The Gift of Teaching Your Dog to Swim
The Gift of Teaching Your Dog to Swim
By Chrissy Poth, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, FFCP
When Jack was just 14 weeks old, he was curious about water but found it . . . well, suspicious. He’d look at lakes, streams, and puddles with that mix of fascination and hesitation only a puppy can pull off. I made it my mission to change that.
Every week, we explored a different kind of water—a calm lake one day, a babbling creek the next, and even the shallow end of a pool. With the help of Erica, we made every interaction positive, turning splashes into fun instead of fear. Slowly but surely, Jack’s confidence grew.
Then, finally, at nine months old something magical happened. While we were at the lake, he spotted a kayak gliding across the water. His curiosity finally outweighed his caution. He gathered every ounce of puppy courage, paddled out, and swam for the very first time. From that moment on, there was no stopping him. Jack became the kind of dog who would happily drag me toward the water at every opportunity.
Fast forward six years, and swimming turned out to be more than just a fun pastime. Jack needed surgery for a perineal hernia, which left him with some unexpected bladder and bowel complications. The vets were puzzled, but one of the recommended therapies was swimming, along with other physical therapy exercises, to strengthen his pelvic floor.
Here’s the thing: if Jack hadn’t learned to love the water as a puppy, this recovery process would have been so much harder. Trying to convince a dog to not only swim but also see it as enjoyable in the middle of medical rehab? That’s a tall order.
Because we put in the time when he was young, swimming became a comfort, not a stressor. In the end, it played a major role in his healing.
If you’ve got a puppy, or even an older dog, who hasn’t yet learned to swim, consider making it part of their life. It’s not just a skill for summer fun. It could one day be a lifesaver.
Jack swimming for the very first time at Round Valley Reservoir, NJ
