Puppy Training: The Pool, Part 1

The pool is Stormy's worst enemy.

When she was in her "phobia development period," I was walking laps with her around the pool whilst on the phone.  She fell into the cold water just a few feet from the exit, and the look of horror, desperation, and "FIX THIS PLEASE" was the most emotion I've ever seen on an animal's face.  I called her to the steps a few feet away and she was able to jump out.

Of course, when summer arrived and we tried bringing her into the pool, it was all terror.  I decided it was most important that she learn how to exit the pool so that I could trust her outside by herself, so the focus that summer was to hold her in the pool until she calmed down, give lots of praise and treats, then let her get out on her own.  After doing this all summer I was pretty confident in her ability to exit, so one day I tipped her into the pool and ran inside to watch from the kitchen window.  Despite probably a hundred successful exits while I was in the pool with her, she managed to panic to such an extent that she went the wrong direction and just clung to the edge of the pool, crying and tiring herself out.  If that happened while I was away, I would come home to a drowned puppy.

Now it's her second summer.  

She is even more terrified of swimming than before... and she's stronger.  She sees the humans in the pool as safety rafts, so she will go to the nearest person and claw at them in a panic to climb them.  Her heart rate goes out of control.

This is a huge problem.  1), she could easily drown a child.  2), she could easily drown herself.  3), she's a poodle, a freaking water dog!  4), I want her to enjoy playing in the pool or lakes with us, it is excellent exercise especially when she becomes elderly. 

Something has to change.

Attempt #1

We bought her a dog life jacket.  It is pretty awesome.  It keeps her floating, and even has a piece under the neck to keep her head further out of the water.  It even has a handle on the top so you can grab her easily or guide her in the direction you want.  This will be so useful if we take her kayaking or out in public!

The theory behind this plan is that if a dog has to work too hard to float, then she panics and can't focus on developing the swimming technique that gives her control in the water.  So you take away the possibility of drowning, and her anxiety lessens, and she learns to use her front and back legs in a coordinated manner that makes swimming far more effective.

Please, please take this off.

This didn't work at all.  She is completely unaware that the life jacket is helping her out and that she doesn't have to work so hard to float.  I believe that she is panicking even harder when she's wearing the life jacket.

Stay tuned for attempt #2...