When our daughter got married in 2005 she was living in Florida. To make it easier on us, we rented a house on a canal for two weeks. The house was lovely with a master suite and bath and it also had an in ground pool. I made sure dogs were allowed in the pool before I rented it.
The drive down took less time than we expected so we arrived mid-afternoon on Saturday. The first thing I did after dropping my luggage in the bedroom was to open the slider and jump in the pool.
Sampson was about 15 months old at the time and had never been in a pool. He had only been exposed to ponds and streams.
Poor baby, he stepped into the pool expecting that there would be earth underneath him and there wasn’t. He was panicked but luckily we were both there and helped him to the stairs.
It took more than a few days to coax him back in, which my brother-in-law eventually did. At first he only wanted to be in the pool when one of us was with him.
You won’t let anything bad happen to me, right Dad?
But by the end of the two weeks, he would go in the pool by himself, swim around and climb back out.
The only pool Delilah has been exposed to is my sister’s above ground pool. It is accessed by a deck attached to the back of their house. We were there for the 4th of July a few years back and the dogs had a fine time swimming for toys.
Our walking buddy has an in ground pool that the dogs can swim in. She recently had a major landscaping overhaul done to her back yard and invited us up to see it during one of our walks.
Sampson jumped right in the pool and swam around.
I love a refreshing dip after a nice walk.
I was quite surprised that Delilah refused to go in. She stood on the edge of the pool but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Come on in Delilah, the water’s great!
I tried to show her where the steps were but I was in full hiking gear and couldn’t get in the pool. She ran around and around the edge of the pool but couldn’t bring herself to jump in.
Have you seen the video of the dog pawing the water for the toy, because it wants the toy but is afraid to jump in?
She was doing the same thing.
It made me feel sad, because Delilah is the bravest dog I know and I’ve never seen fear hold her back.
I want to, I’m just afraid.
But at the same time, I think a little fear can be a good thing. It might stop you from jumping in feet first and finding out there is no earth under your feet.
Don’t let your fear hold you back, stick your toe in and test the waters, BEFORE you jump in. 
Just Be The Dog.
Comments on: "Test The Waters" (38)
Maybe she’d rather do the Jacuzzi.
She wouldn’t go in there either! LOL
We’re going to have our first swimming pool experience with the dogs in about a month’s time. I too really hope they enjoy it but I’ll bet you the following: Sadie will at first refuse but once coaxed in will refuse to get out. Hurley will quickly figure out the steps but not go in any further. Maggie will refuse to go in entirely and do the pawing at the ball thing.
It’s so funny to see how some dogs love certain types of water but hate other forms.
Interesting, I’d love to hear whether your predictions hold. It really surprised me that she wouldn’t go in, she went into my sister’s just fine. Maybe too much time has passed?
She looks so eager and ready to get in, she’ll do it another day for sure.
I do hope so, I wouldn’t want her to miss out on that opportunity.
Georgia would do the same as Delilah. She prefers walking in to water than jumping. Kind of like me too
But she did it before, which is why I was so surprised that she wouldn’t this time.
Great post! A little caution is a good thing in life
Thanks, yes the old adage…..look before you leap.
better safe than sorry sometimes.
Yes Frankie and Ernie, you are so very right.
Aladdin wouldn’t even be anywhere in sight of that pool. No matter how much I wish he loved water, he just won’t do it. I bet Delilah will do it next time. She is showing interest!
Hmmm….does he like his baths?
I think if I could have gone in the pool and shown her how to get in and out she would have been fine.
Good advice on any day, but today I’m afraid I’d just have to jump in head first!
Hope you’re having a good weekend!!
I hope your day went well, whatever jumping you were doing!
That is a surprise Jodi, knowing a little about Delilah’s character I would have expected her to have jumped in with no hesitation – especially as Sampson was in and swimming.
My thoughts exactly Bassa, which is why I was so surprised.
Maybe next time! It’s funny how they react to things sometimes, they always keep us on our toes don’t they!
She does that Misty!
Awww. Flo loves the water – she loves jumping in and out of the creek with her friends and running backwards and forwards in the ocean, but will she get in our own pool? No. One of her friends is the same. I don’t get it. I sometimes wonder if she’d be okay if it were a pool which had a gentle slope to get in rather than steps…
So do you have a large pool for humans to swim in? I think you are right, I know they do make those types of pools, perhaps that is what I will have to invest in.
Yes, I’ve got a human pool, but she won’t get in at all. I took her in when I first got her to show her where the steps were so that she could make her way there if she ever fell in. It would be really good if she did because swimming would be great exercise for her shoulder!
It sure would! My friend had her dog workout on an underwater treadmill. Lily loved it!
Maybe the water was just too clean for her? She is all Lab after all, and maybe she preferred something a little messier??
It was actually quite dirty which is why I didn’t take my shoes and socks off and wade in myself! LOL
I love that first pic – is that not the soppiest face ever!
He does have a very soppy face, he just melts my heart.
LOL Delilah and Scarlett seem to be landlovers
Harley would certainly like to join Sampson for a dip! The pics are great!!
She loves the lake though!! LOL
I am surprised Delilah didn’t want to go into the pool. She seems to have such a strong drive, I would have thought the toy would have done the trick. But then again, a pool can look different to a dog. Not sure what the brown dawgs would do because they have never had a chance to swim in a pool.
I was quite surprised too. You know your dogs better than I. Storm (it seems to me) is very similar to Delilah, I wonder what she would do?
Our stud muffin Timmy growls at his water dish if it splashes him. I don’t think it is fear as much as that he wants to be in charge.
LOL the cat sits and stares at the water dish. I wonder if he thinks it’s a magic mirror?
I love these pics!
me too!
I love the pictures too, and the dogs look great!
Thanks Mary Ann!