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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!

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BrightFadedDog@sh.itjust.works

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

submitted 3 days ago by allo@sh.itjust.works to c/petdiscussion@sh.itjust.works

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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

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[–] WanderingShadow@lemmy.world 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.

[–] allo@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago

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

[–] Shadow@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

The hardest part is getting them to be ok with floating. If you support them from underneath I don't think you'll have much trouble. You could get a dog life jacket.

It also depends heavily on the breed, some just love swimming.

[–] allo@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

ty. will focus on 'comfortable with floating'

[–] Shadow@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

My dog learned when he went to the beach and the waves picked him up. Once he realized it wasn't so bad, he loved swimming.