Flirt Pole and a Pool

[MyBuddy]

I wanted to get Annie a little accustomed to water. Whether from the hose or in a little pool like this. My husband brought this home a couple weeks ago when we knew it was getting hot. We thought the hot temperatures would entice her to go in on her own, but it didn't. She was curious but she never did go in.

A couple of times I just picked her up and put her in with me and she was a little more curious as I moved the water with my feet. I only had about 2-3 inches of water in there. I didn't want to scare her and I also wanted to be able to empty it out easily. It got dirty fast.

So then one day I remembered about the Flirt Pole! I have a lunging whip for my horses and I have used it before with Buddy and Kali. Kali goes nuts for it!

So I tied a toy to it and took Annie out on the grass. She loved it! We only played for a few minutes at a time so as not to over exert her. Especially going around and around in circles or jumping up and twisting her back or something. And it was hot!


And then I got the idea of playing with it on our deck by the pool! After she chased it a few times I tossed it into the pool. Oh yeah, she like that! In and out of the pool with the toy many, many times.

Now sometimes she'll just go in on her own or we'll throw a toy in there as we sit on the deck and play fetch.

I know a lot of you use the flirt pole as an exercise. If you have any pictures of your dogs, feel free to post them up. Anybody use a little pool like this too? I'd be interested in hearing stories of how you introduced your dog to water.

 

[JanS]

So cute! I should get the flirt pole out again since I would like to try fastcat. I haven't used it since Albert and he loved it.

I've never had a pool out since hubby would have a fit if they came in with a speck of water on them.

 

[Katyusharocket]

I just love this! I wasn't on the ball enough to try tempting her with a toy or flirt pole when I had a little pool set up for Katyusha back in the day. I have 2 videos of the day that Katyusha was introduced to water. After this day, on the way home, was the day I knew for sure this dog was telling me she had tons more potential than I was getting out of her, so I signed us up for 18 weeks training at Petco the very next weekend.

Here is the introduction. We took her to the river and myself and the other person and her 3 dogs all crossed the river. Man she wanted to come but she had to overcome that fear. I think we worked on her for what felt like half an hour and she finally did it and came across to join us.

the next video she finally did it!

She still doesn't love water for water's sake, but she does see it as an avenue to play if she is around other dogs who love water. The odd thing, though, is despite that, her love for kayaking with me is huge! Most days she just stays in the boat. One day she took a leap and came stressed out to the side of the boat so i pulled her in with her life jacket handles.

 

[jazzies mum]

Jazz always was a waterbaby but it took a little while before she worked out that thrashing her front legs didn't work well!

Jazz loved her flirt pole too but after she pulled a muscle I decided she was too wild at it!

 

[Katyusharocket]

That's just too cute! Couldn't help it.

 

[Kaiser2016]

Sounds like she's more comfortable with it now. I introduced mine empty and inside the house. Once he laid inside it in the house I moved it outside and only added water later.


He never really laid in the water but he played in it with whatever toy he had at the time.

 

[Cferg]

@MyBuddy I think this is an outstanding example of building desire to be in the water. There’s been members asking how to get their dog to swim. Or how to “teach” them. From my experience the most you can do is to get them to want to. There is no way of communicating how to. You just have to make it as fun and appealing to the dog as possible. Great job

 

[MyBuddy]

I have 2 videos of the day that Katyusha was introduced to water.

That's pretty cool! That first video looks like the water was moving quickly! I'm sure it was a happy moment when she crossed over the whole thing. It looked pretty far from you!

 

[MyBuddy]

So cute! I should get the flirt pole out again since I would like to try fastcat. I haven't used it since Albert and he loved it.

I've never had a pool out since hubby would have a fit if they came in with a speck of water on them.

Oh yeah they'd probably love the flirt Pole! And the pool too! What's a little water on the floor? lol Most of the time she's walking around the deck for a few steps and her feet are already dry. I still don't have it very deep. But it's nice just to step in there and cool off. Right now the water is actually too warm from sitting in the sun.

 

[MyBuddy]

Jazz loved her flirt pole too but after she pulled a muscle I decided she was too wild at it!

Yeah that's what I and watch for. I know they go nuts for it and it's just kind of going in a circle so I try and take it easy and just do a little bit at a time.

 

[MyBuddy]

Sounds like she's more comfortable with it now. I introduced mine empty and inside the house. Once he laid inside it in the house I moved it outside and only added water later.

Well you did that nice and easy. I didn't even think about having it inside the house. But I did have it out there with no water in it for a while. And then I tried a little bit but she wasn't interested until I put her in there with me. Kind of like what happened when I took her into my shower. Seeing her human do it maybe enticed her LOL like if she can do it I can do it!

 

[MyBuddy]

@MyBuddy I think this is an outstanding example of building desire to be in the water. There’s been members asking how to get their dog to swim. Or how to “teach” them. From my experience the most you can do is to get them to want to. There is no way of communicating how to. You just have to make it as fun and appealing to the dog as possible. Great job

Exactly! Make it fun and appealing and it will happen. And that's exactly what happened! When I got in there and started kind of splashing around with my feet and talking baby talk and excited, then she thought that was fun. Just like you would do with child!

 

[Cferg]

Exactly! Make it fun and appealing and it will happen. And that's exactly what happened! When I got in there and started kind of splashing around with my feet and talking baby talk and excited, then she thought that was fun. Just like you would do with child!

Exactly what I did. You have to be as animated and kooky as possible. To the point you would be embarrassed if out in public. All dogs can naturally swim, some better than others. You don’t have to “teach” them. Think about it, how could you possibly train a dog to swim using the four quadrants?

 

[jazzies mum]

Really hot weather adds an extra incentive for pool appreciation!

 

[MyBuddy]

Really hot weather adds an extra incentive for pool appreciation! View attachment 147914View attachment 147915

Oh, that's adorable !