Lab around swimingpool

Question
I have a seven month old lab who is normally very sweet. When I go swiming or the kids my dog really goes crazy. She'll get in the water on the steps but not all the way. I can handle her running around wild but she tries to bite you if you get close to the sides. When you get out she runs around with her tail between her legs and tries to bite even more. Any tips for stopping this?

Answer
I am not sure what is happening here.  If it was a Border Collie, I would say she is trying to herd you away from the dangerous water.  Maybe that is it, dogs don't read breed descriptions and often do not follow the typical behavior patterns for their breed.  

The tail between the legs suggests fear.  That saves her from my typical get tough with a biting dog suggestions.  If so, punishing her could make it worse.  Do you or any of the children have any fear of the water?  Could you do swim lessons with her and the children in the shallow end?  Maybe even add a ramp to allow her and the children to wade in and out?  Keep it very positive and use a constant stream of happy chatter.

Not all Labs love the water.  I have had a number of fall puppies I never gave a chance to swim until 7 months or older, and some of them wouldn't join a bunch of other young labs in the lake.  Last Saturday, I offered to let my 7 month old Lab/Golden cross wade into the river at a boat ramp, and she refused.

A good obedience program might help.  It would establish you and the children may choose to swim.  It would relieve her of the responsibility to protect you from the dangerous water.  Success in obedience would build her confidence reducing her fear.  

This is a tough question.  I wish I knew of an open forum with good people to work with, to figure this one out.  Most of the better people on the net have been run out by idiots and no nothings.  

Try to fit my answer to her behavior, and get back with me.  Maybe I can help you figure out what is happening and how to correct the problem.