        |
 |
              |
February 4, 2012
The Long Swim
e avoid pitting our retrievers against the impossible, or life-threatening situations encountered in severe weather, but many star performers demonstrate an ability to do that which is beyond our expectations. The key skill exhibited by those that amaze us in bringing back difficult birds lies in the long swim. Most retrievers can swim for long periods of time without noticeable fatigue. Their natural protection against the cold, and stamina, make this possible. There are limits, of course, that we should be aware of as responsible dog handlers. I can assure you that some retrievers of all three major breeds are deficient in watergoing ability and inclination. These individuals are, I think, somewhat rarer than generally thought. To develop top water dogs, fear of the water and reluctance to get wet must be overcome. We have trained many retrievers that, at the outset, flatly refused to enter water. Those that were naturally fearful of swimming often conquered this phobia upon gentle and persistent introduction to the water. My wife, Amy, has begun several such dogs in the water by wading into our ponds with them and insisting that they swim. Many dogs of this type, once their fear is conquered, become effective water dogs. Others are quite stubborn about going in, and require pressure following force-fetch and force-on-back to achieve dependable water entries. Dogs of this type are more difficult to convince than those initially afraid of the water. Most of their lives will require repeated lessons in distant water entries, angled entries, and reentries from islands and points. These dogs tend to “bug” as you line them on blinds or marks – they avoid looking where you try to direct them. Subscribe Now! |
Training with the Pros
