What to do if your dog is afraid of water How to overcome your dog’s fear of water

Jul 26,2025
3Min


Dogs are naturally afraid of water

In fact, sometimes these dogs just don’t know that water is not scary, so this phenomenon occurs. And sometimes the way owners bathe them is too gentle, which can also cause dogs to be very afraid of contact with water.

Owners can go into the water with their dogs

In fact, dogs are born to swim, but sometimes they are afraid of touching water. In this case, we can take out a toy that the dogs like very much and throw it into the water and let them pick it up. However, if the dogs are still very afraid of water, owners can first accompany them into the water for the first time. Of course, the water environment must be chosen next to the swimming pool. Otherwise, the owner may not be familiar with it, and the environment next to it will cause some unpredictable consequences.

How to train a dog to swim

1 First take the dog into the shallow water

Encourage the dog to adapt to the water and let it slowly relax

2 Until the dog can take the initiative to contact water

Slowly take the dog to a deeper area

3 Use some toys that dogs like as inducements

Let it slowly adapt to the feeling of not being able to step on the bottom in deep water

It can also be used when adapting to deep water areas

Wear a special life jacket for your dog

4 Throughout the entire process, encouragement and rewards are indispensable

Speak softly and be patient with dogs

5 When a dog breaks through its fear of swimming

Owners can play more water games with their dogs

For example, drink bottles, Frisbees, tennis balls, etc.

6 Once the dog can take the initiative to enter the water

And you are not in a hurry to go ashore, so congratulations

You successfully made it like swimming

Being able to swim does not mean there is no danger

At the same time, it does not mean that all dogs are suitable for swimming

Precautions for dog swimming

First of all, dogs cannot swim frequently. Because the dog's fur will secrete a layer of natural oil, frequent swimming will destroy this layer of oil and cause the dog to suffer from skin diseases. The number of times your dog swims can be controlled once or twice a week.

Secondly, dogs must not go swimming (or bathing) after eating, as this will cause harm to the dog’s digestive system. Moreover, dogs cannot go swimming when they are sick, as it will aggravate the dog's condition.
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