How to teach your dog to swim in a pool is simply a matter of training your dog with the right training methods and positive encouragement. Not all dogs are natural born swimmers and some breeds are hopeless swimmers. So you will need to take it slowly and give your dog time to adjust the pool environment. Never force your dog to enter the water. Always take it slowly and make your dog feel comfortable with being around water.
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Is it OK to let your dog swim in your pool?
Swimming pool water won’t harm your dog or puppy as it is neutral in pH, chemically balanced and sanitized with low-level chlorine to kill all bacteria and contaminants. The level of chlorine is very low and not dangerous to pets at all. Pool water will not harm your dog if a small amount is ingested.
Saltwater pools are only about 10% of the salinity of seawater which is slightly less than the salinity of the tears in your eyes. So pool water is much safer and cleaner than letting your dog swim in the sea or a river.
When your dog is clean and vaccinated there is no health risk to your family. The pool chlorine and filtration system will neutralize and remove any contaminants your dog brings into the pool.
Dogs shed fur, dirt and other contaminants so wash your dog before you teach your dog to swim in a pool. Otherwise you may find you are getting dog fur in the skimmer basket and filter. I recommend using a skimmer basket filter sock when dogs are swimming in your pool. The skimmer socket catches the dog hair before it passes to the filter and saves cleaning the filter cartridge or backwashing the filter media.
Wash your dog with fresh water after swimming in the pool to remove any chlorine and salt from your pet’s fur.
If your dog swims in your pool frequently shock the pool more often with extra sanitization to protect your family.
Please read our article on Should Dogs be Allowed in Swimming Pools?
Do You Need to Teach a Dog to Swim?
Yes, just like young children all dogs need to be taught how to swim properly. Don’t assume your dog will just know how to swim. You would never just throw a child into a swimming pool and expect the child to swim. So don’t put your dog in the pool and expect it to just discover how to float and dog-paddle. Swimming is mostly a taught behaviour for humans and dogs.
Many breeds of dog have an instinctive ability to dog-paddle enough to get themselves out of trouble. But this is more of a survival reaction than actually knowing how to swim properly. Dogs with long legs that have been breed for hunting and game retrieval (like Labrador retriever or Spanish water dog) will usually have instinctive swimming ability.
If your dog has not been in water before it may be very cautious about entering a body of water.
When a dog is young, old or skinny they tend to have trouble floating and keeping their heads above water. Some breeds of dog have no idea what to do in water and are simply unable to swim. Dogs with small legs and short necks (like Bulldogs, Pugs and Shih Tzu) are simply not built for swimming and always struggle in water.
Other breeds are more courageous and struggle around until they get the hang of it. But that is no way to teach a dog to swim.
Once you have taught your dog to swim it will be more comfortable entering the pool and will eventually enjoy swimming as a fun activity. Teaching your dog how to swim becomes a life-saver for your dog if it accidentally falls into the pool or any other body of water. And swimming is also a good form of exercise for dogs.
How to Teach Your Dog to Swim in a Pool
What age can you teach a dog to swim?
You can teach your puppy to swim from 2 to 6 months old. As long as the puppy has enough strength and endurance for physical activity it can start learning to swim. Always gradually introduce your puppy to water. Never place a young dog into deep water and expect it to instinctively know how to swim.
1. Introduce Your Dog to Water
Many puppies are nervous about entering water for the first time. So you will have to employ an approach of gradually exposing your dog to water. You don’t want your dog to become frightened and panic when in the water. This may have a lasting effect on the dog and make it more difficult to teach your dog to swim in a pool.
Usually it’s better to not use your swimming pool to introduce your dog to water. Your dog views the pool as a large and dangerous body of water.
When introducing a dog to water it is much better to use a small child’s paddling pool filled with only an inch of water. Your puppy will be less intimidated by a puddle of water than a large swimming pool. The walls of the pool are low and the dog can see out over the walls. You may try using your bath but the higher walls can be intimidating for a puppy.
Gradually introduce the dog to the child’s pool with more water each time. Ensure the water is not too cold as it may be a turn-off for your dog. Your dog must feel comfortable in water and having water at a comfortable temperature will help.
As the dog becomes comfortable entering and exiting the water increase the depth of the water. Eventually your puppy will be in 6 or 8 inches of water and no longer afraid. You may have to repeat this step several times before your dog is ready for the pool.
Now it’s time to upgrade to the swimming pool.
2. Teach Your Dog to Enter and Exit the Pool
Unless your swimming pool has a gradual slope to enter the water the pool can be difficult for your pet to enter and exit the water. Many dogs cannot physically lift themselves up out of the water onto the side of the pool.
If your dog is small the steps may be too large for your dog. And your dog would have difficulty exiting the pool.
If you have an above-ground pool there may only be a ladder which is useless for a dog. I recommend placing an empty plastic box in your above-ground pool for the dog to stand on and exit the pool.
Always get in the water yourself when you teach your dog to swim in a pool. Your dog will feel more comfortable with you right there in the water.
Introduce your dog to the first step of the swimming pool. Usually you will need to pick up your dog and place it in the water on the first step. Let your dog learn that it can safely stand in the pool on that first step.
Next train your dog to exit the pool from the first step.
Then train your dog to enter the pool on to the first step. You may need to have some treats on hand to provide encouragement for the correct behavior.
You may have to repeat this step several times until your dog is comfortable with getting in and out of the pool.
3. Support Your Dog While Swimming
Support your dog and move it away from the first step.
Keep providing support and move the dog around in a circle back to the first step. Allow the dog’s legs to hang free and dog-paddle in the water.
Gradually provide less assistance to your dog until it can paddle around without you holding it up. A dog life jacket is great for providing unassisted floatation to your dog while he learns to paddle about in the pool.
Repeat this first swimming lesson several times. Make the first session short and gradually increase the length of time the dog is in the pool. If your dog is showing signs of becoming tired stop the lesson.
4. Teach Your Dog to Swim in the Pool
Once your dog is comfortable with entering the pool, paddling around for a few minutes and exiting the pool it’s time to have some fun.
Use your dog’s favorite toy to play fetch in the pool. Teach your dog to fetch and bring back to you on the steps. You dog will associate having fun with swimming and water. Throw the toy to all parts of the pool and have him retrieve the toy faster to strengthen his swimming technique. Some dogs learn very quickly while others take longer so give your dog the time it needs to learn to swim.
Always watch that your dog is not becoming tired and is having fun.
5. After Your Dog Exits the Pool
Rinse your dog under the hose to remove all traces of pool chemicals and salt from its fur. This might be a good time to give your dog a bath as he is already wet.
Now dry your dog with an old towel. This will make your dog feel more comfortable swimming in the pool as he knows he will be dried off afterwards.
Dog Safety
Never leave pets unattended in or around a swimming pool even if they know how to swim. Only allow your dog to swim in your presence or when someone else is watching.
Conclusion
Your dog is part of the family and there is no reason you wouldn’t take it into the pool area and enjoy some summer fun with the kids. Swimming pool water won’t harm your dog as it is neutral in pH and the level of chlorine is very low and not dangerous to pets at all.
Dogs are like young children. They need to be gradually introduced to water and taught how to swim. Never force your dog into the pool if it doesn’t want to go swimming. And when in the pool always keep watch on your dog for safety reasons.