How to teach your dog to swim

If you have a pet dog and an accessible pool, then the two can together spell out a lot fun. Don't make assumptions that your dog can swim even if you are a proud owner of a retriever. You can definitely teach it how to swim and that will be a lot of fun. Be careful about one thing that you can't let your dog wander near the pool unattended. In this case you need to deal with your dog in the same manner as you deal with children.

Start teaching:

1. Let your dog know that the only way that it can enter or exit the pool is by using the steps. This will refrain it from jumping into the pool from any random side. Take him some distance into the pool and repeat the exercise. This will help the dog get itself out of the pool if necessary.
2. If you have a helper then ask him to hold your dog on the top step and you enter the pool. Shout "steps" and the dog will soon know what to do. If you don't have a helper then use a leash to guide your dog.
3. Try taking your dog a little further from the steps and let it swim to the steps and exit the pool. Keep to the shallow area of the pool and don't stretch your session for more then 10 minutes.
4. While you are teaching your dog to swim make sure you hold your dog in a way that the rear end of the dog is up. This will let the dog use its four legs to swim. If it just uses its front legs then it is likely to drown. Its head should not point up and the neck should stretch forward.
5. Slowly try and extend the time spent in the pool. Give your dog a good bath after every swimming session and make sure that it is not facing any trouble with the chlorine water.

1. You should keep in mind that a few types of dog shouldn't be made to swim. Snub-nose dogs, double-coated dogs, senior dogs, young puppies, over-weight dogs, short legged dogs, barrel headed and large chest dogs and dogs which have a medical problem are a few dogs who are not great candidates for swimming.
2. You should also have a see-through fence around the pool with the added benefit of a self closing and self locking gate. The pool should also have a pool alarm with a ladder at the steps which will facilitate exit if your dog is suffocating. You can also place bricks near the exit if you own a small dog. This will help your dog climb out of the pool in distress.
3. Its not just you who gets affected by the sun, your dogs can also get a sunburn around their noses, eyes and ears. Talk to your vet for a suitable sunscreen. Light colored dogs and dogs who have been recently shaved have higher chances of getting tanned.
4. Make sure that you don't feed your dog just before its going for its swimming session. Keep a healthy gap of atleast an hour.
5. Control your dog in the pool with a line attached to the life jacket or with the help of a leash. A swimming harness or a collar with a line attached can also help in this regard.