What Happens In Your Dog's First Swimming Session
For owners who have booked, or are about to, and want to know exactly how the session runs.
Not knowing what happens is the main reason owners put off a first swim. It is a private session, so there is no audience, no queue and no pressure — but it still helps to picture the half hour before you arrive.
This is the sequence a first session follows at our Bretherton pool, from parking the car to loading a warm, dry, tired dog back into it.
Key points
- Arrive a few minutes early and let your dog toilet before entering the building.
- Nothing is forced — dogs enter via the ramp at their own pace.
- The full 30 minutes is yours; drying happens after your water time.
Before you arrive
Skip the meal directly before swimming — a light meal a couple of hours earlier is better than a full bowl on the way out of the door. Bring a lead, a towel of your own if you like, and swimwear if you have booked Owner In Pool.
Give your dog a short walk and a toilet break before you come in. It settles them and avoids accidents in the water.
Arrival and settling in
We take a couple of minutes to talk through your dog's history, confidence in water, any injuries or diagnoses, and what you want out of the session. This is where you tell us if your dog is nervous, reactive on lead, sore on one side, or has simply never seen a pool.
Dogs stay on lead until they are in the pool area and the door is shut, then the lead comes off.
Getting into the water
Entry is via a ramp, not a jump. Most dogs go in a paw at a time, and plenty stand on the ramp for a while first — that is completely normal and it is not wasted time.
A fitted buoyancy aid goes on any dog who needs support, particularly first-timers, heavier dogs and anything with hind-leg weakness. Toys, floats and a calm voice do most of the persuading.
The 30 minutes in the pool
A first swim is broken into short bursts with rests, rather than one continuous 30-minute effort. Swimming is hard work — a dog who has never done it will tire far faster than the same dog on a walk.
If you have booked Swim Coach, one of our team is in the water supporting your dog throughout. On Owner In Pool sessions you are the one in the water, which suits dogs who take confidence from their person being beside them.
Drying off and going home
Afterwards your dog gets a proper towel-down and time with the hair-dryer, so they leave warm rather than dripping. Ears get dried too.
Expect a quiet evening. Most dogs sleep hard after a first swim, and some are stiff the next morning if they have used muscles that rarely get a workout — that settles with a gentle walk.
Common questions
How long is the session?
Thirty minutes of pool time, plus time either side for the chat beforehand and the towel-down and dry-off afterwards.
What if my dog refuses to go in?
Nothing is forced. We work at your dog's pace with the ramp, toys and a buoyancy aid — a first session that ends with a confident dog standing in shallow water is a good outcome.
Do I need to get in the water?
Only on Owner In Pool sessions. On Swim Coach sessions our team is in the water instead.
Should my dog eat before swimming?
Avoid a full meal right before a swim. A light meal a couple of hours earlier is fine.
Book a first swim
Tell us a little about your dog and we'll match the session to their confidence level.
What Happens Next?
- 1. We review your enquiry
- 2. We call or text to confirm
- 3. Bring your dog and a towel!
Related guides
What to bring
For owners packing for a booked session and wanting nothing forgotten.
PreparationNervous dogs and water
For owners of dogs who are frightened of, or unsure about, water.
ComparisonOwner In Pool vs Swim Coach
For owners deciding who should be in the water with their dog.