Can Weimaraners Swim?

Weimaraners are characterized by being one of the most active and energetic dog breeds that exist. Their main specialty is based on their hunting skills since these dogs have been used for small hunting activities since their origins.

It is also important to note that Weimaraners have a high level of physical activity and require a lot of daily exercises to stay healthy and fit. 

This type of dog can be used in many activities and jobs, but they stand out more in hunting. Weimaraners love to do a lot of exercise, whether running, jumping, playing, or training. However, many hunters wonder if these dogs can swim.

This doubt arises due to the fact that during the hunting sessions, the canine and the hunter can find different types of terrain, including water, be it a lake, river, etc.

Related Reading: Why is My Weimaraner Shaking?

Can My Weimaraner Dog Swim in the Water? 

The first thing we have to highlight is that Weimaraners love water, so swimming is something they enjoy a lot. It is essential to bear in mind that a dog of this type must be trained from puppyhood so as not to fear water. 

There can be a number of reasons why a Weimaraner does not want to swim: 

• Genetic issues: This is directly related to its parents. It is possible that the parents of the Weimaraner were afraid to swim or simply did not know how to do it. In that case, your Weimaraner wouldn’t feel the love of swimming. 
• Traumatic experiences: Perhaps your Weimaraner has had a bad experience in the past falling into a river, lake, or pool without knowing how to swim. Like humans, dogs also remember situations from the past and learn to associate them with what is happening today. 
• Late learning: As we have said above, Weimaraners, like any other breed of dog, must learn to swim from puppies. If you try to teach your canine to swim when it is an adult, it is likely that it will not learn or take time to do so. 

In these cases, it is best not to force your Weimaraner to swim. We cannot make our dog like swimming. 

Weimaraners can learn to swim as long as they receive the proper training to do so. This ability is very useful for this type of dog, especially during hunting activities. 

What are the Benefits of My Weimaraner Learning to Swim? 

Human beings practice swimming because it is an excellent physical activity and sport. The same is the case with dogs, especially Weimaraners. This breed of dog needs a lot of exercise each day, and swimming is an excellent activity. 

Better Health 

Without a doubt, swimming is a great exercise to strengthen a canine’s lungs and heart. That’s not all. Swimming can help a dog speed up its metabolism and improve blood circulation. 

In addition, this activity can be of great help for overweight Weimaraners as it helps burn a lot of calories. Remember that being overweight is one of the main factors why many canines suffer diseases or die around the world. 

Decreased Energy 

It is essential to help these canines to burn enough energy. That’s because Weimaraners are very active and energetic dogs that need and can exercise for long periods. They always want to do physical activity, especially together with their owners or members of their human family. 

Why should we make these dogs tired? Weimaraners cannot stay indoors for long periods without doing anything as they can develop destructive behavior. It is also important to note that these dogs are prone to separation anxiety, so they should not be left alone. That is why it is essential to tire them, so they use energy and avoid these behaviors. Therefore, a good way to do it is through swimming. 

Swimming Improves Joints 

It is important for a Weimaraner to avoid joint and bone problems. Remember that this breed of dog tends to suffer from hip dysplasia, which can cause arthritis later. This type of situation would be fatal for a Weimaraner, considering that it is an active and energetic animal that needs to exercise all the time. 

Swimming helps decrease the stress on the canine’s tendons and joints. In fact, warm water helps ease any joint pain. 

How to Train a Weimaraner to Learn to Swim? 

Learning any skill requires a lot of patience and time, especially if we are talking about swimming. If we want our Weimaraner to learn to swim effectively, we have to take into account certain factors as well as the type of training that we have to provide. 

The first thing to consider is that not all Weimaraners are the same. Some dogs can learn faster with certain techniques, while others can better understand other methods.

In the same way, it is important that we notice the body language of our Weimaraner since it is possible that it is afraid of water. If that is the case, we cannot proceed to carry out the training as it could be worse. 

Before starting training to teach your Weimaraner to swim, it is essential to take into consideration certain things that will improve the experience during training. 

• Safety: This is important since our dog can be at risk of drowning. For that reason, we have to make sure that our canine wears a life jacket with a handle. 
• Warm water: Make sure to take your Weimaraner to a place where there is warm water. That is because this type of dog does not have an undercoat to protect itself from the cold, so it will not be able to withstand low temperatures for a long time. 
• Treats: You can use positive reinforcement so that your canine quickly learns what you are trying to teach it, and the best way to achieve this is by giving it treats. 

To start teaching your Weimaraner to swim, the first thing you should do is find a shallow area and make sure you carry the life jacket as a precaution. Hold the canine on a leash and walk with it into the water to get it used to it. The idea of ​​this is to make the canine feel confident by touching the water and thereby avoid feeling fear. 

Always try to use a pleasant tone of voice and lots of praise. In this way, the canine will feel happier and more confident to enter the water. That is a good way to keep your Weimaraner focused on training by allowing it to learn this skill much faster. 

It is time to teach your dog to stay afloat in the water. When your Weimaraner enters the pool, river, or lake, it will try to float and row by moving its legs just like a human being would.

It is recommended that you extend your arm and hold your canine to provide additional support during this time. That is why it is vital to have a life jacket with a handle. Your dog will feel safer when rowing with its legs. 

Many dogs only use their front legs when they are learning to swim. The best way to get it to use all its legs is to hold it below its belly. 

Make sure to do short training sessions with your canine. That way, you will prevent it from getting too tired and also from feeling fear. 

Each time a training session is over, you can teach your canine the correct way to get out of the water. That will allow it to learn to get out of the pool, river, or lake on its own without depending on you. That is especially important during hunting sessions. 

Make it a habit to rinse your Weimaraner with fresh water every time the training is over. That’s because there may be algae, residual chemicals, or other debris in the water that can affect your Weimaraner’s coat and even its health. 

What Age Can My Weimaraner Dog Start Swimming? 

Normally, a Weimaraner should learn to swim as a puppy, at least eight weeks old. 

The most important thing is that you start teaching it slowly and easily. Generally, regardless of breed, a dog can learn to swim during the first few months of age. It is important to note that we cannot determine an exact age since everything will depend on the Weimaraner’s abilities as well as the external factors that surround it. 

When you see that your puppy already understands the basic commands in the water, you can take your canine to places with pools a little larger than those of children. As your Weimaraner gains confidence, encourage it to venture deeper into the water. 

Recommendation 

Never start training like this with the idea that your Weimaraner cannot learn to swim. As long as there are no factors that can affect the canine’s will, any dog ​​of this type can learn to swim. You just have to be very patient since this type of training usually takes a long time (depending on your pet).