How To Teach Your Dog to Swim and Be Safe Around Water

How To Teach Your Dog to Swim and Be Safe Around Water

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Keeping a dog safe around water can be a challenge. Dogs love to run and chase, and that’s why it’s important for them to know how to swim or find their way back home if they ever fall into a body of water. There are some great benefits for dogs who know how to swim. It helps them get exercise without straining their joints and ligaments. It also gives them another outlet for their energy so they don’t destroy your house while you’re away at work or school. Remember that your pet will likely have more opportunities to swim in warm weather, so it’s good to prepare them now. Here are some tips on how to teach your dog to swim and keep them safe around water no matter what time of year!

Finding a Shallow Area to Teach Your Dog to Swim

Look for a river, lake, or beach where the water is calm and shallow. You don’t want to start in a place where the current is strong enough to sweep your dog away. Your dog will panic and not learn how to swim correctly. If you’re able to find a beach with a gradual slope into the water, that’s even better. You can start at the dry sand and work your way down to the water as your dog gets more comfortable. Be sure to watch for signs that your dog is getting stressed out. If they start to act like they’re about to bite you, bark, or are otherwise showing signs of fear, take them out of the water and try again another day.

Introduce Your Dog to the Water While They’re Still Dry

Get your dog used to the feel of water before you introduce them to it while they’re wet. Use a spray bottle or hose to lightly wet your dog’s paws and legs. You can also put their paws in shallow water. Start by lightly touching the water and then rewarding them for their calmness. As they get more comfortable, you can move the water up to their face and chest, but be careful to avoid their ears. After a few sessions of this, you can introduce your dog to the water while they’re still dry with their paws in the water. Hold your dog by their chest and let their toes just touch the water. If they start to panic, pull them out of the water and try again another day. You may also want to put a life jacket on your dog while they’re getting used to the water so they don’t accidentally panic and fall in.

How to Teach a Dog to Swim by Instilling Confidence

If your dog is getting comfortable in the water and wants to start moving around, it’s time to teach them how to swim. The best way to do that is to instill confidence in your pooch. You want them to feel like they can go anywhere in the water they want to. This will help to keep them safe from any sudden changes in water level and also keep them from panicking and swimming back to shore. The best way to do this is by giving them positive affirmations. - Give them a positive phrase to say as they step into the water like “Let’s go!” or “We’re swimming now!” - Once your dog is completely in the water, give them a positive phrase like “You’re the best!” or “You can go anywhere!” - Make sure to give plenty of praise and treats whenever your dog does something right in the water.

Keep Your Dog From Jumping Out of Shallow Waters

Sometimes even the calmest dogs will get excited enough to jump out of the water and try to head back to shore. You can prevent this by having a long-line tied to a post in the water. This is a great idea to have on hand even if you have a calm dog because any dog can panic in the water. You can also keep your pooch from jumping out of shallow waters by keeping them in a floatable device. This can be anything from a dog life vest to a raft. Make sure you keep them tied to it so they don’t get swept away by a current. If your dog jumps out of shallow waters, you can use a long line or a device to pull them back in. It’s important you don’t try to go get them with your hands because you might also get swept up in the current.

Find Out If Your Dog Can Breathe Underwater

If you’re teaching your dog to swim in a place where the water is deep enough to submerge them, you want to be sure they know how to come back up to the surface. While most dogs instinctively know how to do this, it’s a good idea to check on your own dog before they’re submerged. If they can’t reach the surface on their own, you can help them by putting your hands on either side of their head and guiding them. Another option is to hold onto the back of your dog’s collar and lift them to the surface. It’s especially important to check on your dog if they have any health conditions or are taking medication. You don’t want them to accidentally drown.

Conclusion

Dogs love to run and chase, and that’s why it’s important for them to know how to swim or find their way back home if they ever fall into a body of water. There are some great benefits for dogs who know how to swim. It helps them get exercise without straining their joints and ligaments. It also gives them another outlet for their energy so they don’t destroy your house while you’re away at work or school. Remember that your pet will likely have more opportunities to swim in warm weather, so it’s good to prepare them now.