Doesnt Like Swimming

Hi all,
My Staffy is nearly 6 now & he has never really liked to go swimming.

I have a clamshell thing in the back yard full of water for him all the time in the summer etc & he does go into that but even then he will only stand & then put his chest into the water but we wont put his bum in the water & leaves it sticking up in the air.

Is there a known reason for this at all or does anyone know if I can adjust him to enjoy swimming more etc?

Ive taken him to the beach etc & he likes paddling but runs from the waves & again wont go deeper than he can walk.
In the past I have carried him out to deeper water & tried to show him its safe etc but as soon as he can get free hes back to the beach & not interested.

Any tips appreciated as I really think he would like swimming.

Suki is the same way. She avoids the water at all costs. She doesn't even like to get her paws wet and will avoid puddles. We tried to get her used to it but after awhile just accepted that it wasn't her thing.

Do you throw things for him to chase? That's how I've always done it. You just have to make sure you start slowly, chasing a ball or something well within his comfort zone, then gradually throw it deeper. Also make sure you use something you don't care about, just in case he doesn't go for it (although your water's probably warm enough for you to dive in, unlike ours!)

My Sheara loved water until we went the beach one time and when the water came upto the sand banks its difficult to see how deep it gets. well Sheara thought it was a puddle then ended up full body under!! I was nearly in there myself to drag him out but he came back up pretty quick and got himself out. Since then water isn't an option, even real puddles are avoided.

Has Yoda had a bad experience? Guess dogs are a little like us really, you either like it or you don't.

Iza likes a paddle and jump about in the river up to her chest (its a litlle shallow in places) but thats it she does avoid puddles at all costs.

Swimming!? Bo won't even go out if it's threatening rain. Last night it was barely drizzling and and he refused to go out for his midnight pee. Instead he pretended to be interested in the wall and then wagged his body and snuffled at my feet like he does when he wants comforting. I had to do the regular thing of putting on all my gear and taking him out on the lead.

LOL, thanx heaps for all the replies.

Yes I agree maybe its just not Yodas thing.

Hes not big on chasing things to be honest so not sure how that would go. When he was younger I tried everything under the sun, had several puppy school seasons etc but he just never took to swimming.

Im not aware that Yodas had a bad experience (ive had him since 6 weeks) but I do remember a mate throwing him in the river once when he was maybe 2yo, trying to get him interested & he didnt seem real happy. He was already against it so maybe that didnt help get him over it either. I never tried to force the issue with him myself.

Here is an example of how he wont even get his bum wet....rofl

Bo wouldn't even put his toe in water. Having said that he fell in the duck pond again today after slipping whilst chasing ducks. He was a pathetic spectacle and disappeared under the water with his feet flapping like mad. When he eventually resurfaced I fished him out using his harness and he stood alternately chuffing and shaking for a full two minutes. He shook himself so much he moved about ten feet along the grass without walking.

Gizmo will run through puddles and ponds, but only if they're super muddy and/or make him smell like the beast from the blue lagoon. If it's clean water then it's obviously some sort of stealth-bath and he'll have none of it.

Now that is funny how he won't put his bum in Stu. My Flo had precious paws when we first got her and wouldn't even put a paw in a puddle let alone mud, however, that has all changed now and she simply dives on through.

Like Yoda, my Flo will paddle in the sea but won't swim, I guess they either like it or don't