When your pup is an adult, you want him or her to approach the water like Rio (a 3 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever), eager to enter, and intent on his or her target. Yet this isn't always the case. At Stillmotion Kennels™ we like to start puppies in the water early, as long as the climate is warm enough for the pup to swim without danger of chill afterward.

There are those who say it makes sense to take a dog into the water, and then let him swim to shore. They believe that with this incentive, the dog will (learn to) swim. We disagree. Yes, the dog will save himself from drowning. But will he ever truly enjoy the water, and perform in it to the best of his ability? We believe this is highly unlikely. If the dog is in a fear imprint stage, he may always fear the water, and only overcome this fear with the intervention of a professional dog trainer.

At Stillmotion Kennels™ we introduce the puppies in our care to water in such a way that fear doesn't enter the picture. Between 7 weeks and 6 months, our job is to lay the ground work for a healthy attitude toward water later in life.

Call Stillmotion Kennels™ at (360) 629-3111 to consult with us about your dog or puppy's needs. We have limited space in Headstart, but always try to accomodate your schedule, and the level of your puppy's development. To that end, we also maintain a waiting list.

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