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If you\u2019re craving more dog information, you bet you\u2019ll find everything you need to know inside the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a>. We\u2019ve got plenty to offer – a program designed for your dog\u2019s breed, and loads of lessons that go hand in hand with the important developmental milestones of your puppy – so each one hits perfectly at the right time. Oh, and our expert puppy trainers<\/a> are always available to answer your questions, doubts and worries. They\u2019ll help you figure things out and they\u2019re much more than great listeners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should start to teach your puppy confidence around water during their socialization period.<\/a> The goal is to get them to be comfortable with water, and that it\u2019s nothing to worry about. Oh, and when we say water, we mean bodies like lakes, to rain, to water for their baths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As puppy owners, we want our little ones to feel happy under every watery circumstance. In fact, baths<\/a> are a great way to start their relationship with water prior to teaching them to swim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Older dogs can certainly be taught how to swim. You can help them build water confidence and learn how to swim safely, although it might take a little more time if they\u2019ve had unpleasant experiences with water previously. But everything is possible with plenty of treats<\/a>. They\u2019ll help turn water into fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can teach your puppy to swim at a few different places, like in a kid\u2019s paddling pool or at a dog hydrotherapy pool. If you\u2019re lucky enough to have your own pool, use that! You can also teach a dog to swim in a shallow lake or a stream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For safety reasons, we recommend starting your dog swimming training in a body of water your puppy or dog can stand in so that they\u2019re not out of their depth. If you think it\u2019s necessary, consider using a doggy life jacket! It might bring you some peace of mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A paddling pool in your back yard is a great place to start teaching your puppy some confidence around water. Our suggestion is to use a hard-sided one rather than a t\u2019s inapartmentable one as, unlike children, dogs have claws and teeth that can burst like a balloon. Nobody wants that, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many doggy swimming pools used for physiotherapy also offer sessions where they will teach your dog to swim. Some allow you to get in too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have your own swimming pool, hats off to you. Besides getting your laps done, you can also use it to teach your puppy to swim. In fact, it\u2019s pretty important that you do so in case your puppy falls in, they know what to do. Otherwise, make sure the area is well-fenced off or doesn’t get themselves into trouble by walking on top of the covers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you enjoy swimming in open water or simply relaxing in lakes and streams, you should definitely introduce your dog to it here. You’ll eventually have the most incredible adventures together that your friends will be envious of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teaching your puppy to swim at the beach can be a great way of habituating<\/a> them to different surfaces at the same time. You can find pebbles or sand at the beach, so it\u2019s important for them to get used to it. It will be a problem if they love water and hate the sand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a dog breed that loves to swim, be sure they don\u2019t get a bit giddy and swim out too far!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teaching your dog to swim is a step-by-step process that takes time and patience. Please note that you shouldn\u2019t expect your dog to swim straight away! There seems to be a logic that \u2018all dogs can swim\u2019, which can be dangerous (and actually lacks logic, if you ask us).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n You want your puppy to feel safe when you teach them to swim. Therefore, you want to choose somewhere they can easily stand up in. This will allow them to explore the water\u2019s edge and familiarise themselves with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting into the water yourself will help your puppy understand that it\u2019s safe. Encourage them to come into the water with you by calling their name<\/a> and gesturing them in.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n As you do, remember to stay calm and use an encouraging yet mild voice to let them know you\u2019re not in any danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can do this from the water’s edge or in the water itself. Play is always great, but especially when trying to get a dog to like new experiences. Try to have fun by the water with your dog so that swimming turns into something they think of as fun, and not a big deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can do this from the water’s edge or in the water itself. Play is always great, but especially when trying to get a dog to like new experiences. Try to have fun by the water with your dog so that swimming turns into something they think of as fun, and not a big deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holding them up in the water encourages them to kick their legs and swim naturally. If you need to, we recommend using a dog life jacket to help your puppy stay afloat. Don’t let go straight away and pay close attention to their body language<\/a>. Not all dogs enjoy swimming, and we need to respect that! <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some dog breeds were literally born to swim. These breeds have traditionally worked as water retrievers and often have webbed feet, like ducks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a list of some of the best dog breeds for swimming: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Swimming can be a great form of exercise for these breeds. Bear in mind that dogs swallow a lot of water when swimming and can get into trouble due to water intoxication and drowning if they\u2019re left to swim for a long time. Sorry for the harsh message, but better safe than sorry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there\u2019s something you remember from this entire article, it’s that you don\u2019t force your dog to swim if they don\u2019t want to. Never throw them in or expect them to know how to swim by default. That\u2019s a surefire way to make a dog NOT want to swim and hate the water and make them feel terribly scared and unsafe to be around you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Breeds such as Bulldogs, Frenchies<\/a>, Basset Hounds and Dachshunds<\/a> will often not choose to swim due to their body type. It\u2019s no secret they\u2019re quite unique. They can find it hard to keep their head up out of the water, and their bodies are quite heavy for their little legs to keep them afloat. However, they will often love cooling off in the water, so do keep them safe if you\u2019re near water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope that\u2019s given you confidence in teaching your dog to swim. If you don\u2019t have a dog that\u2019s specifically bred to swim, you can still teach them to be comfortable around the water. They might waddle before they go for a full doggy paddle, which is totally fine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you haven\u2019t already, download the Zigzag app<\/a>. We don\u2019t mean to brag, but you\u2019ll definitely like it – especially chatting with our professional dog trainers<\/a> and getting the best puppy training tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"golden](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/swim-1.png\")
What age should I start teaching my puppy to swim?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Where can I teach my puppy to swim?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A children\u2019s paddling pool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A canine swimming pool or hydrotherapy pool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your own swimming pool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lakes and streams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The beach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"corgi](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/swim-2.png\")
How to teach my puppy to swim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Take them somewhere shallow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You can drop some treats around for them to find, but letting them learn and experience the water at their own pace is the best you can do. They might tap it with their paw, give it a lick<\/a>, or a dig<\/a> before paddling in themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Go in the water yourself <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Use floating toys for them to play with and retrieve from the water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Encourage them to swim deeper if they want to <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Use a life jacket and support them in the water <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
PRO TIP:<\/strong> Just like with children, never leave a puppy alone in the water! It can be too easy for them to get in trouble, and you need to be with them to keep them safe. It\u2019s also important not to allow them unsupervised access to pools, so if you have one, make sure it\u2019s fenced in to prevent accidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"golden](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/swim-3.png\")
Best dog breeds for swimming <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If you fancy teaching your dog some more fun things, check out our article on how to teach a dog to come, <\/a>or how to teach a dog tricks<\/a>. There\u2019s always something new to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n