Pool

 Author: Denise Partlow

Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas

 We often have visions of our dogs swimming with us in the pool, having a blast. But not all dogs truly enjoy this activity, so do not force this on your dog. Instead let it be something that happens naturally or guide your dog in slowly. 

Never throw your dog in the water to get him to go in, this will only make him fear it even more. A lot of dogs do not understand the concept of a pool until they have experienced it in a positive way, it can often feel like they are falling off of a cliff-that’s why you will see many dogs feel more comfortable entering water if there is a zero type entry, such as an ocean or a lake, because they can walk in on their own and decide when it is deep enough for them.

If your dog loves the pool, then that is fantastic, so let’s have some fun. But here are some things that you should keep in mind.

First, never leave your dog unattended. There should always be someone around to help him get out of the water, if necessary.

Swimming is an awesome form of exercise but most dogs are not doing it all year and may tire out quickly in the beginning. So make sure they are not overdoing it.

And most importantly……
Every year, when you reintroduce the pool to your dog, whether it’s the first time or the 10th time, it is super important that you show your dog how to exit the pool safely. Do not assume your dog knows how to exit just because he may have entered on his own.

While most dogs are natural swimmers, it doesn’t mean that they have the stamina to keep going until they find the exit, so it is literally a matter of life or death.Before you begin your regular summer pool routine, guide your dog to the exit, and do that through several repetitions to make sure that he can do this independently. 

Tomorrow we will discuss the last topic; ways to help your dog through the holidays that involve fireworks.