Take Your Dog For A Swim 2
As we said in the previous blog, don’t throw your dog into the water before making sure it can swim. The pet has to be confident in order to swim comfortably.
Experts advise how to teach a dog to swim. The very first thing is to get it used to the water. Try to use a spray bottle or put a shallow pool in your garden before going to the sea or lake. Another step is going to the bigger body of water. The crucial thing now is walk gradually with your pet. It will feel comfortable by having you by the side. For even more comfort and fun you can bring some toys to play with. Once the dog feels good in the water, you can try to go deeper. Don’t leave it alone! Support its backside or belly to help it learn that it can float as it paddles with its paws. Once your puppy enjoys the swim, make sure it knows where the exit is. It needs to know it can leave the water whenever it wants to and how it can do it. And remember that your dog might not be very good swimmer, especially at the beginning, so don’t force it to swim long distances. Otherwise it will be too tired to swim back.
Whenever you go, remember to choose places where animals are allowed. If you want to take your puppy on a boat, always put your dog a live jacket on. Before going though, take plenty to drink not only for you but also for your pet, as both of you need to be well hydrated with fresh water.
