How do I keep my dog out of my new fountain or pond?

I just finished making a natural fountain in my backyard with a pond that has plants and lights in it and my chocolate lab thinks it was made for her and keeps jumping in there and splashes all the water out and leaving it all murky while clogging up the filter with hair. How can I keep her out?

How do I keep my dog out of my new fountain or pond?

Put her on a leash and walk up to the pond - when she tries to jump in, give her a correction (short, firm tug on the leash). Keep this up for 2 weeks and DON'T let her near the pond with out the leash or unsupervised. It's the same kind of training that would be used to keep the dog off the sofa or to stop the dog from jump on people.

After the two weeks, try her with out the leash - if she is still jumping in when you tell her "NO", the leash goes back on and you keep the training up. It will take time, remember you are trying to break a natural desire for her to be in the water - she is a Lab, that is what they were bred for.

Good luck, be patient.

How do I keep my dog out of my new fountain or pond?

Whenever she does something that you disapprove of (like your fountain dilemma) you should stick to the same type of punishment whether it is spritz her with a water bottle or swat her butt or something. She'll get the idea very quickly that what she did is wrong, and when you spritz her with water or swat her, she's doing something you don't like. But at the same time, you should reward her for doing good stuff, so she gains confidence and understands what she CAN do. Good luck!

How do I keep my dog out of my new fountain or pond?

Please find a dissuasive method that does not include swatting your lab on the butt. Larger breed dogs are prone to spine and hip problems and all it takes is one swat in the wrong place or at the wrong time in your dog's life, to cause your dog to become symptomatic of this condition, also known as spondelitis or hip dysplasia. It is a very painful and sad way for your dog to end his life.

Try spritzing with the water if you like but he seems to like the water.

I would try lining the bottom of the pond with small pebbles that ARE NOT SHARP but that your dog doesn't like to walk on. That should do the trick without unnecessarily punishiing your animal.

As will most of the disciplinary problems with our pets, we are usually the cause for creating the potential for the problem. Work with your dog's nature. Buy him a wading pool to frolick in.