No one likes to go in at the deep end. Your dog’s equivalent of ‘dipping their toe in’ is getting their paws wet.
So, you’ll be spending some time in shallow waters. Be generous with treats and positive reinforcement so that your pup will know they’re onto something good. Once relaxed, step by step, gradually persuade them into deeper waters.
Overall, you can lead a dog to water, but you can’t make them swim. What you can do, however, is get them used to it – and that’s more than enough progress for day. 1.
Some dog owners might even find that hydrotherapy is a good fit for habituating their pup to the water, especially if sore joints or stiffness is an issue.
Note: A lot of splashing around and play is always a good sign, so let them ham it up.
Thanks so much for talking about the steps involved with teaching a dog to swim. My aunt recently got a new dog and she wants to take him everywhere she goes. We’ve been looking into finding a professional trainer to take him to help him learn to swim so he can go with her to the beach without too much stress.