How to Train a Rottweiler to Swim
Introduction
All dogs swim, right? Well, maybe not.
Although many Rottweilers can and do swim, some are not so keen. Rottweilers are not naturally a water or sporting breed, they are more of a working, herding and guard dog. This does not mean that they don't like water, just that they are not one of the many breeds who necessarily take to it like ducks, due to genetic predisposition. Also, because Rottweilers tend to be heavier set, muscular dogs, they are not especially well designed for swimming. Still, most Rotties take to swimming pretty readily, but some may need a little extra encouragement and instruction to become proficient and learn to enjoy swimming as much as their sporting dog companions.
Rotties are such individual dogs, what is good for one is not necessarily good for another, and taking to the water is no different. So, you will need to see if your dog is a fish or a reluctant rock! If it is the latter, some training to swim may be necessary, especially if you live near water and enjoy water sports and want your dog to be able to safely accompany you and enjoy outings on, and around the water.
Defining Tasks
Getting Started
The Slow and Steady Method
The Lure to Swim Method
The Bring a Friend Method
Written by Laurie Haggart
Published: 03/28/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
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Success Stories and Training Questions
Training Questions and Answers
Been trying to get my pup to swim for the last month and a half. She will not use her back legs to swim no matter what I do.
Her sister swims the length of the pool just fine. But Lucy will not use back legs, and will eventually go vertical.
This is problematic because they are yard dogs and there is a pool in the backyard. They are currently only let out under my supervision due to this, but keeping them locked up in their kennel or play area is something we want to do away with as soon as possible.
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Hello Luke, Could you reply back with exactly what all you have tried so we can trouble shoot what to try next. Some dogs respond to certain things better than others, so what works for one dog can be different than what works for another. If you haven't done so yet, I would try getting in the water with pup where you can safely touch, wearing a life vest or similar floatation device for your safety around pup, then with a short leash on pup to guide pup forward, place one hand under pup's abdomen and practice pushing up on that so pup is horizontal and leading pup gently around you in circles, supporting their abdomen to get them into the correct position. You want pup to learn the correct position and how pup uses their body to swim will often follow pup understanding that. This is sort of like a kid practicing swimming on a kickboard. Practice swimming supporting pup's abdomen often to help pup develop those muscles through practice with you. As pup improves push up on pup's abdomen less, reapplying pressure again when pup starts to let themselves sink. Once pup has the muscles built for swimming more horizontal, then it there is anything pup likes to chase after in the water, getting pup to swim fast and further can often get a dog with the right muscle control to learn to plane off and be horizontal. It's obviously important that pup can swim doggie paddle well enough that if they don't go horizontal they still won't sink and drown. If they will, a doggie life vest needs to be incorporated into practice, but only if pup can't stay afloat because that will make horizontal swimming harder to learn initially. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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I've been breeding rotties for 30 years. I take puppies to the river a shot put them into the river . I have never had an incident. They all swim and continue their entire life. Try it😁
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Hi Caitlin.
The usual process was me being in the pool with them, supporting their abdomen's. Initially used a treat with my other hand, just in front of their nose to keep them moving forward, with the word 'stairs' when they reached the stairs. This was the initial teaching of how to get out of the pool.
We started this without the life vest. When trying to use her tail to hold her up, she would just turn around and try to 'hug' me, which would result in her sinking and me having to hold her and stop the session.
When I try to tickle or poke her rear legs while swimming, she just tucks them in further.
The leash part, I actually only just started to get them used to leash pressure this week. Would it still be okay to try the leash to do circles? I do have vests for both of them now (even though sister - Roxy -can swim fine, they try to swim together... which is its own problem)
I've tried letting go pressure from the abdomen over the last month (we did training almost every day just a short while) but would have to reapply pressure because she just never starts using the rear legs