Diesel Disaster at first swimming experience

[c19unn]

So me and OH and Diesel went to a country park for a walk ..
All going well had the new SLR to hand and Diesel was loving it

We come to a clearing that had a still river (quite wide) and a sandy bit - As soon as he got on the sand he loved it
So was really excited
OPH tried to tempt him into the water as he has never been ion the water before - he would run in and out a bit - so when he went to the water OH went into the water up to the top of his wellies - Sure enough Diesel followed and started swimming a little and came back out
Excellent we though - 9 months old and finally going into the water
So he decided to go back in again - so he was having a little swim and we were encouraging him then he started swimming towards the other side of the river and climbed out.

Um panic sets in slightly so i shout him back and give him encouragement - Nope he was to scared to go back in the water and started crying ...At this point im ready to strip off and swim over to get him ( couldnt see a bridge anywhere and i had no idea how deep it went after the welly depth) OH said lets just encourage him some more he will come back - Nope nothing working so he starts howling the place down whilst trying to go back in the water but to scared to - At this point im ready to cry - OH refusing to let me swim the river as he said we were to far from the car for me to walk back wet at this time of year as its too cold. Did i care, did i nothing... my baby is scared and stranded and i cant find a bridge - So the OH goes looking for a way to get over the weater and i wait and reassure Diesel. 40 Mins since he swam over and its almost 3:30 - going to get dark i think - need to swim this dreaded water - So i get diesel to follow me on the other side of the river as i look for some way to get over - (NO signal on mobiles - typical ) so i get diesel to follow me back to the origional point - As i start to get ready to swim over i see the OH at the top of the hill above Diesel - He is trying to get diesels attention but he too fixed on me so OH comes down the muddy slope and gets him - Dont think diesel ever been so happy to see daddy.

I ask keith how he got there he was like dont ask but it might take me 15 - 20 mins to get back ..
So off he sets with diesel and i decide to go the way he went to meet them half way to see diesel  - Turns out he had to climb 100 steps up to a canal bridge and walk all the way along it to get to the other side - Told him i was so much quicker swimming it.

So i get him all wrapped up and we decided to go home
I dont know if he will ever go in water again but i have bought a long line lead for the next time he goes swimming
Luckily i rememebered to attatch his ID tag to his harnesss in case i lost him

Never been so worried in my life ! My poor wee man

[8 Hairy Feet]

Ooo I've had loads of mishaps
with dogs and water and I too
would just jump in if necessary.
Sloopy(black lab) swam like an otter, even
underwater, no problem but when
we got Jessie (adult rescue staffie)
she ran after him and followed him
jumping into the river at Pateley Bridge
and just sank, no splashing,no bubbles
gone! At this point I was still chuckling
thinking "all dogs can swim" and thinking
she would bob up but no, nothing!
Cue mr steff jumping into river and diving
under managed to find a leg to get hold
of and heave her out. Once we shook the
water out of her she was fine ,a little shocked
but never went near any water again.
steffxxx 

[c19unn]

Yup i think it may have scared him and after that i defo dont mind if he does not want to swim again 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I'm sorry but I can't help but  .

I'm glad you managed to get him back all safe and sound after his big ordeal. I hope you spoilt him rotten  

[jaybee]

Oh Diesel! I hope you are ok now after such an ordeal  you will drive your Mum barmy with worry at this rate.

I remember my sister's boxer once did the exact same thing. She went in the river after him in the end..she was 7 months pregnant at the time 

[c19unn]

If it hadnt been for OH being there and telling me off for my 'stupid' idea in cold weather then after a couple of mins i would have jwent right in there after him !!! He was being quite stern with me but i think he was just as worried

[black taz]

Its scary isnt it.

When my collie cross was about 6 months old, she was chasing a duck at a local park, the duck took off over the water, she carried on and fell into the water, about a 6 foot drop.  Someone had to finish up lowering my OH by his feet down the wall to pull her back up.  She had got to the side where there was a ledge but refused to move from it.  Then the following week, she got pushed into a deep brook by some children but couldnt swim because there was lots of folage, i finished up having to wade in and rescue her.  She wouldnt go near water after that.

[c19unn]

Aww thats terrible - im not suprised that they get put off swimming when those things happen

[Jan D]

So..I am guessing the cute 'swimming' photos are a one-off then? Poor Diesel howling like that and poor you xx

[hedgehog]

I know how you felt, when my rottie was about 6 months old we were walking along side a local disused canal which had covered completely in green duck weed, Ozzy saw a moor hen on the opposite bank and in a split second took off and decided to race after it, thinking the green weed covered canal was grass and thus walkable he launched at full speed into said canal, disappearing beneath the weed. I remember screaming and almost pushing my OH in after him, when up he bobs and began paddling towards us, the side was too steep for him to get back up so OH had to pull him out, they both stunk and were covered in pond weed. I laugh about it now and say it was the time when Ozzy learnt he wasn't Jesus and can't walk on water, sadly now he won't so much as get his paws wet in a puddle if he can help it. 

[MaggieR]

Awww Diesel... you must remember to swim back towards mum!!!!  He'll go in again Charlene 
Maggie's first time in was on a COL meet... she got pushed in by another couple of dogs, was trying to get back to the side when another landed on her head    managed to scramble her way back to the side only to find that the side was a concrete straight side and she's a little weed who couldn't pull herself out!  I went down the bank and had to pull her out by her collar while Wendy (Pudding) was hanging on to stop me falling in 

[Patp]

Such a scary time and lucky you were not on your own!

I remember dog sitting a couple of years ago for a friend (whilst I was contemplating having my own dog), and she was obsessed with water going in at every opportunity!

We came across a pond on a country walk, she dropped her ball and it rolled just to the edge of the water.  As she tried to get it out, it went further and further in.  As she was just as obsessed with her ball she went in after it and when out of her depth decided to swim to some water lilies which covered the middle of the pond (and looked strong enough to stand on in her eyes)!

Well I thought:  a) at what point do I decide to go in for her having never seen her swimming skills? b) what do I tell my friends when they return from holiday when there is no dog to greet them!

So in I went!  Water at thigh level and it did cross my mind would anyone be along if I got stuck!

When I got near her - she just turned round and made her way back to the side, got out had a good shake and just stared at me!  In the meantime I got the ball (to stop her going back in) just as a family walked passed and saw me wading back thigh deep in water holding a tennis ball and the dog sitting there with that "well I wasn't going to fetch it" look!  

I can laugh about it now thankfully and my friends thought it highly amusing when I told them - especially as I had a 15 minute walk back to the car!

I am sure Diesel will go back in, it didnt put me off!

Pat

[supergirl]

I'm sure he'll go back in - Roly was never a keen swimmer, but suddenly it seemed to click, though he'll only swim if Ellie is (which is guaranteed!  ).

If it happens again, try walking away from him (I know it sounds mean), but you be amazed at how brave they will be to avoid being left 

[c19unn]

oh gosh thats so funny haha
You dont think of getting stuck because you think of the dog first - Ususally on cocker meets he is the one standing at the side of the water whilst the rest are all froliking in the water  
He is quite wimpy and a scared dog - needs reassurance alot and i think that becuase i wasnt near him he didnt have any security going back in the water himself to come back

Poor wee soul - but he was really good and stuck with me on the other side of the river when i was moving along it to find a way to get to him .

SUPERGIRL - Me and OH pretended we were running away like we had seen something but he just howled even louder :/

[ziggy]

Wish Ziggy hadnt learned to swim as up to 1 year he barked at waves. But he has realized that it is too cold in the sea at preset and is keeping out. But as we have a new pup no doubt he wil show off as soon as it is warm enough.