Help Your Dog Beat the Heat with Water Play
It has been pretty hot outside, and if you can feel the heat, you bet your pup feels it too! If you want a fun and easy way for your pup to cool down but they aren’t loving the idea of getting wet, read on to learn how to make the water fun!
A little reminder before we get started: Be patient. You are introducing your pup to something new, so it will take some time. Try not to get discouraged or frustrated. Allow your pup to go at their own pace, and soon you both will be splashing in the water and having a blast! Just remember to always supervise your dog around the water. Safety first!
Here are 10 easy steps to help your pup get used to (and eventually love) the water!
☀️ Dogs learn best when they go step by step. Remember to take your time and have fun! ☀️
#1. Start the water.
Choose a spot that you are comfortable with like a bathtub or an outdoor kiddy pool and then turn on the faucet or the hose and fill to a shallow level to start.
👉 At first, simply allow your pup to see and hear the water running but don’t force any interaction just yet.
#2. Get Close.
Get your pup close to the water. Bring your pup up to the edge of the pool or tub and let them see the water inside.
👉 Don’t let them run away but also do not put them in the water yet. Simply keep them near the water.
👉 If they are nervous, don’t coddle them. Soothing tones or petting will reinforce their anxiety and make them distrust the new experience.
#3. Interact with the water yourself.
Touch the water and let your pup sniff or lick the water off your hand so they can see it’s all aok.
👉 If your pup wants to smell or touch the water themselves, let them do so freely. But do not force them!
#4. Do a brief encounter.
Pick your pup up, place their paws in the water for 1 second, and then take them right back out. If you have a very large pup, pick up just their front paws or try easier access to shallow water vs a tub that has a high wall.
👉 Keep the encounter very short, then take them right back out. Don’t do too much too fast. One step at a time!
#5. Repeat your brief encounter several times.
Repeat picking your pup up and placing them in the water briefly.
☀️ This will show your pup that they really don’t have anything to be afraid of!
#6. Have your dog interact with the water without restrictions.
Place your pup in the water, and let go. (Remember this is in shallow water.) Allow them to interact with the water freely.
👉 If they jump right back out, let them. That is perfectly okay!
☀️ You can even interact with the water yourself while your pup is in it to reinforce the idea that there is nothing to worry about. If your dog is nervous at all, keep your tone of voice neutral – soothing tones can increase anxiety.
#7. Repeat interactions without restrictions.
Repeat the interaction by placing your pup into the water and then allowing them to interact with it however they want. Remember, if they jump out, that’s okay!
👉 Do this a lot so your pup can get used to the feel of the water without fearing that they can’t get out if they want to.
#8. Add positive reinforcement.
Give your pup some positive reinforcement while they are in the water.
👉 Throw in a water toy and give a few treats while they are in the water. If they aren’t nervous at all, praise them with a high-pitched voice and a big smile.
☀️ This will show them that this new experience can be fun and rewarding!
#9. Encourage increased interactions.
Encourage your pup to play in the water more. Toss a toy for them, play around with the water yourself and give a few more treats to show your pup how much fun they can have!
👉 Make sure to only do this when you are sure your pup no longer has any anxiety or fear towards the water. If they are still having some resistance, continue steps 7-8 until they are comfortable interacting with the water on their own.
#10. Increase or change interactions.
Once your pup is completely comfortable with the water in the location where you first introduced them to it, you can:
👉 Start to slowly increase the level of the water – fill up the tub or pool with more water.
👉 Or introduce them to water in a different location (for example, if you started teaching them in an outdoor pool, you can move to a bathtub.
☀️ This will help your pup be calm and confident in any situation where they might encounter water!
💦 That’s it! You can do all 10 steps back to back or you can practice over several days. Every dog is different, so just have fun with the process! 🏖
Check out our other blogs for more fun tips and tricks for you and your dog!
✨ And if you are thinking of getting a dog, please consider adoption and rescue! There are so many dogs out there that need your leadership and love! ✨
