Do Dachshunds Like Water?

Being a rather popular, but small dog breed, the Dachshund makes their owners often wonder whether it is a good idea to let them play in the water, given they have such short legs. Therefore it is natural to doubt the buoyancy of this canine, which leads us to a question.

Do Dachshunds like water? There are lots of Dachshunds that are comfortable in and around water. However, owners have to be careful and should always supervise their Dachshund while swimming and playing in the water. Security measures such as a life vest may be of great help.

In this article, you will learn how to safely train your Dachshund to be comfortable around water and even swim in it.

Help Your Dachshund Learn to Swim

As an owner of a Dachshund, you probably have already wondered whether your cute darling could make a good swimmer. Luckily, several factors affect the buoyancy of your short-legged canine. If you want to give your Dachshund the best and least harmful experience with water, be sure to read through this article that deals with every important aspect of this subject.

The Age Does Matter

If your Dachshund is still a puppy, you have good chances to make the learning process pleasurable and easy-going. In case of your dog being already older, it is possible that he developed some traumas or had negative experiences with water in general. 

Also, your canine could slip into a fear phase when growing older beyond puppy age. Signs for your dog being in a fear phase are barking, security seeking or hesitant behavior, and outright leaving the fear causing area.

But while dogs are still young, healthy curiosity fueled by energetic playfulness makes it convenient to teach them how to swim.

Start Slowly

Once you have decided to bring your Dachshund closer to being comfortable around water, you should start by just walking nearby places with water. Don't try to rush things and let your dog determine whether and when going further than this is an option. Also, avoid making a big thing out of it, because your dog will notice and probably become nervous himself.

As soon as you notice your Dachshund becoming curious and more proactive, don't let too intense contact happen yet as this could lead to a traumatic experience. If your dog starts wetting the paws on purpose and is generally showing more of a brave behavior, you can progress to shallow water. It's important that your dog can still reach the ground while walking through it.

Often, dogs are more eager to start swimming when they see other canines playing in the water.

Stay Safe

To ensure that your Dachshund doesn't get into danger, get him a dog life vest for the training's worst-case scenario not to happen. On top of that, you should always supervise your dog and stay close together, not only to being able to react immediately but also to give your canine the confidence that is needed for him to properly concentrate on swimming and not to panic.

Once you're under the impression that your dog is comfortable in the water, try carefully sinking him up to his neck into the water and see whether he gets the right feeling for it and starts paddling. Never force dogs to swim or drop them into the water as this will only hurt their confidence and damage your relationship. Keeping your eyes and hands or a life jacket on your dog at all times is particularly necessary because Dachshunds tire very quickly while swimming due to their short legs.

If you feel that your dog is tired, remove him from the water and let him rest before the next round of swimming. Avoid places with currents as these may endanger your dog and make him anxious about swimming.

Conclusion

If your dog is still a puppy, the learning process will be easier than for an adult Dachshund. In this age, the dog's brain behaves like a sponge and absorbs new experiences very effectively.

For the training to be least problematic and as easy-going as possible, ensure to progress the training gradually by only letting your dog walk nearby rivers, lakes and similar areas. When your Dachshund is comfortable, you can start walking your dog through shallow water, but it shouldn't be too deep for the paws to touch the ground. After also being comfortable in this environment, you can proceed to deeper waters.

Once your dog enters areas with deep water, it's best to have your furry darling always wear a dog life jacket. At this level of training, always stay close to your Dachshund and have your hands on him to see whether your dog is comfortable paddling in the water. Also, keep in mind to avoid areas with currents as these could endanger and traumatize your Dachshund.