The Puppy Training Podcast

Episode #108 Teaching Your Dog to Swim

July 07, 2022 Baxter & Bella Puppy Training Season 5 Episode 108
The Puppy Training Podcast
Episode #108 Teaching Your Dog to Swim
Show Notes Transcript

Today we are talking about teaching your dog to swim, how to help your dog like the water, things to keep in mind when it comes to your dog and swimming and more. 



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Teaching Your Dog to Swim


Hi you guys! Welcome to the podcast. I’m so glad you’re here. I have the best job in the entire world - really, do something you love because then the word job isn’t a chore but something to look forward to! 


As part of my job yesterday, I took Baxter to our local fairgrounds to join other human-canine teams for some water fun. Jill from our local K9 Unleashed Academy does so many great things for our community and one of them is hosting a summer Splash Pack series of events. She has organized dates for people to get together with their dogs for water fun and BBQs. Baxter had SO much fun. This week as I mentioned we met at the fairgrounds where a creek runs through dividing the rodeo grounds from the fair buildings and grassy areas. The creek has about 1-2 feet of water in it and changes from more shallow to deep as you go. This gave the dogs plenty of choice in where they felt comfortable. Some chose to stay on the grassy areas and play. Others, like Baxter, tore through the water like there was no tomorrow. Later this month we are meeting at Benson marina for kayaking, the Hydro plant at the mouth of Logan Canyon and the Wellsville Reservoir. If you live in Cache Valley and have a dog, check it out on the K9 Unleashed facebook page. If you live elsewhere, check out opportunities in your local community! 


On the note of water activities, today we are talking about teaching your dog to swim, how to help your dog like the water, things to keep in mind when it comes to your dog and swimming and more.


Let’s start off with, does your dog like water? Yes, this will go much faster. No, take it slow. Recognize each dog is unique and all have their likes and dislikes. Respect that. Swimming does not need to be your dog’s favorite activity, but if you have a pool or head to the lake often with your family, it is a good idea to help your dog be confident around water. I like to start with a kiddie pool and one inch of water. If they slip and slide on the hard plastic pool, try adding a non-slip mat to the bottom to give them better footing. Can you get them to splash around in it? Help them have a good experience from the get go. Never toss your dog in a body of water as this can add to their fear of water. Instead, go slowly using positive reinforcement for any interest they do show in water. 


Play, laugh, have a good time yourself with the water and it is likely your dog will warm up to it more quickly. Do they have a favorite toy? Try tossing a ball in the shallow water and see if your dog is willing to get their paws wet to go get it. They may be willing to get their paws wet, but hesitant to go all in with their body. That’s okay. Start with their paws and help them see how fun the water can be. When they are ready, they can go deeper. The key is to let them explore the water and enter on their own will, not yours. Once they are in the water, if they seem anxious, help them find more shallow water. Show them where they can go to ground their feet again. Also be sure to show them where the exit is - a ramp or pool stairs for example. Reward them with praise or food for being so brave around water and it is likely they will want to return. 


Another idea is to go with other dogs! As I mentioned, I took Baxter yesterday to our local fairgrounds where a group was getting together for this very purpose! Baxter already LOVES water and is not afraid to jump right in and swim. He adores it. Tossing a fetch toy makes it even better! There was a cute five month old golden retriever there who wasn’t too sure what to think about the water. As he watched the other ten plus dogs running and jumping in he slowly started to warm up to the idea. His handler tossed his favorite ball in a few times with no luck. I was there to toss it back and we tried several more times all while Baxter was cruising around, getting dogs to chase him and jumping in making huge splashes. He was living his best life. It wasn’t long before this cute puppy decided it must not be that bad. Afterall look at Baxter living it up. He cautiously put one paw in, then two and then all four as he went after his ball. From that point on he was fine making a splash. His handler did an amazing job at being patient with him, not forcing him to get in, but helping him have fun and pairing that with the new water activity. 


There are several key things to keep in mind as far as safety goes when teaching your dog to swim. First, use a life jacket. This is a good idea for every dog if you are near a swimming pool, lake or other deep body of water. Some dogs are natural swimmers - they were bred for it. Others are not. Do not assume your dog will just figure it out. Be there to help them learn as you would a human toddler. Dogs with shorter legs have a harder time. Confidence around water is important for every dog. A life jacket can provide that extra support, helping a dog trust that water is not so bad and give them the boost they need to be brave. The life jacket acts as you would, holding the dog up in a more parallel position to the surface of the water which helps them use all four paws to swim, rather than trying to only use their front paws. 


Next, check for dangers in the water. Always supervise your dog while swimming. Watch out for fishing lines or hooks, blue-green algae and other dangerous algae blooms, creatures in the water such as snakes, alligators, sharks, jelly-fish, etc. Be smart about where you take your dog to cool off in the water and avoid areas with these dangers. 


A lot of people ask us if swimming pools are safe for dogs. They are as long as they have regulated chlorine levels, just as they would for humans to swim in the pool. Always make sure the chlorine levels have been checked first. The unused pool chemicals can be attractive to dogs. Keep your pool chemicals that are not being used stored away from your dog where they cannot get them. Obviously the dangers we look out for as humans we should also be aware of with our dogs and help them stay safe when it comes to water activities. 


Another commonly asked question we receive concerning dogs and swimming is what age can they start? You can start right away with helping your new puppy like the water. Doing the things we talked about today will help them see water as a positive thing! Be patient, never force, have fun and reward them for being so brave when they do decide to engage. 


When the fun is over, I like to bathe my dog with a gentle shampoo and dry the inside of their ears to prevent infections. Check their coats by thoroughly brushing them. This is a good opportunity for an at-home grooming session. Haven’t checked their nails in awhile? Go ahead and trim those too. 


Remember to start out slowly - use a kiddie pool if needed. I’m always thinking, “How can I make this easier for my dog? How can I set them up for success?” This mindset will help you motivate and encourage your dog rather than force them into something they are uncomfortable with. Be there to supervise and keep swim sessions short. Provide fresh water for drinking wherever you go. Also recognize not all dogs are interested in swimming and that is 100% okay. It is a good idea to help them feel confident around water but also recognize your dog’s interests and respect them. 


Alright! That was fun! I hope you enjoy summertime activities with your dogs this week - maybe even some water activities! I know Baxter is ready for his next water adventure! Happy training.