Teaching Dogs how to exit pool

[matt4x4]

At least your dob's know HOW to swim, I spent close to an entire summer at hte cottage teaching a dob to swim - oh what a rough life!
Seriously - doberman's aren't the best swimmers, this one couldn't get it through his head that he needed to also kick with the back legs, all he tried to do was climb up on you to stay up, if you let him "swim" he'd just bob up and sink, sinking more than bobbing.
I finally just grabbed his hind legs and started bicycling with them, then he finally got teh idea, after that, he'd be off the end of the dock right behind me just having a blast.
My current dog doesn't like water too much, you take him swimming and all he tries to do is rescue you, his main concern is always to guide you to shore - go figure, he's part retriever, even has the webbing.....
Although, I'm sure if i threw a squirrel or other wildlife in the pool, he'd be in there in a flash!

[mshumack]

doberman's aren't the best swimmers, this one couldn't get it through his head that he needed to also kick with the back legs .
I finally just grabbed his hind legs and started bicycling with them, then he finally got teh idea, after that, he'd be off the end of the dock right behind me just having a blast.

Dobbies may not be good swimmers but they are certainly smart animals. Yours probably figured "why waste my energy kicking my back legs when I have some to do it for me".
Good story. HA HA.

[KirstenHW]

We have 2 skamper ramps that we bought ;ast year. We stopped having "pool sacrifices" after that, although we never saw anything actually using them. This year we got a winter cover leaf net that we secure to the deck when not using the pool. Also zero fatalities - bought a solar cover reel for it that I have to put together this weekend.

Here's a link to Skamper Ramps:

http://www.skamper-ramp.com/topic.asp?pid=1

[mshumack]

I would assume you still have to teach your pet to use the ramp. I'm not sure they would understand its purpose although they might accidently find it while paddling around the pool edge. Maybe I'm underestimating the intelligence of these animals.

When I first installed the doggy door - my Dobbies did not know what to do with it. Other than they would stick there head out the opening (to see what the weather is?) then pull their head back in and start pounding on the door with their paw so I can let them out. It took a while to show them how to go through the new opening. Now they blast through it - like the door is going to get ripped off the hinges. I expect one day I'll see them running accross the yard wearing the door like a collar.
Thanks for the link.