Jumping off of Docks Question

[Alex]

Uschi is about 50 lbs. now, adores swimming and fetching. My husband's dying to have her start jumping off of a dock to fetch, but I'm hesitant. When would you start? I'd like to let her experience jumping off of something into water while she's little, so she doesn't have any hang ups when she's bigger, but I'm worried she'll scare herself when her head goes under briefly on the jump. I considered getting a lifejacket and letting her jump while wearing that, but it seems silly to get a lifejacket that will only fit for a few weeks.
What would you do or what have you done in the past?

 

[Wash]

Wash has always been hesitant to jump off the dock, both as a puppy and as a 3 year old now. I actually wish I would have gotten him more used to it as a puppy.

 

[new_2_newf]

I don't know...never been there. But if she is a decent swimmer, then maybe it is time. I don't think she will freak if her head goes under, just be fairly close to make sure she comes right back up, just in case. Kinda like a kid. It would be good for her to get used to that..it will happen from time to time. Better for her to know how to deal than to panic I'd think, but I have never had a dog that small, and Sulley doesn't know what to do with a dock.

 

[Garden_girl]

but I'm worried she'll scare herself when her head goes under briefly on the jump

I'm wondering if you couldn't start her off with training by having her willingly put her head underwater? Has she been swimming already?
Do you have one of those baby pools? Could you entice her into putting her head underwater for say...a hunk of liver or a boiled egg (those things sink, don't they, lol)? Pick a food that sinks :shrug: Maybe that would make the actual dock dive less traumatic? Although it's entirely possible she may love it from the git-go.

Our boy, Murphy, was chasing a couple of girl Newfies, running after them on a dock. He accidentally ran right off the dock into the water and sank. :lol:
He came out (shocked as hell) and didn't want to get back in the water for the rest of the day. He still does love to swim, though.

 

[R Taft]

Katy found her own timing.........She initially jumped in from the edges and one day came across a dock. A Labrador jumped and Katy went, I will follow. She was about 4 months. She went right under and I thought it would be the last time, but no, she loves it. we don't get near a dock very often, but she loves it. Annabelle won't have anything to do with it. I think as long as it is not forced and they jump happily into the water. Maybe have a happy dock jumper to show her how, like we had Tina

 

[Ivoryudx]

My Personal Opinion...do it now! Puppies are much more forgiving than adults and the sooner you get them started the better off you will be.

A couple of things to keep in mind.

First keep her on a line from behind that you can pull her head up as she jumps. This will keep her from diving. You will probably need someone in the water and someone on the dock behind her.

Second, don't let her jump into shallow water to much as two things will happen. One - she will always want to jump into shallow water because she knows she won't ever go under. Two - she is a growing puppy, and you do not want her jumping down on her front. Even in water you don't want that impact on her front.

Make it fun, keep her doing it, so it does become fun for her. The sooner she learns to push out, and keep her head back/up the sooner she will be flying off on her own, and you will be working 'stay'.

 

[JackandKelly]

I agree, do it now. Lola (19 months) LOVES water. She would stay in our lake 24/7 if I would let her. As it is she swims several times each day. She willingly puts her head under the water to pick up things.
The other day I threw her toy off the dock when she was excited. She didn't even think and jumped in right after it. Her head stayed up. She swam to shore and brought the toy back out on the dock. I tossed it in again and she again went after it, but hesitantly the second time.
Since then..no matter what I do, what I throw or how much coaxing there is, she absolutely will not jump in again

 

[Garden_girl]

First keep her on a line from behind that you can pull her head up as she jumps.

This is exactly how we learned to train with Murphy. :nod:

 

[Alex]

We will try it today! And I'll bring some yummy underwater treats for her to rescue first, also. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[Alex]

Well, she went into the water readily enough, but there was no jumping involved. She just stepped off of the edge so she went in headfirst/summersault. If I had tried to pull her head with the leash, I would have just suspended the front half of her body while the back half was still on the dock. I think maybe it was too high? The water line was about 2 ft. below the dock surface. I tried jumping off to see if she'd follow me... and she did, but it was still the summersault rather than a jump. Same thing with a stick. Any ideas?

 

[JackandKelly]

Our dock is 2'-3' above the water. The first two times Lola jumped and did it pretty well keeping her head up, but I think because we are so high is part of the reason she won't do it again. We are going to try to build a platform off the edge of the dock down lower so we can practice from approx 1' above the water to start with

 

[Lkorzen]

My lil man Zacc started swimming jumping in our pool at 5 months old. His water instincts are very strong so he was more than willing to jump for a cookie. Zacc just competed in his first Dock Dogs event and absolutely loves to jump. My girl Koda on the other hand, will swim in our pool all day but she will not jump, I wonder if it is because she was older when we let her into the pool. We should have started her early. Good luck and have a blast!

 

[Sully]

first time at the cottage Sully was very brave and very excited. He surprised us by just running down the dock and jumping off the end. He sank like a stone and was NOT impressed when he came thrashing to the surface. Since then he will not jump in again. He still loves to swim.. and he does get very close to jumping if we throw something in.. he will stand at the end and get into the push off position, then back off, then get into jump off position again, then back off etc. He gets frustrated and starts whining until he just turns and runs around in the easy way. I hope we can get him to build up his courage again for jumping off!