Being 10 pounds I have to admit, I am not to fond of the water. I have been swimming one time, and that was against my will. My Humans took me to the James River, to an area that is an off shoot of the river, so it is not deep or fast moving. Brice, Eva and Jasper (the dogs) were all playing and swimming in the water. Then my humans began swimming around. I was all alone on the shore. So I slowly got my paws wet. Then my Human coaxed me out to the water and slowly I moved a little bit deeper and deeper till I had to paddle around. I did swim while my human had their hands spotting me the whole time!

A few weeks ago, on my own, I got my paws wet. But once it got to my belly, I just did not get the point.

However, my big sister Eva LOVES to swim! As soon as she sees water she dives right in.

You can see her paddling around in the background behind Oliver in the picture below.

The James River is Beautiful.

Do you have a dog that wants to learn how to swim?  Below are a few tips to help your dog swim.

Dogs already know how to swim, we just have to get them to realize this without pushing them, or making them scared of the water.

1.  If you aren’t in the water more than likely your dog will not be going in either.   Get in the water and play around.

2.  Start in wading waters while letting the dog get used to having their feet and belly wet.  Slowly move into deeper waters.

3.  Use lures, such as a toy or food, to help a dog that isn’t sure become more comfortable and confident.

4.  Peer Pressure. Bring other dogs along that are already know how to swim, and who are happy and comfortable with the water.

5. Think safety first.  Make sure you are in an area that is safe and secure.  Teaching your dog to swim in fast moving river water might not be safe for a first time swimmer.  Consider the size and build of your dog when deciding on where to swim.

6. Stay Positive!  Do not punish your dog if they are unwilling to get in the water.  The more positive you are, and the more fun you are having, the more likely your dog will be willing to make the choice to take the plunge and start paddling.

7. Make sure your dog is making the choice to get in the water.  If you throw your dog in the waters most likely your dog will not want to go back in on their own.

Post a comment to share your favorite place to swim with your dog, how you taught your dog to swim, or any other fun dog swimming story.

I spent the WHOLE day on my very best behavior.  I didn’t chase cats, bite my human’s heels, or even tear up paper.  And then at the very end of the day, Brice got into Corn Meal that my human left on the entrance table in a wooden box (the corn meal as seen on CBS 6 Virginia this Morning and in this Blog post ).  In defense of my my most perfect day of behavior EVER, I did not start it, I was just the only dog that got caught.

Boy it has been a LONG winter. I have loved the snow but I am ready for time in the yard and long walks.
Sunday, I had the most fun, I was able to spend the WHOLE day in the yard with my humans.

My responsibilities in the garden as CEO (Canine Executive Officer) are digging holes and not getting caught, chewing on sticks, and rolling in dirt. It was SO much fun. Of course it was a long work day. Usually I get several naps during the day. Being a CEO is hard work and I need my beauty rest. But I was so busy in the yard, that I did not get to rest. I mean those holes are not going to dig themselves.  The Humans were so busy they didn’t get any photos of me in action but as you can see from the pictures, I was very tired.

And can you believe that my Humans can say NO to this face?

We still have a lot of work to do in the yard.  But here are some pictures of the start of the garden.  I will keep you posted on my hard work.

Tug of War is a fun game that all my dogs love to play. It is great to use just for fun, to build drive, and to help the dog learn to follow your body movement.

There are however simple rules to make tug of war a safe and happy game for all.

Rule #1: Have a release word such as “drop it” to end the game.

Rule #2: The game begins with a release word such as “Ok” or “break.”

Rule #3: The dog is to not have direct contact with you (no teeth to human contact).

Rule #4: Always keep your eye on your dogs body language for any changes in mood.  They should seem happy not aggressive or obsessive.

Want to learn more?  The ASPCA has a a great article on “Teaching Your Dog to Play Tug of War.”

Note the black object next to Buttercup is the real paper shredder.  Buttercup hard at work at being CEO.