How to Teach Your Dog to Swim in Summer

1 Teaching Your Dog to Swim

I. Preparation Before Swimming

1. Warm-up. Don’t feed the dog within an hour before swimming, to avoid gastric spasm or torsion from exercising on a full stomach. Play on shore for about 10 minutes first as a warm-up, which reduces cramping after entry.

2. Gear. For safety, have a life jacket and a leash ready. Dogs with ankle or joint issues or older dogs should wear the life jacket in the water for buoyancy and to avoid flagging. Also bring food and water so the dog can rehydrate and refuel after exercise.

3. Pool choice. Pick a pool with good water quality and moderate depth to keep the dog safe and avoid skin disease or conjunctivitis after swimming.

II. Precautions While Swimming

1. First entry. On the first swim a dog is usually nervous because it can’t swim. Hold it, keep soothing it, and only let go once it is calmer; after it starts playing in the water, step back and watch from the side.

2. Carry posture. Different sizes need different holds: small dogs like a baby in your arms, large dogs with a U-shaped hug around the belly, which is easier on you.

3. Time and duration. Dogs love swimming but not all times suit it; in summer avoid midday or the dog may overheat — aim for 5–7 p.m. In cold winter, skip swimming to avoid chills and colds. Also control session length: too long exhausts the dog, too short leaves it unsatisfied, so watch its state and bring it out to rest at the first panting.

These are the steps to teach a dog to swim. Besides the above, don’t let a dog with skin or infectious disease swim, and rinse it with clean water afterward to lower the chance of skin and infectious disease.