Christian Cruz Webboard User Reg: 04-20-2013
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I have a 3 month old GSD pup thats a ball of energy. I want to teach her how to swim and im wondering if she is too young to handle it. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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I do know a couple of 3- and 4-month-olds who swim ..... and more than a couple of 6- and 7-month-olds ..... but before you do anything about it, do you mean in a big pool?
Because the crucial issue to me is teaching the dog or pup where the pool stairs are and how to negotiate them .... many times.
Also, while not everyone does this, I always put the learner dog (disclaimer: I have never introduced a 3-month-old pup to swimming) in a lifejacket. I like that lack of anxiety for me about accidentally letting go.
You are absolutely right NOT to assume that your dog was born knowing how to swim. Some are natural swimmers, but not only are some breeds not good at it in general, but some individuals in the "swimmer" breeds are not either.
So can you tell us more about where, and has she expressed interest, and so on?
Also, are you marker training?
And I hope the puppy folks will see this and comment.
Billy Shaw Webboard User Reg: 11-06-2012
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Strictly speaking from personal experience, and not passing myself off as a professional, but all my dogs have swam by 3 months, and my current pup was in the pool the day after I got her at 8 weeks and never had a problem. Just like a baby, if done responsibly, there shouldn't be a problem. My caution would be, swimming is exhausting to a dog, so keep it very short, at this age far more important to get them used to water and not use it to exhaust them.
If you want your dog to submerge, I find training that in a bucket first is better then in the pool,to try and limit the negative association with the pool.
I kept a harness and long line on my pup while letting him explore the dock diving pond area at our training club. I wouldn't use just a collar.
I let him sniff around and explore the shore so he knew where he could get out, then gave him some slack on the long line. I started doing this with him at a very young age.
Christian Cruz Webboard User Reg: 04-20-2013
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Thanks everyone for all the helpful post. She will be swimming in a backyard poor 6 feet deep. I have sat inside the pool on the stairs with her and she has dipped her head in a couple of times. I have began marker training with her as well. Thanks again !
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