This section is from the book "Breeding, Training, Management, Diseases Of Dogs", by Francis Butler. Also available from Amazon: Breeding, training, management, diseases.
Some dogs have such a desire for aquatic adventures, that they require only the sight or perhaps smell of the water, in moderate weather, to invite them in. The Newfoundland and Spaniel appear to have the strongest instinctive desire for swimming, though even some of these require considerable encouragement and training, to make them good water-dogs. I have however never raised a dog msyelf, whether Newfoundland, St. Bernard, Spaniel, Terrier, etc., without having easily imparted to him a particular fondness for the water. Greyhounds, thin-coated and hairless dogs are the most backward, on account of their light covering and chilly nature. 1 have known hardy Bull-terriers to face the ice, better than a Newfoundland, no doubt to be accounted for by their dauntless courage and determination, rather than by their fitness to resist the cold. A large dog is the more easily taught it, when young, than a pup of smaller breed, as he can venture farther, without getting out of his depth. The first lesson should be in shallow water, or if deep, of very gentle descent, as young dogs arc often checked, on finding themselves too suddenly out of their depth. The pupil must be very gradually introduced to the watery element, by casting the object to be fetched, into shallow water, close to the bank, and taking it immediately out of his mouth on landing. The distance must be daily increased, according to the aptness of the scholar. Care should be taken to make the lessons very short, until he is far enough advanced in practice, to venture freely of his own accord ; even then it is injurious to prolong too much the exercise, on account of disgusting the animal, or causing him to be too much chilled or exhausted. A dog should upon no consideration be thrown into the water, unless you are positively satisfied he can never be tempted to venture alone. It will serve at any rate to purify his pelt, but will never make him a water-dog. Hundreds, who might have made good water-dogs, are ruined, by being forced against their will, and thereby scared at the very idea of drinking out of a pond. When you begin your instructions, let it be in warm summer weather, that the dog may feel a real pleasure in cooling himself off. If you commence in cold weather, you may set your dog against it, by his disagreeable early impressions; therefore begin in shallow-water, and in warm weather, and let his introductory initiations be short, easy and very encouraging.
 
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