Swim lessons for Sadie !

[Dutchringgirl]

Sadie is 5 and doesn't know she can swim. Another face palm moment for Thalie . Sadie LOVES the water but she will NOT go past where she can stand. When she does, its legs and splashing everywhere, while Thalie swims gracefully by. I try to slowly work her into my pool but the front paws on the first step is all she will go, while Thalie just walks in and goes for a swim and wonders what the hell is wrong with Sadie.

For the new people here. Thalie dosnt believe that Sadie is a true, real, pure, all in there DS. [ I showed thalie Sadies papers but She still doesn't believe me]

So I was thinking the other day that during the winter we do not get out as much as we should and that it is not good for a 14yo and a 5yo with Double HD. So I made some calls and found a therapeutic dog center near me.
The woman sounded so great and we talked and Sadie will have her first lesson this Thursday !!

It will be just the woman and Sadie, Thalie cant watch........She doesn't want Sadie focusing on Thalie, Sadie should be focused on the instructor......................and Thalie would be laughing so hard at Sadie.

Once Sadie knows how to *cough* swim.. I can take both of them in myself for a swim.

Do not worry, pictures and videos will be posted !!!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!

[racingiron1]

This should be fun! That brings up a question I've been meaning to ask... Hilde seems to really fear bodies of water. Whether it's large streams while hiking or waves at the beach, she's always quite curious about it but refuses to put in more than a toe, even when coerced with delicious treats. She's OK with walking through minor puddles and such and doesn't care about getting rained on.

I've always assumed it's just something in her nature or some traumatic experience in her past, but I'd like to see her get over it, if possible, especially considering we're thinking of putting in a pool. I think she could really excel at dock diving. Should I just let her decide if she wants to swim or not, or is there a method for helping them overcome? Maybe Sadie's experience will be instructive for us...

[Dutchringgirl]

If you leave it up to her, it may be no. Sadie will pull me to water but once the ground goes away, thats it.

I would do lessons with her too. They have a pool with shallow steps that are wide and long so there is plenty of room for the dog. They put their front paws on, let them get comfortable, put the back paws on, get comfy, put front paws on next step, let them get comfy, back paws, etc and they take the time to let the dog be comfortable. Once in they dont let the dog go to the steps or wall.

[Raven]

Oh, man--I won't need liquor to get my laugh on the day you post videos. I still get a chuckle thinking of the last time you took her to water and all you saw was legs thrashing water.

I thought Sadie could be a bit grrrr-ish with strangers?

[Dutchringgirl]

Yes, It will be interesting to watch Sadie with another person. I told the woman that Sadie doesn't like to be touched. HA!

OMG< this summer when I had her in the river and coaxed her to the deep part! All I saw was splashing water and lets and Sadies eyes bugging out of her head.

[karenz]

Wow, this swim lesson thing sounds like fun. Xander is the same way. He loooovesss water unless he can't touch with his feet. He has to have something solid under his feet. Keep us posted on how the lessons go!!!

[centrop67]

I guess I got lucky. This is Radar when you tell him he's got to come out of the water.



You just know his bark says "I don't wanna go! I don't wanna go! I don't wanna go! ..."

[Dutchringgirl]

Wow, this swim lesson thing sounds like fun. Xander is the same way. He loooovesss water unless he can't touch with his feet. He has to have something solid under his feet. Keep us posted on how the lessons go!!!

YES this is Sadie. If we are on a hike, she will pull me to the water. If she can touch ground I cant get her out, she will stay in forever, but if the ground drops away, she will panic.

[Raven]

Radar--------------------------

Oooooh, yeah...he's putting up quite the stink.

[Dutchringgirl]

Radar--------------------------

Oooooh, yeah...he's putting up quite the stink.

[Dutchringgirl]

Sadie had her lesson. Sorry no pictures, I really did not have the heart to take them in her brain oozing state.

Check out Pawzforwellnes.com to see where we were.

We go in and of course they had to sniff everything. Sadie was right off the bat worried, she worries about anything and everything. She gets into the pool area and starts to sniff the pool and when she sees the instructor, starts to bark.

Thalie, is of course very cool and collected and happy to have a new place to sniff. The woman walks up to Sadie and right away Sadie is a shaking ball of fur and very upset. We just stand there for a bit to let Sadie sniff her and make the first moves. We then go to the pool and Sadie backs up, the instructor is very good and knows what to do. I stay by Sadie as moral support. She was NOT happy.

She took her back legs and put them in first then put her front paws in, and let her hang out on the top step for a bit. Then she put her back paws on the second step and then her front paws on the step.


Then they just hung out. I sat right at the pool edge by her and the instructor stayed near her and hung out until she relaxed a bit.

Thalie walked around the place and really didnt pay much attention to Sadie, wich was a good thing so it left Sadie to fend for her self and figure out things.

The whole time, they just stayed on the second step walking back and forth and letting Sadie relax.

After 45 minutes of hanging out on the second step, we called it. Sadie relaxed and did well.

We will go back next week and I will go in with Thalie and she will take Sadie in

[Raven]

No blood, no foul !

Poor Sadie...but good girl !

I thought wasn't going to be there???

[Dutchringgirl]

No blood, no foul !

Poor Sadie...but good girl !

I thought wasn't going to be there???

what?

[Raven]

Sadie doesn't like swimming and is leery of strangers but the instructor touched her successfully = no blood (drawn) so all's good.

Sadie doesn't like swimming plus she was in a new environment with a stranger touching her = poor girl (what a day!) but she did well.

Thalie...I thought the instructor didn't want her there, that she'd prove a distraction for Sadie...?

[Dutchringgirl]

Oh LOL.. Normally, with a group of dogs, the dogs out of the pool will stay by the pool and distract the dog in the pool. We said we would see what happend with Thalie. Since Thalie ignored Sadie and walked around the place sniffing, we let her hang out and do what she wanted.

Sadie loves to swim but only if she can touch the ground. I guess that isnt technically swimming ?

[Dutchringgirl]

Second swim lesson for Sadie...........................

this time we decided to bring Thalie in to show Sadie how its done. Thalie swimming is like a ballerina floating across the stage. Sadie swimming is like ....................um................well............ lets just say, legs and water go everywhere.

we brought Thalie in first. Then sadie, they both were on the second step and we walked them back and forth. Sadie calmed down quicker but was still worried. I brough Thalie out for a small circle then back to the stairs. She did the same with Sadie, quiet laughing ensued.

An interesting thing she did was grab Sadies tail and hold up her back end. That levels them off. When the back end falls under the water, they feel as if they are going to drown. As soon as the back end came up. I saw a difference in her. There was still alot of splashing but not the frantic "im going to die" splash.

We also put the life jacket on her and that helped as well, It gave Sadie some security and the instructor could grab that if she could not get her tail.

After 45 minutes Sadie really calmed down, she was still scared and worried but her swimming was more like actual swimming, not flailing of limbs and eyes popping out of her head.

Of course all the while, Thalie is humiliated that she has to teach Sadie how to swim.