I Took my GR to her 1st hydro session today as she has HD.
Just wondered if they all thrash around on first visit in the pool, she was held by 2 poles conected to her on a jacket.
I did find it quite unpleasent when she tried to roll over in the water a few times in panic...but she was fine when coming to the ramp for a rest,she did 2minutes per session,a total of 6minutes.
She is really tired tonight....but not bothered by her ordeal, i think it bothered me more than her.

My boy almost jumped right into the pool.
I do know that he loves to swim in pools, ponds etc out in natures land.
He went just for fun and for general fitness.

I was told many dogs get worried and do this but in time they will get to the point that they love it so much you'll find it hard to get them out.

All in all its a great things for a dog to have, especially as your girl has HD.. In time they should build up the time she's in the pool as well.

Its only natural for us to panic when we think our dog is in distress, they tend to forget about it once they feel ok with the situation.

Hi Goldie, a friend of mine owns a hydrotherapy pool where I swim my own dogs and help out occasionally, and it really depends on the individual dog.  My Leo pup threw himself in at 12 weeks old and never looked back, but my GSD was very nervous and took several sessions before she would swim without panicking (she now hurls herself in, and the pair of them get so excited when we pull up outside!).  Most dogs will thrash about for the first few sessions before starting to get the hang of things (I'd say half a dozen sessions is average).  I've known a couple of dogs who hate it and never make good swimmers, but the majority really start to enjoy themselves.

She'll be off the poles and out of that jacket before you know it.  Then you'll have to watch yourself - I'm sure my two have a competition to see who can knock me in first!

Oscar made a right old fuss the first few times he went in the pool. He'd shiver and shake and try and get out at every opportunity.

By about our fourth or fifth visit he'd got the hang of it, decided he loved it, and then it was a job to get him out of the pool. He used to make the therapist laugh because he'd be in the reception area looking expectantly at the door, and as soon as he heard her voice he'd start whining and shaking with excitement. As soon as the door was opened he'd fling himself into the pool. It was hard to believe it was the same dog that had to be coaxed onto the ramp for the first few sessions :-D

The results were amazing too :)

Thanks Suejaw
She was very worried, and kept rolling over like a crocodile,that was the worst part for me.
They said the time will increase slightly each time she goes,thats once a week at the momment.
She is also overweight so we have to take it slowly.

I have to take my dog to this due to an injury and dreading her panicing in the water

I also have a fear of water so  i will need to keep calm

The Hydrotherapy pool that I know always has the therapist in the water with the dog. The dog always wears a jacket to keep them level in the water. When someone is in the water with your dog they can really help them relax and keep an eye on how stressed they become - this is especially important with older dogs who may have heart problems. The person in the pool can then work on the part of the dog that needs strenthening - and also help the dog enjoy the session as well. I would never take my dog to a Hydrotherapy pool where the dogs are just hoisted in and left to it!

I agree pod where my dogs go the is always someone in the water with them i can understand how scrie it must be to watch your dog in distress so i would never use a hydrotherapy pool where there was not someone in the pool with my dog .

My Dobermann absolutely hated swimming when he first started hydro, although he loves water in general. He would thrash about and pant manically, interpersed with high pitched whining, and was completely desperate to get out. One time he even threw up in the pool! It wasn't until about session 6 or so that he started to calm down a lot. He's had 20 sessions now and swims very relaxed with no panting or thrashing at all.

He started with just a few minutes but 3 1/2  months later has progressed to 3 x 10 mins against the jets. He is incredibly fit now (comes out the pool re-energised rather than tired!) and the muscles on each thigh have grown by 14 cms It was very hard in the early days watching him in such a flap (alomst phoned up after the first session and cancelled the whole course) but it's definitely been very beneficial for him now he's gotten used to it.

thanks everyone for your replys
She was ok once she settled down,and they did check her heart after each swim,she is only 3yrs old next week so still young.
Hope next week she may  like it a bit better, but i wont bet on it.
No they dont swim at this pool that i know off with the dog.

Zarah - love your avatar!!

alot do thrash around at first but after a few swims get the hang of it, I took mine to one for 7 years, it did make a huge difference, but the one I chose goes in the water with them, if they require it they use a swim jacket on the dog, being in the water with them does make a huge difference, they keep the dogs calmer, they also check the heart several times during a swim and are on hand should the heart rate have problems or the dog is in difficulty.  Whilst we were away for a couple of months I did take my dog to a different one where they use poles, I enquired if it would be possible for the therapist to go in with my dog instead, she was quite happy to do this so it might be worth asking

my staffy thrashes about when she first goes in and her eyes and bulging but she seems to love it.  When we go to the pool she runs into the venue and tries to get up the ramp before she has her life jacket on .

At the pool we go to there is no-one in the water with the dog as I feel this would be distracting.  My dog is on 2 lead reigns (one at each side of the pool) and I am usually speaking to her and giving her encouragement to swim against the currents.  I was told that my dog may not take to it as easily as some as she is used to swimming in the sea and when they see the boundaries of the pool it can be a bit off putting when they are used to life on the ocean wave!

Yes im at the side of the pool and was told to give her lots of  encouragement as you say. she is quite a nervous girlie about a few things so it prob take a bit longer i expect to get her used to it.
N ever mind its all for her to get a little better at the end of it all.

My other goldie would be in there like a flash loving it...totally different nature.

Ah thanks susieq! You can see the pic up close if you follow the link in my profile and scroll to the bottom of the page :-D