We have a pool in the back and have been reluctant to give Dakota free run of the yard until he knows how to get out of the pool if he should fall in. With the weather better, we decided that yesterday was training day. What a disaster 
!! I have never had a problem like this before. I tried to coax him in--not really expecting him to respond--and when that failed, my husband took him about 8-10 feet from the steps (with leash on) and dropped him in the water. We held the leash and directed him toward the steps. This has not failed in the past, but Dakota thrashed and tried to climb out of the side of the pool, over and over. I'm not even sure if he swam at all or if we just drug him to the steps. We did this 5 times, with a nice treat every time. No improvement. Except now, he keeps walking over to the pool and looking at it--I don't like that at all because I'm not at all convinced he figured out the meaning of the steps . . . Any ideas on pool training??
!! I have never had a problem like this before. I tried to coax him in--not really expecting him to respond--and when that failed, my husband took him about 8-10 feet from the steps (with leash on) and dropped him in the water. We held the leash and directed him toward the steps. This has not failed in the past, but Dakota thrashed and tried to climb out of the side of the pool, over and over. I'm not even sure if he swam at all or if we just drug him to the steps. We did this 5 times, with a nice treat every time. No improvement. Except now, he keeps walking over to the pool and looking at it--I don't like that at all because I'm not at all convinced he figured out the meaning of the steps . . . Any ideas on pool training??
