Tips for Teaching Your Dog to Swim
Know your breed.
Some animals have body types less suited to swimming. In these cases, you may want to take extra precautions when starting the swimming process. Research your breed and know what to expect.
Provide a life jacket, if necessary.
Some breeds of dogs (such as bulldogs) may be so unnatural in the water that a life jacket or another dog water product will be necessary.
Start young.
Puppies can learn to be comfortable with the water — sometimes even more easily than adult dogs.
Start slow.
When introducing your dog to water, start small. Go in the shallow part of the water, and keep your pet on a leash as you step into the water with it..
Ease into swimming.
As your pet grows more and more comfortable in the water, gradually move it into slightly deeper water where it will need to paddle to stay afloat..
Offer rewards.
When it steps into the water and gets wet the first time, provide a treat. When it goes farther into the water, provide another. The first time you have a successful swimming session, reward your pooch. Use rewards to reinforce comfort with the new environment.
Make it fun.
Think of ways to make the learning process more fun: offer your dog a ball to retrieve or play a game together in the water.
Be ready to dry your dog.
When your dog gets out of the lake, river, pool or ocean, be ready to dry it quickly with a super-absorbent. By managing your pup’s wet fur quickly and comfortably, you help it associate swimming with a positive experience.
