Teach your dog how to swim

Do you want to teach your dog how to swim? Tim Falk investigates how you and your pooch can have fun in the water this summer.

Summer is here and you and your pet are probably eager to find any way possible to cool off . From our beaches and rivers to lakes and waterholes, Australia is blessed with some of the best swimming spots anywhere in the world — and what better way to enjoy them than with your best friend by your side.

But what do you do if your dog doesn’t know how to swim? “Dogs aren’t born knowing how to swim and often need to learn. Similarly, not all dogs like water and the way it is introduced to them will greatly impact how they feel about it,” explains dog trainer Sharon Nelson from Melbourne’s Manners for Paws Dog Training. The way you introduce your pet to swimming is crucial to how it will approach aquatic activities in future, so let’s take a closer look at how to turn a nervous Nellie into a safe swimmer.

Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for dogs. “Just like for humans, it is low-impact and non-weight-bearing so dogs recovering from surgery such as hip and knee injuries can greatly benefit from warm-water swimming,” explains Sharon.

Feline freestyle
Did you know that dogs aren’t the only pets that enjoy going for a dip? That’s right — some cats love getting wet and going for a paddle. Breeds like the Abyssinian, Bengal and Turkish Van are famous for being ‘water babies’, but it still comes as quite a shock to most cat owners when they discover their feline friend is psyched about swimming.

However, there are plenty of cats out there who absolutely hate the thought of getting wet, let alone actually going for a swim, so it’s important to be careful when working out whether or not your cat could be a secret swim fan. The most important thing to remember is to take things slowly and let your pet adapt at his own pace — don’t just throw him in the deep end.

Let your pet to get wet under the tap, the hose or in the bath before you think about seeing if he likes swimming. If the early signs are positive, you might consider finding a safe, still body of water and letting your furry friend decide if he wants to follow you and take the plunge.

The original article was published in PETS issue 63. Click here to subscribe to our magazine.