Message #464905

[jimco]

Well, I can tell you from my experience about the bad side. Our place is 20 acres completely surrounded by
bayous, swamps, and a 10 acre pond. My son bought a puppy that loved playing in chest deep water. There
was alligators everywhere that year. He was constantly on that pups a$$ to stay out of the water. It took a
some time but after some boot to the a$$ sessions she finally learned to avoid the water. ALL WATER!!!!
Later on after we started hunting her if she came to a canal, or deep slough that the other dogs crossed,
she wouldn't. It is instilled in her to stay out of water.
         After this mistake, all puppies raised on this property can play in the pond and bayou all they want.
There is still a few gators every now and then but they were exterminated through the years to where the
threat is kept to a minimum. If I ran dogs near any rivers with extremely swift currents like you are concerned about I would get me some light weight cut vest made with 1/4 " flotation foam in it. This foam
weighs next to nothing and you wouldn't even be able to tell the vest had it in there, especially the way
P & P puts all that stitching on every inch of the vest.