I have a flat coat retriever; she will not go into the water.What can i do?

My dog Maggie is a flat coat retriever, but I cannot get her to go into the water .What can I do?

Some do some don't. Depends on what they have been trained to do or what they have become accustoimed to.

Don't force her to go in the water. If she doesn't want to then you can't make her. My dog also isn't a great swimmer and panicked a bit when I took him to the lake with me this summer and I went swimming. Some dogs just don't like swimming...

My dog William was a flat coated retriever. They are awesome dogs.
At first, he would barely put his paw in the water. Finally I took a stick and threw it into the middle of the pond- and he swam for it. It also helped if I got in first and brought him in slowly.

Lead her into the water. Find something she loves and throw it close to the waters edge, next time a little further, then a little further, get the idea.

My German Shephard had a hard time with water too. I bought him his own plastic pool. I filled it and he drank out of it. Then I got in it and he put a foot in and it just went from there. Everytime he got a paw in, I would praise him. Now, he's in the pool when I am trying to fill it. He just needed to know that water will not hurt him. My German swims in ponds, lakes, his pool and he loves baths now too. Good Luck I hope this helps.

my lab will not go out of his depth!! not even after his beloved ball, he will however find the muddiest puddle he can.

unfortuantley just because the breed is known for loving water doesnt mean every dog will!! have patience, one day she will go in, but don't force her as that will only frighten her off it.

she probably just doesn't like the water. don't force her to get in. that will just make her more afraid.

Nothing. If she doesn't want to get into the water, don't make her.

Whatever you do, don't force her. Though her breed normally likes water, a few don't.

Wait till the weather is warmer (winter is not the time to work on this) and start with playing around in shallow water with her, maybe tossing balls or other toys in to encourage her to get her feet wet. She may come around, but this has to be non-threatening.

Some dogs just don't like water.

I have 4 labs. I have one that thinks she is a duck. I have one that will not get her feet wet. The other 2 are normal labs and like the water. As you can see, with 4 labs, it's a bell curve. One insane water hound, 2 that think water is fun and one that I cannot drag near anything damp.

We have one of those swimming pools. 3 dogs are in it, one is sitting by the back door. I figure some time she will come and get in. Maybe never. Try the pool.

It happens. I can't change the one that hates water. I'm not going to force her either. It's not fair to her and it's not fair to your dog either.

Work on the things she DOES like. Make her the greatest retriever ever. Teach her to really track and hunt for things you throw for her...

There are other things you can do with them besides let them swim. Who knows, maybe one day she'll get her feet wet...