I have 4 puppies and there is a natural pool on our property maybe 7 feet across and 3 feet deep. I have never trained swimming before nor looked up how. I value my own coming up with things and the experiences of real people so I will be using my own ideas and what I learn here rather than go to a blog.
So any ideas? Anyone train puppies to swim before?
I believe dogs often inherently can know how (my momma dog is great swimmer even tho she never swam as a child). And a key thing I feel is to have treats available and involved so there is an atmosphere of water being good.
I am also thinking to support them as they paddle twice each at least. Then I will challenge them to swim to and retrieve a treat so, if they push themselves to do what they now know wont hurt them (paddle to the treat), they receive reward.
I will somehow need to simultaneously take pictures or recruit a friend.
Thoughts? Probably in 5 days
Mostly German Shep and a little Pit. The mom dog automatically great at swimming sounds like a good sign.