The Dos and Don'ts of Teaching Dogs to Swim

Just because you have a dog whose breed has a reputation for loving water doesn’t mean they know how to swim. It is essential to have safety measures in place while your dog figures things out. The trainer or owner should go in the water with the dog for reassurance and encouragement; this is critical if they are nervous getting into water. Shallow lakes or pools will allow the canine to get in the water and still have his paws on the ground. The dog’s confidence will build and his courage will take over.

Toss one or two of his favorite toys in with him and see if he will retrieve them. Make a game of retrieval and see if he will swim to get the toy and bring it back. Have two toys within reach and toss one to the dog. If he won’t bring it back, toss the other toy closer to you and encourage him to get that one. Then you can grab him him before he turns away.

Another tip is to bring another dog that can swim to help your pet see how it’s done. There are life vests or jackets one can purchase to aide in the lessons of learning to swim. Many times, the vests will have handles on them to allow you to hold onto to the pet easily and lift them out of the water. Take things slowly and let your dog go at his own pace. Never force your dog to swim and never throw him into the water. That "sink or swim" philosophy may just give your dog a phobia of water, which, when you're trying to teach him to swim, is definitely not the result you're going for.