Training a dog to swim

[lokidog]

Just keep doing what you are doing, and be patient.  Having the kids go in the water is a great plan. 

The guy throwing his dog off of the dock is a *censored*, and shouldn't own a dog. 

I had a lab/healer that would only go into the water to her chest.  One day, on a hike in the mountains, I was throwing a stick for her into the ponds.  One throw went a bit far, when she was on the edge of a drop off, she was reaching for it and slipped over the edge, splashed a bit, got her feet under her and figured out that she could actually swim.  I couldn't stop her from swimming after that.

Dont force the issue at all and let your pup take it's time.  Assumming your dog is fetching already, gradually give it further tosses, take your time here though.

Id also suggest taking your dog around other pups that love the water.

Baby steps here, if you throw a dog in the water it will not work out in your favor.

The other dog/pup idea would also be my suggestion.

[JJD]

Lot harder to do when they get to be full size rather than a pup, but as well, ya don't want to take a very young pup to freezing cold water.

Having another dog around who loves water is a big help.  I like to get in the water with the pup, support their mid/rear section and sort of guide them into deeper water IF they are not willing to follow the dog who loves water. 
Be very patient.  All dogs really do not know how to swim and may need help.

[netcoyote]

Some breeds seem to be more easily taught to swim. For some dogs it just seems to be a natural thing to do. We never had trouble with out Aussies and our last one was a great swimmer, you could hardly get him out of the water. Not so with my English Setter, he hates the water and will not go in water over his shoulders. I gave up forcing it, figuring he's an upland dog and probably would have little need to swim to be a good hunter. It just hasn't been a problem.
I suspect if you have a breed that you expect to hunt waterfowl with and he refuses to swim,...well you're probably going to need some professional help. I agree with others that throwing them in repeatedly is not likely to have a positive outcome.

[yorketransport]

Well she finally decided to start swimming today! It was just a matter of getting all the way in one time. I tossed her retrieving dummy just out of reach at a small drop off in the lake. When Pepper reached to get the toy, she slipped and went in. That was all it took. I spent the next hour throwing her toy out as far as I could and she'd go after it like she'd be swimming for years.

I figured that she'd get tired pretty quick, but my arm got tired long before she got bored!

[Curly]

That is great.

[RadSav]

I had a young pup once that wouldn't go in past his chest.  And he really didn't even like that. 

One day I was jump shooting some ducks and kicked up a goose of which I shot poorly.  It swam in circles in about four feet of water for about 5 minutes.  He cried and ran back and forth the whole time trying to figure how to get to the bird without getting wet.  Finally he could take it no longer and in he went.  All the way there trying to climb out of the water instead of swimming through it.  Once he had the goose in his mouth he leveled out and swam like a champ.  I spent the next 15 minutes giving him hugs and telling what a good dog he was.  Dug out all the cheese in my pack and we celebrated together!

From that day forward he was a true water dog.  I'd let him out of the house and he would bust out full speed and jump in the water swimming just for the sake of swimming.  Ended up being one of the best water dogs I've ever had!

[REHJWA]

Congratulations  Can't wait to hear about the first water retrieve of the season...

[JJD]

Glad it all worked out. 
patience wins in the end.