when to introduce your puppy to a pool and how?

[marcella smith-brewer]

we will be getting our puppy in June, and was wondering, at what age and when

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

All I can tell you is what happened with my puppy last summer. He was about 12 weeks old when he fell in our pool. We were right there watching but he was chasing our other doodle and splash. He just started swimming to the steps. The rest of the summer, that is where he laid, on the top step of the pool. I'm not sure what age is appropriate but it just kind of happened.

[marcella smith-brewer]

thanks for the info on the pool

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I have no idea about introducing a pool to a puppy. We dont have a pool at home but we were at a friends home in Ft. Lauderdale last week. I walked out of the house just in time to see charlis head go under the water. Not surprising because she just loves water - except of course a bath - and she really has no fears. I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck to get her out because she was not on the side with the steps. Next time I will show her the steps and I am sure there will be no keeping her out. Samantha would NEVER even think of going in but then again if her ball goes in she just might.

With that being said I have no idea of a right time but I would make sure that you introduce a pool by the steps to make sure your puppy knows how to get out if g-d forbid he/she should ever go in when your back is turned. I certainly would wait until you have 'mastered' basic commands where your puppy understands No.

[marcella smith-brewer]

thanks for the info on the pool

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

My second puppy Tigger was born May 5. He spent his first summer just watching his older brother Roo swim. Even when I went in he did not want to go in. The next summer he swam everyday with Roo and I. It took him about 2-4 weeks to really get into it. At first he just ventured onto the first step, then the second and so on.

Roo was born Oct 13. He is much more adventurous by nature and so the first summer at 6+ months he tried swimming with a little encouragement from me and from then on he was part fish. Thank goodness Roo likes to swim as he has much more energy than Tigger and in Southern CA in the summer it is too hot to do much of anything else.

Interestingly, both dogs love the beach and Tigger loved splashing in the waves even at 6 months.

[marcella smith-brewer]

thanks for the info on the pool

[marcella smith-brewer]

thanks for the info on the pool

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Hunter was about 12 weeks when she discovered our baby pool. My daughters are 7 and 10 and they put a baby pool on the bottom of their sliding board on the swing set - Hunter watched them for about 2 min and then jumped right in. She has loved ALL water ever since then - puddles, pools, lakes, bathtub you name it! LOL

[marcella smith-brewer]

thank u for the info on the pool

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, Peri plays in a baby pool at daycare during the summer. She loves it. We are going to the beach in a few months and I cannot wait to see what the heck she thinks about a bigger body of water like that! That will be nothing like the creeks and small rivers she has seen so far in TN!
Marcella-maybe get a baby pool first - from Walmart or something? Peri got in a makeshift one at my parents when she was probably 3 months old. She is quite a water doodle though. Can't stay away from puddles, rain, etc...

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I can't think of any age being specific or wrong for a dog to go swimming. Most doodles love the water, with some exceptions ofcourse and I would think just show him the pool and see what happens. Our Murphy was 4 months old before he met the ocean or a pool, but had been exposed to lakes and streams before that and we could hardly keep him out of them. The ocean was a little intimidating at first because it was very rough the first month we were there, but my husband took him in holding him and let him go a few feet, experience a wave and come right back to his arms. Within a few days of that he was body surfing the waves and crashing onto the shore and going back in on his own. Many people would come ask me how I taught him to do that as he looked like a surfer-dood!!!! It was sooo cute.

I would certainly always be nearby when there is water as I have had to rescue him a few times , but nothing too scary and it certainly didn't phase him. He swam everyday, several times a day in florida from 4 - 9 months old last summer and except for ear infections, it was the best times of the day with him.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Just love these pictures!!! What a happy doodle.