Pet Discussion Group

1 readers

1 users here now

This is a community aimed at people who want to talk about their pets, not just see pictures. Cats and dogs are likely to be the main focus, but any household pet can be included, so feel free to post about your gerbil, tortoise or hedgehog if you have one!

The main rules are that posts must be related to pets and that the focus is on discussion. Posts can include photos, as long as that is not the sole purpose of the post.

There will be a pinned post for people who want to introduce themselves and their pets where general photos can be put in the comments.

founded 3 days ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

How to do swim training? (puppies) (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

5 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I have 4 puppies and there is a natural pool on our property maybe 7 feet across and 3 feet deep. I have never trained swimming before nor looked up how. I value my own coming up with things and the experiences of real people so I will be using my own ideas and what I learn here rather than go to a blog.

So any ideas? Anyone train puppies to swim before?

I believe dogs often inherently can know how (my momma dog is great swimmer even tho she never swam as a child). And a key thing I feel is to have treats available and involved so there is an atmosphere of water being good.

I am also thinking to support them as they paddle twice each at least. Then I will challenge them to swim to and retrieve a treat so, if they push themselves to do what they now know wont hurt them (paddle to the treat), they receive reward.

I will somehow need to simultaneously take pictures or recruit a friend.

Thoughts? Probably in 5 days

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Most dogs know how to swim instinctively, so most likely it will just be a matter of making sure they have a place they can safely get in and out of the water and ensuring it is a positive experience for them. Depending on the dog they may need some encouragement or reward to get into the water, of they may just enjoy it without anything extra.

There are some dogs that don't instinctively understand swimming though, and if you have one of those (it's usually the solid muscle breeds, they tend to sink easily) you would need to put in more effort to actually teach them. I've not had that issue myself so I can't really advise, but I think it involves supporting them for a while as they figure it out and gradually removing the support. I had a friend who took her dog to swimming lessons, I think she said they have flotation vests they use.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

Mostly German Shep and a little Pit. The mom dog automatically great at swimming sounds like a good sign.