Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i wanted to teach my puppy how to swim. we have a kiddie pool that if filled up high enough would be deep enough for him to swim. but i wanted to know how to teach him to swim. should i wait until he's older? he's 10 weeks. i was hoping if he learned he'd be able to get rid of some energy and get some good exercise. i'd be willing to get in with him if that would help.i'm sure he'd love to have toys out there as well. how much water should i start him out with? he's a boxer, so he might not be as crazy about it as a lab or a newf would. but i hope he'll come to love it.

Dogs instinctively know how to swim. If they like swimming or not isn't quite as easy to determin. Put a little water in the pool- id's say up to his knee level at first. Try to not have the water too hot or too cold if you can. Get in the pool with your puppy and bring some treats, toys, and a fun attitude. Play with your puppy. He will let you know how to continue the "game." Don't overwhelm him, but make it a fun experience. Do this a few times and see what the reaction is. If you keep it fun, upbeat and positive, you should have a pup that loves the water. Your pup will "tell you" with his own responses how fast you should go and how deep you can make the water. COntinue to get in the pool with the pup for quite some time (for safety sake and to show it's nothing to be afraid of).

Swimming is an excellent activity for dogs, but not all dogs enjoy it. Taking this time as a pup ensures you will have better success than with an adult who's already decided not to enjoy the activity. Just take it at your pup's own pace and level of security. At any point your pup seems cared or nervous, you've gone too far too fast and you should take it back a step or two. Good luck and have fun!
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PHReign