Tips For Teaching Your Dog How To Swim

Not all dogs are born knowing how to swim. Even if you have a breed that’s know for loving the water, you might still might be teaching your dog to swim! And helping him learn now will not only strengthen your bond, but will set you up for a lifetime of fun together. Why Spend Time Teaching A Dog To Swim? Every year, an estimated 10,000 dogs drown in the United States. Most of these tragedies occur when dogs get into a pool and can’t get out. Just like people, once an animal is in the water, they quickly tire splashing about. So, teaching your dog to swim is one of the most crucial skills he can learn. Teaching your dog to love the water while he’s young has additional benefits besides safety. Swimming can be a safe aerobic exercise for dogs with arthritis, those with joint or spinal issues, or dogs that are overweight. In these situations, water supports the body, which reduces pain while allowing them to burn calories. Swimming is also and excellent way for dogs to burn off excess energy. In fact, it is such great exercise that owners of performance dogs (those competing in agility, flyball, herding, frisbee, tracking and obedience) often use swimming to keep their dogs in top ph...