How to Swim With Your Dog

Having a dog requires you to be active in the dog's life. You must find ways to keep your dog active and healthy. Doing things with your dog, such as going for walks and runs, is one way to spend time with your pet while getting in a little exercise for yourself. Swimming with your dog is another activity you and your canine can do together.

  1. Know Your Breed

    • Make sure that your dog is of a breed that enjoys being in the water. Certain breeds enjoy the water more than others. Breeds such as setters, retrievers, Akita's, poodles and spaniels are the most prone to take naturally to swimming. Some breeds, such as hounds, bulldogs and pugs, may never be able to swim.

    Swimming Area

    • Have a large enough swimming area so that you and your dog do not run into other people or dogs, as this may frighten the dog. If swimming is new to your dog, you should have a rescue flotation device and rope handy, in the event the dog does not immediately take to swimming. Start out by taking your dog in a shallow pool or edge of a lake to get started.

    Flotation Devices

    • Even dogs of breeds known for being good swimmers may not have the natural ability to swim. Consider using a flotation ring or flotation vest to get the animal accustomed to being in the water.

    Practice and Increasing Ability

    • Practice swimming with your dog so that the activity becomes fun and known to the dog. You can change locations by swimming with your dog in both lakes and swimming pools. As your dog gets better suited to swimming, try to move to deeper water or areas where there is a current. If you are confident enough that your non-swimming dog has learned to paddle, make small attempts at removing flotation devices to see how your dog fares. Only use this test in shallow water.