Although some dogs are natural swimmers, not all are, which makes it important that you take the time to teach your dog to swim. Not only is it good for bonding but can be fun for both of you. Here are some useful tips on teaching your dog to swim.

1. Making use of a life jacket.

Using a dog life jacket serves two main purposes. Firstly it will give your dog buoyancy. This buoyancy will help your dog to float and make learning to swim a lot easier for him. It will also reduce the amount of fatigue your dog experiences and keep him warm in the water. Most dog life jackets also have a carry handle at the top. This enable you to grab the handle and help lift your dog out of the water. This is vital if your dog gets panicked or becomes fatigued.

2. Getting in the water with your dog.

Being in the water with your dog helps you with keeping a close eye on him whilst in the water. it very much the same way as if you were teaching a young child to swim. Being in the water at the same time allows you to encourage your dog more and guide them. It also enable you to quickly lift him out of the water if he runs into difficulties. Large dogs may need more than one of you in the water at the same time to help lift him out.

3. Start small initially.

If you have your own swimming pool, then this is an ideal way of introducing him to water. He can go in feet first and slowly move out until all his body becomes wet. Throwing your dog into water and hoping for the best is a very bad idea. This can lead to a life long fear of water in your dog.

4. Short periods of time.

When swimming, a dog uses a lot of energy and also loses a lot of heat in the water. Dogs that are bred to spend a lot of time i water usually have thick fur and a large. This minimizes their heat loss. To prevent your dog from developing hypothermia, keep swimming sessions short, dry your dogs fur afterwards and follow up by wrapping in a blanket.

5. Have fun.

Dogs love nothing more than joining in with his family, jumping and playing about in the water. Make the whole water experience fun. This can be achieved by playing games in the water, giving encouragement and even giving treats. This will encourage him to spend time in water as he will associate the experience with having a good time.

Ran writes reviews on the larger dog life jacket and many dog life jacket review articles.

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	PetSTEP II - Swimming Pool Legs Pet Care Ramps-Stairs List Price: $49.95 Sale Price: $33.75
Swimming Pool Legs allow allow your dog to walk out of the water unassisted using the PetSTEP II multi-purpose ramp system. The PetSTEP II MPR ramp (not included) is designed not to sink in water; therefore, the legs are hollow, allowing them to fill with water (holding the ramp in place)...

Written by Ran Taylor using tags: dog care, dog life jacket, dog safety, dog swimming, dog training, Dogs, dogs life jacket, family, Pet Care, pet swimming