WARNING - Dogs and Rivers!

ladyt25

ladyt25

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 November 2007
Messages
7,792
Location
Leeds
Visit site
Well, today the parents suggested going for a walk to a river we've not been to for a long while. I said maybe not the best idea given the amount of rain we've had - ie full, fast flowing rivers. Still, off we went with my dog (mongrel type - scared of water so now worries about her going near), my sister's 4yo rottie x GSD and my parent's 7yo GSD x collie and their 15 yo collie x terrier.

All going well until we get to the river bank - this is normally a pretty safe river with a nice beach/pool area perfect for dogs. Was a bit fuller today but ok for the younger dogs. However, Mr oldie got very giddy and as is his usual thing he flew down the bank to the water. He normally only goes for dips these days and doesn't swim like he used to as he's a bit doddery. Well, within a flash, he was down the bank and BAM! straight in the water, much deeper than he expected and he went right under!! Cue mild panic from me and I suggested sister grab him but she missed and in horror we watched as, instead of the river pushing him back to the bank it took him off, away and across the river!!!

Well, cue us screeching at dad to go 'save' him! That he did ran in and started wading across but the dog was obliviously paddling away and getting further down river and towards the other side (he's deaf and maybe a tad senile so we couldn't call to him to get him back). Dad by this time was waist deepin pretty fast-flowing water but managed to grab the dog's tail (at this point i was already seeing the news headlines!!) and thankfully saved him!! Never seen such a hyperactive dog after! Think he was grateful to be alive!! Lol.

However, think my dad may have wished he threw his car keys and phone out of his pockets before diving in! Oops, sorry dad!! :)

So, lesson learnt - DO NOT take old, senile, deaf dogs to rivers after copious amounts of rainfall if you want to keep your heart rate normal!! Oh, and remember to empty pockets before diving in! :D

The thing is, we all KNOW you're not supposed to go in after your dogs but you just do don't you!
 
Well had it been a few years ago it wouldn't have been an issue as he was a fab swimmer and a very independent soul so he wouldn't have panicked. However there was that thought of "*****, this isn't happening is it?!". he was so hyper after his dramatic rescue though - guess the adrenalin was going!!!
 
I always put our cocker on a long line near water. He got in a fast flowing river at my parents in wales same depth as him but deeper pools. he went right under and i was able to pull him out on using the long line. If not he would have gone down river. Not worth the risk of dog or human.
 
I have quite a big river running through my field and will daily take my GSD down for a swim as he loves it, normally with a cat in tow who will cross the river on a fallen tree. But with the recent rain it has been at points very fast and on those days the dog goes walking with me elsewhere and the cat stays at home! But I'd jump in as well! Well done for rescuing your pooch x
 
Yeah, I said it'd have been ok had he been on some long lead but he just got really giddy and before we knew it he'd gone in! I think in his old age he's got a litt bit potty but still thinks he's young sometimes bless him. Honestly we wouldn't have worried had it been say 5 years ago and when he could hear but it was a little scary today!
 
thewonderhorse said:
I have quite a big river running through my field and will daily take my GSD down for a swim as he loves it, normally with a cat in tow who will cross the river on a fallen tree. But with the recent rain it has been at points very fast and on those days the dog goes walking with me elsewhere and the cat stays at home! But I'd jump in as well! Well done for rescuing your pooch x
Click to expand...

Problem is though you hear all the horror stories of owners going in and then drowning and the dog gets out fine. That's why you think do I or don't I go in?!
 
My heart was thumping just reading your post because it brought back so vividly waht happened to me on two occasions.

No. 1 was right in front of our house. We have an innocuous little stream (in summer) that flows between our garden and the road. But in heavy weather it's a raging torrent. Our field is bordered by it. I'd been checking the horses, saw my (young, fit) Labrador bitch going for her usual paddle. Yelled. She ignored it, went in - the next things she was whirled away, past our house, UNDER two sets of water intake/sewage pipes, and out into our field again on the other side of the house. I was running, screaming to her, but I had an arm in a sling and knew I couldn't go in for her. A girl driving by in a van (who is now, not surprisingly, one of my closest friends) saw what was happening, raced the van down the road, and manged to pull my Labra out at a point where the cattle had poached the bank and made a little bay. She was unconscious, but came round after a few minutes.

No, 2 was, like your account, with my other very old (15 years ) Labra. We were staying with my mother in Northumberland, there was a massive heatwave, and we'd taken the dogs to the river, where there are lovely gravelly shallows, for them to have a splash about. Near us, a man was throwing sticks for his very young and agile springer. Our old boy thought "Oooh, sticks" and went chugging off like an ancient motor boat to where the stick had landed, in a very deep, very wide pool. He then got into difficulties and, in text book style, sank and came up twice. The third time he didn't come up. I jumped in, having tried, unsuccessfully, to get out of a long 'flower-power' summer skirt. I swim like a blooming camel anyway, and I kept thinking "Why am I doing this - I can't dive, and how the hell will I find him?" But I just kept thinking too "He may die on the bank, but he's not going to die in this river". Suddenly there was a splash, and our 14-year old son shot by me, doing an amazing crawl, duck-dived, and came up with Major in his arms. I swam to him and grabbed him as well, and we somehow pulled him back the 20 yards or so to the shallows. I will never forget crawling on my knees over the gravel, my wretched skirt still hampering every move, with us pulling the unconscious dog between us, and looking up into the face of the springer spaniel man. " Please help us," I gasped. "Eeeh, I would, pet" was nis response, "but Aa've got me new suede shoes on, like". I don't think he realised how close he got to his grave in that moment!!

We rushed him to a local vet, who gave him emergency treatment, but one thing I was told was that you don't try to get the w\ter out of a dogs' lungs like you do a human. Why I don't know, but that's what we did, and shouldn't have. The old boy lasted another 8 months, but he was never really the same.

Anyway, after all MY memories, I'm so glad you have got your dog back safely - and yes, don't take dogs near rivers if in any doubt. And the fact remains, we all know we shouldn't go in for our dogs but, like your father, we do.
 
A young couple drowned not far from here about a week ago going into a swollen river after their dog, the dog has never been found so it is presumed it drowned too. A very timely warning ladyt to everyone to keep dogs on lead near fast flowing water.
 
Oh,horrid! I have gone in once before after the GSD x of my parents when we'd just got her. She fell in a river but hadn't learnt how to swim and it all went silent so we got a bit worried. She was clinging to the long grass on the steep bank, absolutely petrified so I waded in up to my thighs and dragged her out. Oddly she is now obsessed with water!

the thing with out old dog what he likes to do is go in, lie down and dunk his head under. Unfortunately today the water was too deep for that but the silly old sod just ran straight in!! In all honesty I bet he would have probably made it ashore further down river as he was paddling with the current and seemed to look pretty relaxed (much more so than we were!) but we couldn't take that gamble!
 
MurphysMinder said:
A young couple drowned not far from here about a week ago going into a swollen river after their dog, the dog has never been found so it is presumed it drowned too. A very timely warning ladyt to everyone to keep dogs on lead near fast flowing water.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'd heard that and that was what was going through our minds. You just act on impulse though. In all honesty, this particualr river is generally ok where we were and can be a heck of a lot higher and faster and then we would not have gone down there, it was just more full than anything today. Thankfully my dad managed to wade half way across without having to swim - it was about chest height - but with an old dog we just thought he would tire and there was no way of encouraging him to swim back to us as he can't hear anything other than loud clapping!
 
I know you should not go in but how do you stop yourself ? I went in even though I mew I should not !

Pup ( now 9) jumped in a river at 12 weeks old ( LH Weimaraner ) she was having a fab time until she tried to get out, every time she found some where to plant her feet she went further under, so I jumped in and got her, she was shocked and still won't go near water ( not great for a working gun dog )

I still go cold thinking about it, thank god it was a still warm day.

Glad you are all ok
 
Ladyt failed to mention that said dad ATM has a broken rib from hitting his mast windsurfing last week, quite why we made him go in and not us is not clear. Something about my sisters welly having a hole in I think and the river looking a bit cold, poor dad :D
 
CazD. I can't remember, but I'll ask my veterinary nurse livery.

I think you are meant to lay the dog on its side with its head slightly lower than its rear end (bolster that up with towels or something) and it'll vomit some out.

This all happened some years ago, and veterinary thinking may well have changed. I know our old boy was on medication for a month to help him overcome the fluid intake - and it all certainly knocked some time off his life. I'll PM you if I get an answer!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top