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Lola's first proper swim and hope she'll be a good fowling dog


Mentalmac
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After reading the thread about euthanising dogs, this really made me think on how much I already love my lab pup (she's 7.5 months), and hopefully a LONG way off needing to pass on, however reading the thread really made me feel quite down inside that this day will be inevitable, so I took a look through my latest photos I took of my pup and thought I would share my favourite picture from a walk I took her on where I let her off for a swim properly for the first time.

Usually the places I take her where there is water she has a paddle around in straight away but they aren't deep enough for her to actually swim (except the sea, but she was on a extra long lead as the estuary has a strong tide (I sailed it many times) - in fact, she seems to gravitate towards water.

She had a mooch around in the shallow part, then she went off an ventured deeper until I could tell she was swimming properly... was a wonderful sight.

After she had gotten used to it she was off all around enjoying it immensely I recalled her and and then I did a couple of close in water retrieves with her before leaving (the light was all but gone at this point and it was 1.5 mile back out of the woods and I hadn't a torch so had to walk quick.

 

The only scary part was after she had gotten used to swimming, she decided she wanted to have a go at being a submarine for a few seconds and being my first dog I was initially panicked, but she came back up quick with a small stick.

 

 

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This is what being a dog owner is all about, beautiful memorys you'll never lose and when the last day finally arrives you'll know no matter how hard you gave your dog the best life it could wish for, working dogs are the human equivalents of billion air's. Fair play this thread has made me smile after reading the last one.

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Labs love water it's that simple. If you dont shampoo them the oils in thier undercoat ( which all should have but some now lack - thanks for that one trialing lads) keep all but exposed skin on the likes of the abdomen perfectly dry.

 

Don't like the sound of the dog on a line

They can handle currents beyond those you could drag one back against. Best keep it out of dangerous water around times of peak flow. Most learn in time what is too much and unless you tell them won't jump in. First time mine saw a big bore come up a favourite channel he gave a warning bark and very rarely does this dog speak infact never unless thier is a real threat. He gives that channel far greater respect now

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This is what being a dog owner is all about, beautiful memorys you'll never lose and when the last day finally arrives you'll know no matter how hard you gave your dog the best life it could wish for, working dogs are the human equivalents of billion air's. Fair play this thread has made me smile after reading the last one.

Thanks :-). I love how my dog can really cheer me up :-)

Beautiful photo and a lovely memory. :)

Thanks :-). I took her back there today and she ended up swimming around with another 3 adult labs having a great time.

Your biggest problem will be keeping a Lab out of water :lol:

This is one of mine out for a long retrieve in the tide.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFto-hCFwj0&feature=player_detailpage

Haha I know that one, she will go in any water If she gets a chance - even puddles where there's obviously a far drier way of proceeding she still goes straight in them.

Lovely video, he's a cracker - nice bit of marsh too

Great video, they were pretty eager to get in!! :-). Haha typical lab :-)

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That's a cracking photo Chris :good:

 

I was thinking the same as you after reading that euthanasia thread :cry1:

 

I know what you mean about it being scary the first time your best pal decides she wants to dive...

 

My first lab decided she wanted to dive down with the seals that had gathered around, when we were doing a little water retrieve training up on the Orkney Islands. She was a water dog and a half and would quite happily swim as I walked along the beach.

I often think of the happy times we had together :yes:

One day I'll be thinking of little Indy the same way, but hopefully, not for a long time yet.

 

Thanks for sharing.

Atb

Sabs

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Have to meet up some time and give em a run out?

Certainly! That would be great, :-)

 

 

That's a cracking photo Chris :good:

 

I was thinking the same as you after reading that euthanasia thread :cry1:

 

I know what you mean about it being scary the first time your best pal decides she wants to dive...

 

My first lab decided she wanted to dive down with the seals that had gathered around, when we were doing a little water retrieve training up on the Orkney Islands. She was a water dog and a half and would quite happily swim as I walked along the beach.

I often think of the happy times we had together :yes:

One day I'll be thinking of little Indy the same way, but hopefully, not for a long time yet.

 

Thanks for sharing.

Atb

Sabs

 

Thanks Mark, glad I wasn't the only softie reading that thread with dread. It certainly is true the first time you see a dog dive I reckon, I had no idea if she meant to do it or not :lol: but she hasn't done it since apart from walking along in the shallow and putting her head under occasionally)

 

 

Hi

Great picture mate

 

Best thing you did getting the dog and always will be a good moment when they have swum with a bit of confidence

Thanks for posting

 

All the best

Of

 

Thanks OF - you are right, I knew deep down It was the right thing to do, I knew there would be a fair few hurdles in the way, but I've managed them so far, and the wife is finally coming around to the idea (half a year on haha).

 

I am eagerly awaiting her to calm down and be a little more steady, however I also enjoy seeing her dancing around like a mad pup. If I do sit and stay and a 'leave it' when I put her food bowl down, her tail wags so furiously whilst sat she can actually leave a shiny mark on the floor under where her tail was :lol: (perhaps I should do lots of this in our kitchen so she can buff my laminate flooring up for me)

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This is what being a dog owner is all about, beautiful memorys you'll never lose and when the last day finally arrives you'll know no matter how hard you gave your dog the best life it could wish for, working dogs are the human equivalents of billion air's. Fair play this thread has made me smile after reading the last one.

+1

 

Mans best friend and unconditional love!

 

Lovely photo MentalMac, looks like you've got years of these wonderful memories ahead of you!

 

:good:

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+1

 

Mans best friend and unconditional love!

 

Lovely photo MentalMac, looks like you've got years of these wonderful memories ahead of you!

 

:good:

Thanks Jeffjack, :-). I hope so, she's my pride and joy (except when she's run off with someone elses possessions and in which case I don't know who's dog she is.... haha)

 

Edit to note: She was off lead during a walk in the local recreational fields and there was a bootcamp taking place and she decided to join in with them and then come back to give me one of the boot campers water bottles.... (amazingly she couldn't hear the whistle.... good old selective hearing)

Edited by Mentalmac
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Thanks Jeffjack, :-). I hope so, she's my pride and joy (except when she's run off with someone elses possessions and in which case I don't know who's dog she is.... haha)

 

Edit to note: She was off lead during a walk in the local recreational fields and there was a bootcamp taking place and she decided to join in with them and then come back to give me one of the boot campers water bottles.... (amazingly she couldn't hear the whistle.... good old selective hearing)

 

lol you're lucky! only ever had lurchers (yet to convince the missus that we need a gun dog (third dog in the family)) the whole return business is tricky, they only want to come back once they have caught something... problem is they are not too fussy what they catch! As a result they only get off the lead in the confines of the large garden or on the lamp! (they do seem to come back to me when in complete darkness)

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