So we had an off leash walk down a side road, and Harry decided to jump into the outspout of a culvert, which is overflowing with icy cold water. Our water level is super high, and he got carried out about 10 feet, fighting against the current, swimming awesomely, before i tossed my crap to the kids and waded in, ready to swim and save him.
Smart boy came straight my way, along an underwater ice shelf against the willows. Terrified he stood there, while I waded towards him. I knew I wouldn't be able to coax him out, so I turned around, said okay, let's go, and he followed me back along the willows..
Lucky boy, a 2 hour blow dry, and some extra yummy wet food in his meal today. Practically gave me a heart attack, kids heard me say the f word. He did not protest grooming today! No more off leash for him til the water level is down!

Edited by Becky Niedbalka (05/03/2018 09:29 PM)
Edit reason: Spelling

With the issues you've had with this dog WHY was he off lead in the first place!!!

Without ABSOLUTE CONTROL , that you don't have right now, NO dog should be off lead.

That is one of the biggest mistakes a owner can have, in particular with a young, not so well trained dog!!!

He was on remote collar. But I take full blame. I deserved that Bob. I was slow on the remote. No excuses.

He was tip toeing all the water along the road for over a km without trying to wade in. So I let my guard down. He is now remote collar trained and respects our spaces and recalls when an odd car passes down that road, which is rare.
I won't be allowing him off lead again until the water level is back to norm. I really didn't think he would throw himself into a mass of moving water.
His issues are only on lead. After our daily on lead walks, he was getting some energy burning free run time with the e collar in the last of our snow. I combined marker training with the kids, so when they wandered, he is to leave them be.
But like I said, no excuse. I should not have let my guard down, he could have been traumatized.
On lead after, he tried to go round two for a jump in, he got a sharp pop and no. That's why I called him silly. I guess I was more scared than him!

Poor Becky. what a shock. This was a really dangerous situation. I must 100% agre with Bob. But you know this already and have learned out of it. Streaming water can be such a trap for animals and for humans. Gladly it finally ended well, more or less. Harry will probably fear such water in future, at least for a while.

I wouldn´t even trust a remote collar under such circumstances. Even if the dog is an awesome swimmer.Even the best swimmer can be carried away by a strong current.

've got the impression, A remote would maybe help to avoid that the dog jumps into the water. But on the other hand even with a remote a dog might by accident e.g. a slip or some misstep fall into .and you'd find yourself in the same horror. You'd have no possibility at all to help hin out.

But as I myself don't use a remote collar, I prefer to leave this to esxperienced people to judge. I'd actually be full of fear.

I'm not sure where you live, I thought it was quite suburban. If so, well you just have to have a leash most of the time.

For me, on the farm, though....
My dogs have to learn to use their heads. The world is not safe.

There is a deadly difference between " don't jump on the couch " and don't " try to bite the front tire on the UPS truck ".
Deep swift water is one of those things a dog has to learn about. Hopefully, he has learned.

Some bad experiences are life saving.

Now, you, on the other hand, could have drowned! People die every year in Minnesota trying to rescue their dogs off thin ice.

You know, Betty, I didn't want to critisize Becky or other people. I'm sure that a remote collar is a very useful tool, it all depends on the dog and of course the whole situation.

I live in Brazil, yes, in a suburban area, but also near to the town and the beach with lots of distractions. For me a remote isn't necessary. I do hope it will go on like that. Deep swift water we've never had here, this happens more in the South of the country. All I wanted to say was, that I'd be too afraid to go with my dog off-leash in such situations. I also said, I don't have any experience with a remote.


Maybe it is possible, to train a dog so far that he wouldn't go near to such water. But frankly I doubt it a bit and without a leash I wouldn't be able to help him out.

Your dogs have to learn to use their heads. That's a great thing to teach them. I'm trying this too, though under other circumstances. Clear, not everything is done with commandos. I also do agree, that some experiences are life saving. I do hope, that poor Harry had a shock big enough to remember it and to avoid such waters. But do you actually think he'll remember this for ever? Additionally such waters are not always the same. Do you think, a dog will learn sufficiently, when it is safe enough for him or not? Couldn't it happen that he misjudges something?

Christina, I believe Betty's post was to Becky, rather than you.

I'm going by this line: "Now, you, on the other hand, could have drowned!"

No suburban here, my backyard is bush, swamp, and tundra. And very close to Wapusk National Park.
Harry would have not jumped in had I been quicker on the remote. My fault
Don't worry ladies, I wasn't going to swim to him. Merely lead him out. I didn't even get a booter.
Doubt he learned a thing, since he still walks into walls that still have never moved.
But a learned experience, not going to happen again!
The water, being from the ponds, normally is ankle to calf deep, this went to waist, and prob neck now. It basically is blocked all around by willows, but all swift running water is drownable.
Leap of faith for him, moment of blind stupidity for me.

Sorry Betty and Becky!

So glad Becky, you and Harry came away with the horror and you were able to lead him out. I know, water can be awfully dangerous, We have quite a lot of accidents too in Switzerland, though not in our region.
My husband and I were over two decades long scuba-divers and had twice underestimated an underwater current in the sea. Once we managed ourselves to achieve with the utmost effort our boat. The second time it was pure luck, because people of another boat helped us.

Connie! Thanks so much for the info.Slowly but surely I'll disappear from here from sheer shame.