and this is the first that appears to need swimming lessons.Tried all the stuff posted above,so far nothing has changed.
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41magsnub
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Re: Swimming Help?

Post by 41magsnub » Mon Oct 21, 2013 4:53 pm

My GWP did that at first. I just made a point of getting her in water as much as possible and she figured it out on her own. Once in a while she starts out with her but too low, but she fixes it within a few seconds.

SD44
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Re: Swimming Help?

Post by SD44 » Sat Nov 02, 2013 1:21 pm

I had to get out in the water with mine. The other thing that help the most was using a real duck for a retrieve. Now he swims like there is no tomorrow. Good luck with your pup.
Cheers,
SD

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Francois P vd Walt
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Re: Swimming Help?

Post by Francois P vd Walt » Sun Nov 03, 2013 8:54 pm

41magsnub wrote:My GWP did that at first. I just made a point of getting her in water as much as possible and she figured it out on her own. Once in a while she starts out with her but too low, but she fixes it within a few seconds.
+1 I would let him swim more often he will work it out some dogs when they over excited do that swimming in for thecretrieve. They work it out with enough swimming..... My 2c

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SD44
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Re: Swimming Help?

Post by SD44 » Mon Nov 04, 2013 8:51 am

Here is Scout Swimming over the weekend.
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Cheers,
SD

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