How to Teach Your Golden Retriever to Swim

This guide will show you how to teach a Golden Retriever to swim in a safe and fun way, so they can enjoy the water just as much as we do!

We will be discussing some simple and easy steps that will help you teach your dog the joys of swimming. Swimming has so many wonderful benefits for both you and your Golden Retriever, so why not take advantage of these tips and start teaching them how to swim today?

Table of Contents

Do Golden Retrievers like to Swim?

Yes, Golden Retrievers love to swim! Golden Retrievers were once taught to make great swimmers. They were bred to hunt for small prey on land and fish in streams. As a result, this dog has features that naturally make it a good swimmer.

They also have a few more qualities that make them great swimmers.

1. Golden Retriever Webbed Feet

Just like ducks, Golden Retrievers have webbed feet. This feature enables them to create a larger surface area to step on while swimming.

It’s easier to swim when you can quickly push through the water. In addition, the webbed feet make swimming less stressful for Golden Retrievers.

2. Very Active

Golden Retrievers have a high energy level. They are very active. This makes them great swimmers because they will not be quickly tired out.

Golden Retrievers are very active dogs. This keeps them fit and enables flexibility while swimming.

Swimming requires a lot of energy for strokes and involves a lot of movements. Golden Retrievers fit into this role perfectly.

3. Thick Coat

Golden Retrievers have a thick coat made up of long hair. It serves as an insulator to keep the dog warm while it swims.

If your Golden Retriever gets too cold, it will begin to have some health issues that affect its normal functions. You can swaddle it in a thick cloth after a swim to help warm them up.

4. Intelligence

Golden Retrievers are very intelligent. They are fast learners and very easy to train. Teaching a Golden Retriever how to swim will be little or no stress.

Also, Golden Retrievers are intelligent and can easily maneuver their way in the water. This is why they make great swimmers.

Golden Retrievers don’t necessarily wait to be told when they know what to do.

Golden Retriever Swimming

Golden Retrievers can be taught to swim at any age because they are intelligent and fast learners, but it is best to train a Golden Retriever to swim when it is a young puppy.

However, Golden Retrievers should not be taught to swim when they are old. Swimming is a strenuous activity and will stress them out, leading to illness.

When Golden Retrievers are young, they have enough energy and are open to any new adventures.

When you’re ready to start training your Golden Retriever to swim, here’s how to do it:

1. Start Small

When you are teaching your Golden Retriever to swim, start small. Start with play pools or start at the shallow part of the ocean if you’re at the beach.

That way, your dog won’t be scared at its first attempt. A large body of water will frighten or discourage your dog.

When your dog is well acquainted with the small body of water, you can introduce it to larger bodies.

Don’t ever throw your dog or force it into the water on its first swimming trial. Instead, allow the dog to feel comfortable around the environment before letting it get inside.

2. Participate

Join your dog in the water. Encourage it. Get in yourself if the Golden Retriever is too scared to get in. Show the dog that the water is safe and enjoyable.

When a Golden Retriever sees that you like the water, it will also want to get in and join you.

So don’t just stand afar and watch your dog. Get in! Make it fun. That’s the only way your dog will desire to swim.

3. Keep your dog safe

While having fun and training your dog, remember to stay safe. Don’t leave your dog alone for too long.

Ensure that your dog has a life jacket on and a safety leash so that it won’t drown or drift too far.

4. Rest between intervals

Don’t stress your Golden Retriever while teaching it to swim. There should be time to rest. If your dog swims and plays too long at the beach, it will tire itself out and get a heat stroke.

Dogs like Golden Retrievers are always excited. These dogs play so much that they may not even know when tired.

It’s your responsibility as the dog owner to notice when your dog is tired and give it a time-out. Let it rest, rub it, and swaddle it to warm it up.

That way, your dog has enough playtime and enough resting time while learning how to swim.

You don’t want to tire your dog out so that it doesn’t get the chance to swim again, do you?

5. Constant Practice

Don’t teach your dog to swim once in a long while. Teach it as often as possible. Practice makes perfect.

Make sure your dog doesn’t forget the training. To not forget the training, one has to practice swimming very often.