Lifestyle Tips on teaching your dog how to swim

Original article on dispatch.com
By: American Kennel Club

Swimming may seem natural for dogs, and most of them love it, but even natural-born swimmers need to be trained. Summer is here, and you and your dog can make the most of the heat with a few water safety tips.

The American Kennel Club offers the following advice for properly teaching your dog to swim and keeping him safe around the water.

  • Building confidence is important. Not all breeds are natural swimmers and even those that are maybe afraid the first time they enter the water. Be sure to take it slowly in shallow water and praise your dog every step of the way.

  • Learning the dog paddle. If your dog begins to dog-paddle with his front legs only, lift his hind legs to help him float. He should quickly catch on and keep his back end up.

  • Don’t overdo it. Swimming is a great exercise for your dog, but don’t let him overdo it. As with any workout, swim time should be increased in small increments. He will be using new muscles and may tire quickly.

  • Exiting a pool can cause your dog to panic. Dogs are not used to using human stairs or ladders and will need to be taught how to use them.

  • Rinse off your dog. Spray your pup down quickly with the hose after he gets out of the pool to rinse off the chemicals from the pool water.

  • Take care of the ears. Dab your dog’s ears with a dry towel or use a blow dryer on a low, cool setting to get rid of excess moisture. Most infections in dogs with floppy ears are caused by too much water and dampness.

  • Never leave your dog unsupervised while in the water. Your dog may need your help and be unable to bark to grab your attention.

Phil Rotstein