Do Springer Spaniels Like To Swim?
I am an avid swimmer, and I love the water and all sorts of water sports. I am thinking of getting a dog that I can take along with me on my adventures. I want a dog that loves the water as much as I do, whether it’s riding in a boat, swimming, or other water activities. I was considering the Springer Spaniel but didn’t know if they like water. It is important to me that they want to swim.
I located some handy and useful information that I decided I would share in case anyone else was wondering.
Do Springer Spaniels like to swim?
Do Springer Spaniels like to swim? Yes, Springer Spaniels do like to swim. As an active dog breed with a lot of energy and a love for the outdoors, Springer Spaniel likes to swim and be in the water and be physically active on a variety of levels.
They are a perfect hunting dog naturally takes to water activity due to their heritage and hunting background. Whether their owner wants to swim in a pool or pond or wants to splash their feet in a creek, the Springer Spaniel will make a perfect companion for this type of activity.
Highly intelligent, they will learn swimming quickly alongside a dedicated companion who teaches them the ropes of what is safe and not safe water play.
For those potential dog owners looking for a versatile dog breed that loves to be active and swim or play in the water, this breed is natural. They will enjoy the fun had in the water and the physical activity and companionship it can bring.
The Springer Spaniel is a breed of dog that was initially used primarily for hunting. They have a unique and thorough way of rustling out the bird game for their owner or hunting companion.
They have spent a great deal of time in or around the water. They are an active dog breed that likens them to many outdoor activities, including those surrounding the water.
The Springer Spaniel is typically known for hunting birds and game, which usually like to stay close to water sources.
This nearness to water means that the Springer Spaniel will often find themselves swimming, trudging through creeks, or at the very least scavenging through murky swamps for their hunting jobs.
As a sporting hunting dog, they are naturally active and physically fit. This activity level will make it easy for them to learn to swim in a pool or other water bodies. They also have a high level of intelligence that will make learning to swim easier to accomplish for those wishing to do so.
The body of water chosen will not matter much to the Springer Spaniel, which is perfect for those avid outdoor enthusiasts that like to swim in a pond, lake, river, or merely the backyard pool.
When can I introduce a Springer Spaniel to swimming?
A dog owner can introduce a Springer Spaniel to swimming as early as puppyhood as soon as they have been weaned from their mother and formed a comfortable bond. This bonding can vary from one dog to the next, so be patient and understand that it is necessary.
A strong bond with a Springer Spaniel is essential for trust during such exercises as learning to swim. The Springer Spaniel puppy must trust in their owner before taking on this physical activity for their safety. Every dog is as unique as their environment and owner in this regard, so the owner must exercise patience and understanding.
While this dog breed is natural for being physically outdoors and in water, they will still likely need proper training to swim in various situations.
This training that begins in puppyhood is similar to any other form of training that they might receive, and accept that it will end up in a fun activity rather than work or a good behavior for the sake of that being what is expected of them.
The puppy should be introduced to water as early as possible in a gentle and natural non-threatening way. This task is accomplished by providing them with a baby of kid pool to investigate their own free will.
Fill the pool up to a safe level for the puppy and throw in some of their favorite toys. Their reaction might vary from one dog to the next. Some might dive in headlong after the desired toy, while others might sniff the toy and water from the outside or do nothing.
For this training to be successful, patience must be utilized to learn any new task, especially with a Springer Spaniel puppy.
If, after a couple of attempts, the Springer Spaniel appears to lack interest or enthusiasm to get the toy or enter the water, their owner can change tactics.
The owner or another trusted person can pad into the water after the toy. The more fun and enthusiasm the owner or other person brings to this activity, the more successful this is likely.
This time is where the trust comes into play. If the Springer Spaniel sees their owner splashing around in the water and having fun they are likely to join because it is okay and acceptable, they can trust the activity and the water.
Once they have entered the kid pool this time should be spent playing with them, if it is an especially hot day, this will make it even more fun and exciting because it will cool them off too. This playtime is the foundation for a positive experience between Springer Spaniel puppy and the owner that will help it continue to solid swimming later.
After a couple of times doing this, the puppy should be comfortable with this activity, and the owner can take the training to the next level.
The Springer Spaniel is a natural hunting dog, so going after things and flushing them out or retrieving them will be instinctual. This instinct can be used to the owner’s advantage by giving the Springer Spaniel puppy something to hunt or flush out and retrieve.
At this time, it is good to visit a body of water that is a bit deeper so the pup can explore swimming naturally. Once the dog is in the water swimming around, the owner can toss a favorite toy further into the water for them to fetch.
Depending on how the individual pup reacts will determine the outcome. This situation can take a bit of time depending on the dog, so patience again is necessary. If they go after the toy, they repeatedly repeated these games until they have had enough water play.
Their owner is encouraged to also join in the fun to make it a positive experience. The Springer Spaniel will also enjoy this playtime if it is followed with praise and a treat. These treats and praise are used at the end to anchor the behavior and experience in their mind.
Suppose the pup doesn’t seem interested in this activity of retrieving the toy and swimming. In that case, it will be necessary to continue this portion of the training as often as needed to help the Springer Spaniel feel comfortable and secure while having fun in the deeper waters.
One of the biggest mistakes that owners make is to insist or force the Springer Spaniel pup to swim into the water to retrieve the toy. We can never know what goes on in the pups’ mind and body, and if forced to do this activity, it can turn out badly.
Forcing any behavior during the training of a dog is considered a negative action on the owner or trainers. Nothing’s gained or accomplished when done forcefully or negatively. The pup may learn to retrieve the toy, but it will not have come from a positive place, such as fun and enjoyment.
For some dogs, this may take time where they gradually move further into the water. They may not retrieve the toy right out the gate when they have to swim completely but might enjoy wading in further.
This situation instructs the owner that they need to proceed slowly and with more patience while continuing their efforts.
If training isn’t possible during puppyhood, it can still be accomplished in Springer Spaniel adulthood. Depending on their prior life circumstances and experiences, this can come smoothly or take more time.
Patience is always the best guide when teaching any dog a new activity.
In Conclusion
The Springer Spaniel is a natural, outdoors active dog that will love swimming and other water activities.
With the right training and patience, this fun and enjoyable activity can be a way for owners or companions and dogs to bond closer together through trust.
If, for some reason, the Springer Spaniel doesn’t respond well to this activity, take a step backward, but be patient and persistent. In the end, this dog breed will be splashing around and swimming right along with its owner.