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Thread: swimming

  1. #1
    House Broken janika28's Avatar
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    swimming

    Does it matter at what age to introduce the pup to swimming?

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    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    In a kiddie pool or in a lake? In a kiddie pool I'd think you can do that early on. With a lake I'm not sure of...

  3. #3
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    You will get many opinions on this. As long as you do it in a safe manner for the pup, I don''t believe age matters. The youngest I've ever let a pup intro'd a pup to water was 16 weeks. And he took to water like a fish.

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    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    Bacon was in the water at 8 weeks, and it has been hard to keep him out ever since!
    Last edited by BaconsMom; 05-22-2014 at 08:23 AM.

  5. #5
    House Broken colding's Avatar
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    Just don't force them into it. A kiddie pool is a great place to get the accustomed to the water at a young age.

  6. #6
    Senior Dog MightyThor's Avatar
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    Thor has a kiddie pool that he loves to step into, but it only gets about 6 inches deep. We can't get him to sit or lay down in it (just asking/using commands - it's the only time he won't sit!), but he has no problem sticking his whole head under water to go after a sunken soggy treat! He loves to blow bubbles.

    We'll have him (19 weeks old) near lakes for the first time this weekend and I think we'll see how he does. I think in a lake scenario where he can jump in after toys he'll have no problem getting himself all wet!

  7. #7
    House Broken piccadilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by barry581 View Post
    You will get many opinions on this. As long as you do it in a safe manner for the pup, I don''t believe age matters.
    Agreed. I've intro'd 7-8wk old puppies on up. I like to bring along a sane older dog that won't splash or dunk the puppy for them to watch. The puppy will usually play on the shoreline for the most part at first and they all take the plunge at their own pace

  8. #8
    House Broken petitesalmon's Avatar
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    I started with a kiddy pool at 8 weeks, and a lake at 12 weeks once fully immunised. Now he won't stay away from it!

  9. #9
    Senior Dog Bamps's Avatar
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    I got Opie a little older, (about 4 mos) at the lake. He followed me right in, never hesitating once and has been an Opie-dopie swimming puppy fool ever since.

  10. #10
    Real Retriever Archie's Avatar
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    Yep, just don't force them. To give a different experience, Archie did NOT like swimming at first. Would happily bounce in and out of his kiddie pool, but didn't swim until he was almost a year old. having his feet not touch bottom really seemed to upset him. He loves it now. Just be patient, and be safe
    Laura, Archie & Quinn
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