I just showed my 9 month old, 85 pound, lab how to retrieve a stick in deep water(15').

Well, no shock here. He loves the cold water.

Question is, how long can he tread water? Not that I want to push him just want to be careful with his limits.

He isn't breathing that heavy but I'm sure he is using his body in different fashion. He is absolutely exhausted right now.

Thanks for you input!

 

They float naturally because of the placement of the lungs in dogs...

 

Good luck keeping him out of the water any where you go from now on!

He'll stop when he is tired, but they absolutely love to swim.

 

I kept one of those small plastic pools in the backyard for my Black Lab, he LOVED it You could go out there when it was hot in the afternoon and he would be laying in it just grinning . They sure do love water.

 

I did the same thing to try and keep them out of the big pool.....

 

I know what you mean, we had to be real careful taking the lid off the hot tub cause he would join you with no warning

 

You're not kidding. Keep a spare blanket in the car. Not every mud hole has access to clean water for a rinse off... or just laying around in a nice, cool, puddle.

 

I must have the dumb lab of the litter. She ABSOLUTELY hates water-rain, hose, you name it.

 

biododge1 - you aren't alone.

We have a black lab and a coon hound from the same litter - 2 different fathers, same mother (didn't know that could happen ). They both HATE the water. But they are 13-14 years old now, so they hardly ever leave the house anyway.

But they are great dogs and I love them to pieces.

 

Only thing better than water, is snow!

 

I have a Golden that will not stop swimming just because she is tired unless you call her in. She will get into the middle of the river and swim up river, maintaining station with the shore. I watched her do this for over 15 minutes one day and could tell she was getting tired when her front paws started to slap the water, normally they stay under the water. Once I called her she came right in and took a break. I don't think she knew she was too tired to swim.

So I got a life jacket for her. It is hunter orange and works great.

 

And I thought I was the only one with a dysfunctional Lab! Jake HATES water, he'll go three miles out of his way to avoid a puddle! And forget about going 'out' when it's raining. He'll hold it for days to avoid getting wet from the rain.

chaikwa.

 

We've got a Chocolate lab and a Texas Blue Lacey, and they both love water. Zeiss(the lacey) usually just pics at Dublin and bothers him the whole time they swim while Dublin tries to bring back the stick,ball or whatever you throw for him.



The dog I had before these was awesome in the water. He was half chocolate lab and half golden retriever, and he was the best retrieving/water dog i've ever seen. He would dive to the bottom of the pool(9ft) and get stuff that I threw down there. But labs in general are just awesome. I love em. And this Lacey is also one of the coolest dogs I've ever had. Hes insanely smart.

 

I had a Yellow lab mix (RIP March 31,2009 ) She would swim in the pool until she could not even get out some times! I had to lift her out a few times and shut the gate to keep her from going back in!! Best part was she would never go in the pool unless someone was out there. Almost like she knew she needed to be watched

 

If it was his first time not touching the bottom he just worked harder til he gets a feel for deep water.

My Shorthair doesn't know he's not a lab and wil get into any water any time of the year. He chased a duck out of a half frozen pond at my dad's a couple winters ago with the air temp around 15 degrees F. He went in, swam to the opposite shore and got out, shook off and was back with his nose to the ground.

I called him over to head up to the house and he didn't even act like it affected him. I wasn't taking any chances so I got him inside. They are maniacs if they like water!

Kurt