Things You'll Need
- Treats
- Leash
- Fencing around pool
Instructions
Begin with the leash. Attach a leash on your dog's collar and position yourself between him and the pool and walk forward. If you position your dog so he stands closest to the pool, his focus will remain on the pool rather than you, making the lesson harder to teach. If he walks toward or looks at the pool, step between him and the object, demonstrating a body block, then resume walking forward again. The body block mimics canine body language.
For overzealous dogs, you can use a facial harness with the leash to give yourself a little more control.
Walk your dog around the perimeter of the pool. At first, every few steps, give him a small training treat. As he walks with you, rapidly feed him his treats. Doing this makes you more valuable than the pool. Once you feel confident that they understand this game, you can wait to see if he looks at you expecting the treat rather than struggling to go near the water. Once your dog displays that behavior, slow down on the treat distribution.
Perform a series of training sessions, several times per day, so that your dog has a chance to really learn this lesson. The dog's intelligence and breed will determine how long the lesson stays fresh on his mind. Once you fell absolutely sure that your dog knows the rules, you can begin attempting the lesson while there is activity in or around the pool.