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 ...

The Water Table: Your Secret Weapon for Teaching Your Dog to Swim Joyfully
Written by: Erica Etchason, owner 4 Paws Adrift and Dremel Like a Boss

Swimming is often one of our favorite activities to offer our dogs, whether for recreation, sport, or conditioning. 4 Paws Adrift was built on teaching dogs to swim. I started swimming dogs to spend more time outside in beautiful lakes with my dog by my side, and it brought me so much joy that I wanted to share it with other people.

The Challenge: Teaching Dogs to Swim with Joy

Some dogs take to the water like fish and some do not. I recognized pretty quickly that people wanted their dogs to enjoy the water even if it didn’t come naturally. My mentor, Deborah Lee Miller-Riley, created a platform that allows dogs to put their feet down in the water while learning to swim.

This was a game changer for all of us. More and more dogs, of all breeds and ages and at all levels, were successfully swimming and learning to enjoy the water. 

What is...

My clients and I are extremely fortunate that we have access to both an in-ground pool and an under water treadmill at the swim center where my business is located.  I know…..extremely fortunate.   Since I can offer both types of hydro therapy, I get asked this question literally 10 times a day.

I hope this chart is useful if you are ever trying to figure out which hydro therapy you would like to pursue with your canine.  As always if you have a serious illness or injury, speaking with your Veterinarian or Rehabilitation Therapist is a good place to start.

When reviewing the chart here are some things to consider.  The 10,000 foot view is that the Underwater Treadmill is better for hind end, swimming is a front end activity.  If a dog is recovering from an injury with any muscle atrophy I am going to suggest Underwater Treadmill hands down.  If economics is a factor and you just need some mild conditioning then the pool is your biggest bang for your buck.  The underwater treadmill ...