Shannon, I would try putting his water dish up except at times that you can be around to watch him (of course then you have to remember to give him frequent drinks). Every time he puts his paw in the water I would use a negative tone in my voice and say something like "No, keep your paws out of the water" Actually what you say isn't important, just that you say the same thing every single time. Then I'd pull his paw out and dry it off and do this over and over until he gets the point. Some dogs learn faster than others but a well trained dog is worth the effort it takes because they are so much more enjoyable when they are trained well.