Maybe you have been watching TikTok videos of adorable fur babies enjoying the water. Swimming, playing around, simply splashing themselves into the coolness of it.
And it is not new to know that most dogs are great swimmers, and even some dog breeds simply and naturally love the water.
In fact, some of these dogs are the American Water Spaniel, Barbet, Boykin Spaniel, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Curly-coated retriever, English Setter, Flat-coated Retriever, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Irish Water Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Lagotto Romagnolo, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Otterhound, Portuguese Water Dog, Schipperke, Spanish Water Dog, and Standard Poodle.
Saw your fur baby’s breed and just knew that he would naturally love the water?
However, despite this, other dogs are actually more careful and sensitive around the water. Some would even do their best to avoid water as they are afraid of it.
One reason that they do have this kind of reaction is that they lack exposure to it, only having experience with it during bath time. In some rare cases, your fur baby might develop a fear of the water because it is something new to them.
But no worries because we have good news for you! Because with proper training and patience, you can turn any dog into a water lover and even a swimmer!
But then, at the end of the day, it all goes down to avoiding big mistakes when introducing your dog to the water. Never associate it with punishment or even with fear. Remember that the first impression usually lasts long.
Here are four easy steps to start training your fur babies to love the water!
1. Make Bath Time a Fun and Memorable Time
If your fur baby is having a hard time accepting the water and being sensitive about it, you can make their bath time water training.
Since it is one of the instances where your dog will be with the water, you have to keep it in mind to make sure that their bath time is fun and memorable.
You can use warm water, not burning warm, try to test the temperature of the water first if it is tolerable before rinsing your fur baby with it. The warm water is to make it comfortable for your fur baby.
You can also use their treats and reward them every often during the duration of the bath time.
Praises can also help so that your dog will know that they are doing a good and fantastic job and that loving and being comfortable with the water lead to extra pats, treats, and definitely love!
2. Start Your Fur Baby with a Kiddie Pool
When your fur baby starts to be comfortable in the presence of water, bear in mind that it doesn’t mean that he is already ready for the vast beach or a very big pool.
Don’t rush into things and take one step at a time. Start out slow and easy by introducing them into a kiddie pool next. Kiddie pools are affordable and are recommended for coaxing your fur babies in water.
To make sure that being in a kiddie pool will be fun and memorable as well, you can start off by filling the pool with things that they enjoy, like tossing in a few of their favorite toys and starting a game of fetch.
Also, make sure that you should only fill the pool’s water ankle-high, not overwhelming your fur baby too much.
As time goes by, you may increase the water level little by little. Be patient with your dog, and soon, you’ll be able to see your fur baby finally enjoying the presence of water and splashing in the kiddie pool on his own.
3. Join the Fun and Jump in the Water with Your Fur Baby
Be an example for your fur baby! Be a good pet parent and lead the way! Know that dogs can easily get over their fears if we guide and help them as much as our capabilities can.
In this situation, if we show them the water and being in it is harmless. It is okay to be with and in water.
By jumping in the water with your dog, you can show and emphasize to them that there is nothing to worry about or be afraid of in it.
You are fine, and nothing wrong happened to you, and the same goes with your dog. Your dog trusts you, and they will eventually feel that they are safe. It just takes for you, us, to take the lead for them.
Once your dog is finally into the water with you, there will always be a time where you will be the one to worry about your dog’s safety.
You may be worried about how your dog would react or do once he got too fond of playing with the water. At the end of the day, there is nothing more important than your fur baby’s safety and well-being.
In this, you don’t have to worry because you can still track them while exploring the world and even when they are in the water.
Tractive GPS trackers, a device that allows you to track your wandering dog in real-time, is a hundred percent waterproof, so you can definitely enjoy the water with your fur baby together and worry-free.
4. Invite Over A Water Loving Fellow
The best way to learn things is being able to learn with a friend! Taking along a water-loving fellow or even a group of water-loving dogs would greatly help your fur baby even to enjoy playing with the water.
Seeing other fellows running and jumping into the water can help your dog see how it is fun and not frightening for them.
Allow your dog to observe their body language as this would help them engage in whatever water activity is it without thinking too much and brushing off their fears as well.Eventually, your dog will quickly see how there is nothing to be afraid of in the presence of water as all they see are wagging tails and their fellow having fun under the sun.
With the right amount of patience and trusting the process of training your fur baby, they will eventually be in love with the water.
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