At Canine College, we’ve decided that in order for your dog to beat the summer heat, you’re going to need a pool! This means that the first thing you need to do is look into pool fence inspections brighton way, or wherever you want to teach your dog, to make sure your pool matches regulations. Dock diving, also known as dock jumping, is a great way to get your dog some exercise this summer all while staying cool.
But what if your dog shies away at the first mention of “Bath time”? We’ve got a few helpful suggestions here to get your dog up to speed before they become dock jumping experts.
Be sure you know if your dog should be swimming before you start! If you own a pug, bulldog, dashund or basset hound, you’re going to want to steer clear away from deep water. And while swimming is often easy on the joints which is good for overweight dogs, dogs with arthritis or prone to developing it may not be suited for the water. It’s best to contact your vet to get your pooch cleared for swimming before anything else. They may recommend a little paddling pool for your tiny dog to be included in the summer fun or they may recommend you use a cbd tincture for dogs with arthritis to help their joints. And if your pooch is not cleared for swimming, maybe a little sprinkler fun would be better for them.
Now, lets talk about how to get your dog swimming!
- Show your dog how to get in and out of the body of water. While keeping your dog on a leash, you can then start to ease the dog towards the water or into it with treats and words of encouragement.
- Feel free to bring along their favorite toy, if that will help them feel comfortable. Don’t throw the toy into the pool as that may upset them.
- Bring along your dog’s favorite playmate who also likes water. This will encourage your dog to get in the water if they see other dogs and humans doing the same thing.
Be sure to come prepared for the training lessons. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A kiddie pool
- Plenty of treats and toys
- A life jacket (for smaller dogs or breeds)
- An ear wrap to prevent water from causing an ear infection
- Sunscreen for your dog’s nose and ears (yes, they CAN get burned there!)
What happens once we’ve mastered swimming?
Did you know that your dog can actually become a competitive swimmer? The American Kennel Club has officially recognized dock jumping as a registered canine sport. At Canine College, we highly recommend signing up for a dock diving competition. Let us help train your dog the proper ways of dock diving at our Holbrook-based facility this summer. Contact us today for rates and class schedules!
