How to Teach Your Dog to Swim — Training for Fun and Safety in the Water

Q: I love swimming, kayaking, and sailing. What can I do to encourage my dog to join me on these water adventures?

For water adventures, start on dry land. Training essentials include: come, stay, go to a spot, up and over, walk without pulling, targeting, retrieve, sit on your lap, and accept being lifted. Provide water, shade (if the ground is too hot for your feet, it's too hot for Fido's), vet-recommended sunscreen, and a properly fitted life jacket. Doggie splash pads are a good alternative for canines who may not be water hounds.

Swimming

I taught my toy poodle mix, Uni, to swim at our new home in about six weeks. How long it takes depends on how apprehensive your dog is about water and the time you spend training — some take longer, and some never love the water, and that's OK. Keep sessions short with plenty of breaks. As a dog trainer who does not advocate the use of force, I practice using positive reinforcement.

The trepidation your dog shows toward water indicates where to start training: right before they show fear.

Training sessions include a less intense version of the pool until the fearful reaction dissipates. Uni came two feet from the edge of the pool before becoming apprehensive; that's where I started training:

• Practice getting on a raft on dry land.
• Place the raft in a shallow kiddie pool; deliver tasty treats and a favorite retrieve toy.
• Place the raft with the favorite toy in the pool; reward increased interest.
• Use a target stick (touch with nose to move into position) to approach the water without force.
• Swim to the edge of the pool and ask your dog to come as close as they're comfortable (Uni's threshold: two feet). Hold the target stick, click for a nose touch, and toss the treat closer to the edge. Never grab or throw a dog into the water.
• Instead of tossing the treat, have your dog accept being petted while you deliver it.
• Call your dog to the edge to give a "kiss" — without grabbing him.
• Sit on the steps until he finally has enough trust to sit on your lap.

I exposed Uni to the pool at such a low intensity that it did not elicit an anxious or fearful response.

Before I knew it, Uni dove into the water to get his toy! His natural instinct for hunting waterfowl kicked in — now swimming is his favorite.

Kayaking and Sailing

Wearing a doggie life jacket, teach getting in and out ("up and over") on dry land first, using targeting if necessary. Improve balance with discs, balls, bands, and K9 conditioning equipment. Practice leash skills on the dock or marina. Many dogs jump out at the first sign of wildlife, so make sure training is solid even with distractions. Watch for signs of fear or anxiety: lip licking, yawning, tucked tail, ears back, whining, shaking (unless it's cold or your dog is wet).

Water sports are not for every doggie, so be happy with the baby steps your dog offers, and don't be afraid to lower the criteria during training. Your dog may just surprise you!