Some dogs are born loving the water, while others are much more timid. But living in Southwest Florida, there are so many opportunities to enjoy the water with your canine friends – and training dogs to enjoy the water will open up a whole new world of adventures for you.
- First and foremost, buy your dog a lifejacket. The jacket is a must-have tool for beginner swimmers and for small, weak, or older dogs – and it’s even a good idea for experienced swimmers to use them. Have your pup wear the lifejacket around the house to help them get used to it. Give them lots of encouragement and rewards– feed them meals and treats and offer plenty of head scratches to show that you are not putting it on to punish them.
- Once your dog is used to the life jacket, its safe to head to the water. Training will work best at a place like a lake or pond, where the water deepens gradually. Walk with your pup to the edge of the water, offering lots of treats to encourage them. Take a few steps in and see if they follow. Reward your dog generously for every step. Overcoming a fear of water, even just enough to wet their feet, is a big deal! Keep walking deeper until your dog needs to paddle a bit to reach you.
- If your dog looks extremely stressed or overwhelmed at any point, stop immediately and leave the water. Forcing them to enter will only make them more afraid. Swim training sessions can be stressful, so it is important to only work on it for short periods of time each day. Come back the next day and try again. Bring toys for your dog if they love playing fetch, or invite a friend with a water-loving dog to accompany you–having another dog splashing around could encourage your timid pup to try it out themselves!
- Once your dog is comfortable fully entering the water, work on their form. That may sound silly, but doing the classic “doggy paddle”–paddling with just their front legs–quickly becomes exhausting. If you teach them to also use their back legs, they will become stronger swimmers (and look less ridiculous). To do this, support them lightly under their belly as they swim. The extra support helps your dog rely less on their front legs and encourages kicking with the back ones. After a few sessions, your dog will likely be much better at using all four legs to paddle.
- Throughout training and later adventures, remember to never leave your dog unattended. Accidents can happen even when wearing a lifejacket; you should always be near your dog when swimming, and if in an open body of water you should keep a leash attached to them. Try to limit the amount of water they drink from the training area–parasites in lakes and chemicals from pools can make them sick. Have plenty of clean water for them to drink when they get thirsty.
Finally, celebrate after each training session! Praise your pup, give them a quick shower to remove any chemicals or pond muck, and then choose one of their favorite activities to do together. This positive treatment will help your dog look forward to swimming and the fun you have afterward.
For more training tips and obedience class schedules, head over to our website! Gulf Coast Dog Training provides Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Palmetto dog owners the support they need to raise happy, healthy pets .
