he used to be afraid of the water, that was his second trip to the lake..we found that cove at redtop mountain and it was easy so walk into the water and very remote on a hiking trail. this time we went he just jumped right in w/out a ball and started swimming. I'm still trying to teach him how to swim and keep his butt up, i just have to watch out for his nails when he swims towards me, he thinks i'm an island or something.