In many ways, you love that your dog is small. It means you can pick him up and cuddle him with ease. He can sit on your lap while you watch the Kardashians without turning your legs numb. It also means he doesn’t scare strangers and other pets. It isn’t all plain sailing though, there are some downsides. The biggest of which is that he can fit through small gaps. This is a skill he has mastered and uses to jump into your clean swimming pool. Nobody wants to swim in a pool that’s full of dog hair, even if he is the cutest dog in the neighborhood.
Training him to stay out of the pool will seriously reduce the amount you have to clean the pool. It will also prevent him running wet paw prints around your house, not to mention the chlorine he will walk into your new carpets.
If a dog loves water, then training him to keep clear of it can be challenging. This is especially the case with swimming pools, where they can see people having fun right before their eyes. Because of his size, training your small dog to stay out of the pool will first require taking a number of steps to limit his access. You will also need to channel his energy into something more productive, through obedience training.
If he’s a puppy, then his love for the pool may be relatively new and you should be able to stamp out the habit in just a couple of weeks. If he’s older and spent many years being allowed in there, then you may need up to six weeks. Succeed and the pool will be a strictly canine-free zone, where your kids can splash to their hearts' content.
Before you get to work, you will need a few things. Some secure fencing to separate him from the pool will be needed, as will a motion sensor. Toys, food puzzles and treats will also be required. For one of the methods, a long leash, deterrence collar, and a water spray bottle will be needed.
Try and allocate 10 minutes each day to training. It will help to be vigilant and around him as much as possible, especially at the beginning of training.
Once you have the above, just bring patience and a proactive attitude, then work can start!