Regardless of the long-range training and hunting goals you set for your retriever, there are three things you absolutely cannot afford to screw up while your dog is still a puppy. That is their introduction to water, birds, and gunfire . These three tenets of building a solid hunting retriever are non-negotiable.
For this article, I’m going to explain my methods for properly introducing your pup to water. In subsequent articles, I’ll cover proper introduction to birds and then, lastly, proper introduction to gunfire. The overriding rule that applies to all three of these topics is this: Never, ever take it for granted that just because you bought yourself a dog from the world’s greatest breeding, your pup will “naturally” greet these new experiences with happiness and excitement.
Do you have phobias that you just can’t shake? I know many adults who are deathly afraid of going to the dentist. Some grow faint at the sight of a snake. The list goes on. I’m not being an alarmist when I say that if you screw up on your pup’s initial exposure to any of these three items, it will likely have an impact for the rest of its life. We humans have tools such as rational thinking to overcome phobias; dogs, on the other hand, only have their instincts, plus a very long memory.
Your retriever needs it to be confident in and around water in order to succeed as a hunting dog. (Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Karls) The Wrong Ways to Introduce a dog to Water A dog that likes water is part of the complete retriever package, but you already know that. Even if you don’t intend for your dog to be a duck hunting companion, it’s going to encounter water at some point in your upland outings, so you may as well ensure that crossing a creek or retrieving a pheasant out of a pond won’t be a problem.
I’ll get to the right way to introduce a young dog to water shortly, but first, let’s cover the “do nots.” The first one is a biggie: Don’t create the chance for an accident. Until your pup is a confident, experienced, and enthusiastic swimmer, keep it away from the dock and the boat. You want to avoid having your pup fall in. No, your retriever won’t drown if it does, but tumbling into the lake unexpectedly would be a shock and a reason for it to want to avoid water in the future.
I’ve actually heard people say that you should just toss the dog into the water because “he’ll figure it out.” Trust me, that’s horrible advice. A slightly less egregious but still bad idea is for you to carry your pup out into deep water and then release it, forcing it to swim. Don’t do that. Your pup will live through this swim-or-die ordeal, but it will leave a mark on its psyche that could be a challenge for the rest of its life.
We’ve had a few instances at our kennel where clients brought dogs that were solid retrievers on land, but when we transitioned to water marks, they would hit the brakes instead of jumping in. Inevitably, when I’d ask the owners, they would admit that their dog had a bad water experience as a pup.
Also (and this is a reminder to hunters in northern climates especially), don’t be in a rush to get your pup in the water as soon as the ice is off the ponds and lakes. It would be silly to encourage a pup to get into the water only to be shocked by an unpleasant, unplanned ice bath.
A positive introduction to water makes water marks far easier for your dog. (Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Karls) The Right Way to Introduce a Dog to Water Everything about your pup’s first water encounter should be a positive experience. Here are my basic requirements when looking for a place to introduce water:
Warmth: I want a sunny, hot day after several days of warm weather that has resulted in a comfortable water temperature. If I can comfortably wade in water that feels lukewarm to me, it will be fine for a dog.
Small: A pond or small lake is preferable. A huge lake where you can’t see the opposite shore could be intimidating.
Shallow: I prefer a shallow depth for at least the first several feet out into the water. And even better, if the depth increases gradually, allowing the pup to wade in before it becomes deep enough to necessitate swimming, that can be a confidence-builder. Some boat ramps can be ideal, but some of them drop off pretty quickly, so pay attention.
Hard bottom: There’s a feeling of security that comes with a hard-packed bottom as opposed to mud or muck that sucks at a dog’s feet.
Depending on my pup’s maturity and focus, I might or might not have a check cord attached to its flat collar, just in case the pup tries to run off. Wearing hip boots or waders, or maybe even just wearing shorts if it’s really warm, I wade out to about the knee-deep point and call the pup to me. Everything about this needs to be upbeat. Some pups will plunge right in, their natural ability takes over, and before you know it, they’re actually swimming. Others will spend a lot of time cautiously sniffing around and then tiptoe in. Give lots of happy talk and encouragement to try to get your pup to venture beyond the depth where it can stand.
If your pup is hesitant, don’t get frustrated. And never use the check cord to force it into the water. Everything is better if your dog learns at its own pace.
It is important to introduce your dog to decoys before its first hunt. (Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Karls) Additional Opportunities Once you’re past the initial water introduction, don’t be surprised if your retriever wants to go for a swim whenever you’re near any type of water. Great, job accomplished! Now you have the opportunity to continue your pup’s education.
Are you going to duck hunt? Next time you’re at the pond, carry a few decoys along and plop them in the water. (For a smoother experience, introduce decoys on dry land first.) Let your dog swim around and play in the water. If it tries to grab a decoy, distract it or gently guide it away. With enough exposure to the fakes, decoys will become an object to ignore, and that’s a good thing to do before you actually go hunting.
What about water retrieves? If your pup is already happily picking up bumpers on land, you can certainly do some tosses in the water during the first few outings to build excitement. I’d remind you here to keep the “fun” in fun bumpers. You’re not doing formal water training yet. This is another situation where I prefer to be in the water with my pup. That way I can control the situation, and I don’t have to be concerned with my pup trying to run off and play “catch me,” as often happens with young dogs.
Just because “most” retriever pups love water from the first time they encounter it, I’ll remind you again to never make that assumption about yours. You just never know. Take your time and ensure an enjoyable experience. I promise, it will make future training and hunting all the better.
