Here is an explanation from Linda Harger. For a few of you who don't know Linda, she has the ONLY two living Dual CH. FC/AFC retrievers in the world. Lives in Idaho and is one of the most successful Chesapeake Bay Retriever trainers of all time-
"Water freaking is a lack of focus, dogs who freak tend to forget what they are supposed to be.....like a water retriever. If I have one do it I'll do as Tommy W....here nick here......there are some dogs I let swim or play but if I say here they better start swimming in or they won't think the water is so fun.....
Most freakers aren't smart enough to allow to play as they can't tell the difference when it comes to work"
"Some dogs are just water freaks it isn't from training at all.....pressure of the incorrect kind brings no go, water avoidance issues. A " freaker" has the proclivity from the get go and it increases or decreases with training and Learned focus....I really think it is a pure lack of focus in the real world...these dogs forget anything else around them until they tire or are made to "wake up"
I sat in my lawn chair for an hour plus several summers ago and watched as a 3 year old male freaked his way across Parasides Reservoir in Wyoming......I could see him thru my binoculars hit the far shore, get out, shake off, run around a few minutes, look around in surprise when he realized he wasn't near the truck or any of his friends and then pace back and forth trying to decide to swim back. He did without freaking and I could call him out when ever he started to freak without any hesitation from then on......most, thankfully don't take a mile swim to realize what is happening"
There are a few other resources which have some people discussing water freaking. Boykins are known to be one of the breeds with a tendency to be water freaks as are Chesapeakes and Labs.
Most people recommend a very solid foundation of collar conditioning and making sure the dog absolutely understands the "here" command associated with collar pressure and has also been de-bolted.
Putting collar pressure (bark collar or otherwise)of any kind for barking will not solve the problem and will likely lead to ruining your dog very, very quickly.
