My 13 month old isn't a big fan of swimming pools, he's ok with lakes, the beach, he won't swim because he doesn't realize he can n I dunno how to get him to go that far into the water without making him scared of the water, but most difficult of all, he hates the swimming pool, which is probably my fault cuz I tried putting his front paws on the top step when he was 5 months old n it didn't go over too well. I've managed to get him to at least be ok walking around the pool, and 75% of the time he will come to me when I'm leaning out of the edge of the pool n he'll lick the water off my face n arms. When I throw a toy into the pool he'll stand at the edge of the pool and stare at it, but that's all he does, even if its within reach he'll just stare at it.

What is the best way to get him to go into the pool? And what is the best way to get him to go deeper into the sea? Usually when I take him to the beach I don't go into the water myself so I can't physically try to take him out there, which is probably a bad idea anyway, n if I throw a stick or a toy, he won't go deeper than his chest to get it, if I throw it too far he'll just turn back. He also likes to splash in water buckets, but he's scared of the garden hose too. He likes things to be on HIS terms, if I hold the hose he thinks he's gonna get wet, but if I put out a bucket, he makes his own decision to get wet.

When I first took him to the beach, the waves freaked him out, however small they were, he'd back off, so i'd give him a small shove into the wave (im talking ankle high waves here), once he got past that first wave he was fine n loved splashing around.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated, I don't want to screw up my dogs chances of ever jumping in the pool with us. Today I stood in the pool n he started barking at me, he stopped doing it when I called him over to me though.

I'd put a leash on him and jump into the pool with him. Praise him in the water. Make him swim a little then guide him to the steps with the leash. Once your out, go do it again. You can try to play tug once in the water but if he's too stressed, don't worry about it. He'll get over it. The main thing is to allow him to get out on your terms, just like everything else.

I'm going to guess there is a swim gene for dogs. I have three GSD's now. Maggie wants to jump in every body of water she sees. I was visiting a nieghbor and let her loose in his back yard. She immediatly jumped into his Koi pond, gold fish all over. Max just tolerates the kiddie pool or bath. Erika, the nine week old pup, jumped right in and wallowed like a hog. oh well. I guess if you made it part of fun and games and started with a kiddie pool from walmart he'll learn to tolerate it. It might be in doggy think "I know I can get in but I don't see a way out"

WoW! Find a slow river or canal...you swim across...use a long, fine line (like cord) that goes all the way across. This is to prevent the dog from leaving...NOT TO PULL HIM ACROSS. Then call him to you. If y'all have a good bond he should swim it. If not, you should work on your bond.

If you're not that patient, pull him across as described ahead.

When he's comfortable and if he retrieves, have him then retrieve (a tennis ball...it's gotta be a slow moving river <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> as he swims across to you.

If that doesn't work, and swimming with your dog is very important to you...pull him across, and give him a whole bunch of treats when he gets there. Eventually he'll get the point.

If all you have is a pool, have someone else hold your dog at one end, coax him across once...if that doesn't work, pull him across to you...towards steps if there are any. If not, as soon as he gets to you put your hand behind his NECK and pull gently up. He'll exert opposing force in short order, and learn how you help him get out of the pool.
Don't let the dog stress trying to get out of the pool unassisted.

Be firm and gentle...it's not a difficult task...yet it will require a couple of consistent weeks to really see a change in attitude.

Remember to reward well at the end, and use reward markers appropriately...like when he STARTS the jump in, while he swims...and NOT when he exits the water. Give him the treat with one hand while you help him get out with the other.

Something to watch out for: don't let your dog find out how to swim...many dogs will plop, plop, plop with their paws breaking the surface...stressing themselves out. When your dog starts swimming, pull him gently. He'll find out what the proper technique is THAT way.

Pushing a dog into things really has adverse effects...unless you're quite decisive about it...in which case the dog complies because of some form of compulsion.

Swimming is great for dogs...good luck to you. Hope this helps.

Our dog Heidi didn't want to go in any water when she was young. I started out coaxing her with her toy on a rope. She gradually went deeper. I also brought food treats and rewarded her every time she entered the water. I had her on a retractable leash and always let her go back to the shore when she wanted to. But as soon as she got back and shook off I called her out to me again. When she started going deep enough to need to swim I put a hand under her chin to keep her mouth out of the water. That little bit of support let her realize she could swim thru the water. Otherwise I think she would have been too focused on trying to breathe. Once she was accustomed to playing in the water with her toy we wanted her to learn to jump off the dock. My husband jumped in the water and called to her in a somewhat urgent tone. I held on to her leash to keep her from running down the dock and going in from the shore. After much barking and running the length of the leash she finally took the plunge. He immediately made sure her head wasn't under water. We did this over the course of a summer. If your dog has fears of it may not be a quick process. I would think that your dog needs to learn how to swim before it will be comfortable jumping into the deep water of a swimming pool.

1. Stand by the edge of pool.

2. Pick up dog.

3. Throw dog in pool.

4. Dog will swim.



This method works equally well for both children and mother in-laws. (whether they can swim or not)

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Scott's method is best, drag the dog in the water with you on a leash. Same thing I do with dogs who have never seen stairs before. . .drag them down and drag them back up. As soon as they see the stairs aren't going to kill them, they run up and down on their own without issue.

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As soon as they see the stairs aren't going to kill them, they run up and down on their own without issue.

I picked my dog up, stuck him in the middle of the staircase n gave him a choice.... stay there for an hour or come to me at the top of the stairs... 30 seconds later he loved going up and down... it's scary how fast dogs roll down the stairs once they can do it.... I wouldn't wanna go down head first! lol

Looks like my doggy's goin swimming today! Thanks guys, I didn't wanna force him before in case it was a surefire way to make him fear the pool, but that seems to be the general consensus and it makes sense, too scared to go into the unknown, but once he's in he learns its ok.

Wooo I had dog hair in the pool!

Worked great, got him swimming between the 2 sets of steps in the pool (10ft apart), he's not entirely thrilled about the concept, but he's not resisting going in nearly as much as the first time. He won't take treats even after he's out of the pool until he's dried off and ready to go inside, so he'll hafta live with only getting praise <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'll keep doing this for a few weeks and try to gradually get him to swim around the pool instead of staying near the side where he can try to get out. Maybe retrieve a ball or something.