May 12, 2021

Teaching Dogs To Swim: Step by Step

During the hot summer months, owners who like to swim must also take their fur kids to the water to let their dogs feel the coolness and fun of playing in the water. Although some dogs are born with dog paddle, this does not mean that all dogs can swim. They also have to learn to do so. Next for you to know how to guide training dogs to swim in the water.

How to Keep Your Dog Safe While Swimming?

1. know Your Puppy
2. Choose the Right Place
3. Ensure the Safety of the Dog
4. Toys to Induce Practice
5. Patiently Teach and Encourage
6. Give Enough Rest
7. Correct the Front Foot Swing
8. Wash the Body After Swimming

Six Steps: How to Teach Your Dog to Swim?

Step 1: Get to know your puppy. Puppies learn to swim, first from the size and age to see whether they are suitable for swim. Generally, puppies within 6 months of age have poor health, low resistance, and poor stamina and are prone to various accidents or illnesses. Similarly, puppies that have just recovered from a serious illness, as well as older dogs, should not swim to avoid physical strain and drowning. In terms of size, an obese puppy will be more tired and consume too much physical energy to swim, so try to let it do other easy exercises to avoid injuries.
In addition, the structure of some dogs is such that they can’t become "strong swimmers." Dogs with collapsed faces or short nasal cavities, such as boxers and pugs, are prone to choking during swimming and are not suitable for swimming. Dachshunds, corgis, and other dogs, their limbs are shorter, their bodies are obese, and their small short legs are especially prone to fatigue when swimming. Owners try to reduce the amount of time they spend swimming. Maltese, Shih Tzus, and other dogs with longer hair, which are not easy to blow dry or dry immediately after getting wet, should also reduce swimming frequency. Be sure to prepare them for this, and they should not be forced into the water. A dog life jacket can boost your puppy's self-confidence and ensure his safety.

"When a dog is unwell or tired, it's best not to let it swim to avoid catching a cold and getting sick." - Trainer

Step 2: Teach the dog to swim to take into account the size and age of the dog, the chosen practice site must be clean, the bottom does not have sharp objects, otherwise, it is not safe for people and dogs. In addition, choose a shallow water place, so that it is convenient to teacher training.

"Take the dog swimming, should choose a good place, creeks, rivers are good choices, private pools are, of course, the best."- Trainer

Step 3: Put on a dog life jacket and dogly leash before the dog goes into the water. This not only allows you to better control your dog's direction and speed when teaching him to swim, but also allows you to rescue him in time when he is in danger. Just learn to swim puppies, easy to an emotional high, boldly swim farther and farther. The owner should always watch to ensure that the puppy in the field of vision, in the puppy fatigue or cramps and other accidents, to rescue in time. I don't want your dog to be in danger.

Step 4: The first swim, the first shallow water practice, first let the dog get used to the water, you can gently splash the water on the dog, but do not splash the dog's face, in case the dog will feel uncomfortable. In the water, the owner can hold a toy, induce the dog to swim forward step by step, so that it slowly adapt. When the dog adapted to swim in the water, you can slowly forget the water deep place to move.

"Dogs need to learn to swim in a safe environment, and beginners can wear dog life jackets."- Trainer

Step 5: Correcting foot wobble. If the dog's head is stretched too high, his tail is submerged in the water, and his front feet are swinging so much that he seems to be straining, then his swimming stroke is probably wrong and will only be straining and not assisting in moving forward. The dog's front feet should be lifted and taught to swing regularly, and after getting used to the action, it will be able to play with water comfortably in the water.

Step 6: Pay attention to praise and rest. Teaching your dog to swim patience is a must. Then it is important to pay attention to praise and encouragement during the dog's forward motion. When appropriate, let the dog take a break and drink some water to soothe the mood. Remember not to be too eager to let the dog learn to swim. Too anxious may have the opposite effect, Oh.

Note: For safety, never allow your dog to swim unattended! Remember to follow all applicable leash laws in your area!

In addition, if the dog has not been able to learn to swim, there is no need to worry. The dog's learning and imitation ability are powerful, let the dog and other small partners play together in the water, and soon learn to swim and enjoy it. The last thing to note is that take the dog to swim must be prepared to the dog a towel, after the dog the swim with a towel to dry the dog, even if it is a short-haired dog, should also use an absorbent towel to wipe again if you can best use a hairdryer. Remember not to let the dog dry in the sun.

When you get home, bathe in time because seawater contains salt, swimming pools contain chlorine, rivers, and streams may have bacteria, so no matter where your dog swim, be sure to clean him as soon as possible.
Carefully observe the dog's skin for redness and swelling. If there is to prompt medical attention, pay attention to observing the dog has no flu symptoms. And when the dog itself shows lethargy or physical discomfort and bad weather conditions, do not take the dog out swimming so that the dog does not catch a cold and get sick or aggravated.

What if My Dog Doesn't Like to Swim?

Some dogs do not like to be submerged in water and may not want to swim. Dogs that typically do not like to swim include pit bulls, dachshunds, and pugs and breeds with short legs and heavy chests. Overweight and older dogs may have difficulty staying afloat in the water.
Even if they don't like water, puppies can still find ways to cool down in hot weather. These include:
1.Standing or lying in an inch of water in a kiddie pool.
2.Licking ice cubes made from low-salt bone broth.
3.Drinking lots of fresh, cold water.
4.Spending time in the shade or front of a cooling fan.

Tools for Dogs After a Swim

1. Bath for Dogs
According to the dog's size, to prepare a suitable dog bath, if it is a large dog, you can let the dog stand in the bathroom, directly rinse.
2. Bathing Milk for Pets
Dogs special body wash, similar to human shampoo, but the ingredients and people commonly used different, you are advised to use the pet shampoo, special also has flea prevention.
3. Towel for Dogs
Also, to prepare a special towel for dogs, play with water should be immediately dried. Otherwise, the dog will catch a cold.
4. Cotton Tabs to Wipe the Ear Canal
To the dog bath and play water, the water is easy to the dog's ears. To prevent the dog's ears from being infected, cotton swabs can wipe the dog's ear canal.
5. Dryer blowing hair
The above work is done, and finally, use the warm air hairdryer to dry the dog's fur. This can make the dog's hair dry faster but also reduce the dog's skin disease.
6. Specialized Grooming Tools
Use grooming tools to help dogs comb their coats to avoid tangles. The combing tool should be based on the characteristics of the dog's hair to make a choice. Long hair will use a special comb for long hair, and short hair will use a special short hair.

READ NEXT: