Today I took the kids and the dog to the beach together for the first time. Everything was great, he's curious and gentle with other dogs, great off the lead and comes when called...BUT...the kids went straight into the sea and he went a bit nuts. Went bounding after them and bit DS on the hand. Not hard but hard enough. They ran away and of course he chased them. SO I told the kids to get out of the water and walked him up and down the beach a bit. Then I put him on the lead and he sat with me while they played in the water.
Then I got them out and went into the water myself and he did the same to me, as soon as a big wave came up he ran to me and grabbed my hand with his mouth. So...I'm pretty sure he was trying to "rescue" us but how can I stop it?
He's not afraid of the water at all and bounds straight in there. FOr those that don't know he's a 7ish year old Ridgeback and as far as I know this is the first time he's been taken to the beach in his life (since I got him so he;s been every day for a week). He's a massive softy and DS is fine, didn't hurt but he;s a big dog so DS was a little shanken to begin with.
So how can I teach him that the water is fine for us and to let the kids and I swim?
I'd take him into the water with you, with him on the lead, then back out. I'd do that a few times. Then walk with him off the lead in the water and back out a few times. Then eventually let you/the kids go in and see what he does. Does he respond to rewards for good behaviour? Ie: food or throwing a ball? Make sure you reward the good behaviour
Growing up we had a dog that did similar. Im sure in her mind she was just trying to save us from what looked like a dangerous situation. Try taking him down on low tide when the sea is flat, walk him through the shallows on the lead and reassure him, play games with him in the water as well. Start with the small waves and work your way up to high tide.
I don't think the sea is ever flat here! Normally when the water is up to knee height he's fine...it's when we get deeper than that he doesn't like it. And I don't want to have to take him in the morning and then the kids again by themselves after school so they can swim...Hmmm.
He does respond to treats, i've taught him in a week to stand, lie down eetc and when he comes as soon as I call I give him a treat. He even runs towards other dogs and I call him back and he comes to me...he is so incredibly good. He doesn't respond to throwing a ball or a stick...I threw one the other day and he just looked at it, looked at me with an expression like "what did you do that for" lol
Its weird because he loves the water, runs straight to it and goes up to his head...but as soon as a big wave comes near us thats it...I definitely think he;s trying to pull us back to the shore with his mouth (obviously the only way). And it's not hard, doesn't even leave a mark, but thats not the point. And I would hate for him to do it to someone else's child. He's so big that people are automatically scared of him but he's such a softy.
He's been here a week now and DD2 (4) lies down and uses him as a pillow!
I would be doing what Rhichichi suggested. Take him into the water on a lead with you and use treats as a reinforcement of good behaviour and assurance. Me sounds very protective and just needs to know it is okay. I think in time he will figure it out. Just don't stop taking him so he gets the chance. He sounds lovely
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