Can Schnauzers Swim? (8 Swimming Lesson Steps)

When Livi was a puppy, our neighborhood swimming pool hosted a “Dog Pool Party” before they drained and cleaned the pool for winter. We couldn’t resist the fun and our oldest son and Livi were even featured in the city paper. We had a great time. All the other dogs had a great time. Everyone had a great time….except for Livi. She hated it. It was clear that she didn’t like water and may never enjoy swimming. As it turns out, Schnauzers don’t tend to enjoy water and aren’t naturally strong swimmers. If you like water and want your Schnauzer to like it, too, here’s what you need to know.

Can Schnauzers Swim? Schnauzers aren’t generally known to enjoy water or swim well, and they should always be supervised near water. However, Schnauzers can definitely learn to swim and learn to love water, especially if they become used to it as puppies. In addition, each Schnauzer’s personal preference will be a factor: some will love swimming and some never will.

Schnauzers were not bred as water dogs and it shows.

Generally speaking, none of the Schnauzer breeds (Standard, Giant, and Miniature) are considered to be strong, natural swimmers. In addition, many Schnauzers don’t even seem to like water and will avoid jumping in for a nice swim at all cost.

However, even though Schnauzers don’t tend to have a natural, in-bred affinity for water, they can absolutely learn to be comfortable in water. Schnauzers can even grow to love it and learn to swim….particularly (maybe, only) if they start as puppies.

Supervising your Schnauzer when near water is critical, though, and you should be as vigilant with him as you would be with a toddler.

Let’s talk about how to introduce your Schnauzer to water, teach him to swim (in 8 straightforward steps), and how to avoid (and address, if necessary) any dangers.

Schnauzers are Intelligent Dogs, Capable of Learning

If you decide that you want to teach your Schnauzer to swim, one thing working in your favor is his intelligence.

Schnauzers are smart dogs that can learn quickly, and you will want to read my article Are Schnauzers Smart (How To Tell and 5 At-Home Tests) to see just how intellectually capable your Schnauzer really is.

A Schnauzer’s intelligence will potentially show up in his ability to learn how to swim. The question will be, does he want to do it? If not, he probably will never warm up to water nor be willing to learn how to swim.

If you start training him as a puppy, or even if he is willing as an adult, your Schnauzer could very well learn to enjoy the water and do well at swimming. Just keep in mind that supervision will always be necessary.

Introducing Your Schnauzer to Water

For your Schnauzer to get used to the water, you need to build his comfort level and confidence.

Take things slowly and be consistent. It may take many gradual and successive introductions before he begins making progress.

Here are some tips for introducing your Schnauzer to water:

• Be sure that your Schnauzer is already trained with the “Come” command and will respond to you immediately. This will keep him out of danger.
• Start the introduction as early as possible. Puppies can start playing in water as young as 8 weeks old. Start in very shallow water and gradually progress to deeper water.
• Let your Schnauzer watch other dogs playing and swimming in water. This gives him an opportunity to mimic natural, water-loving behavior.
• Make water a fun and playful experience using your home sprinklers or water games.
• Make your first several introductions to deeper water with his leash or harness on. This gives you more control and is an important safety measure. Get into the water with him and model relaxed enjoyment.
• Never force your Schnauzer into water or punish him for being fearful or hesitant.
• Maintain your own reasonable expectations. Schnauzers aren’t natural water-lovers and he may never become a water baby.

8 Steps for Training a Schnauzer to Swim

If your Schnauzer seems willing to play in the water and, more importantly, seems to actually enjoy it, you may want to teach him how to swim.

You should wait until your Schnauzer is between two and five months old before you start teaching him to swim. At those ages, he should have enough muscle strength to make swimming a safe activity.

Here are the basic steps for teaching your Schnauzer to swim:

1. Always use a canine life jacket. Be sure the jacket fits snuggly. In addition, look for jackets that have a handle on the back so you can grab it and pull your Schnauzer to safety, if needed. You may even want to use a harness.
2. Start in shallow, warm water.  Make the experience as comfortable and as fun as possible. Let him play and be sure to include toys or games he already loves.
3. Get into the water with your Schnauzer, carrying him if needed. Giant and Standard Schnauzers will be more of a challenge (if not impossible) to carry, so start the process when they are puppies.
4. Hold or support your Schnauzer around his belly. This helps him to feel safe and also allows him to paddle with his front and back paws.
5. Be prepared for him to struggle. Keep your hold on him, or at least keep a hold on his life jacket or harness. Continue supporting him around his midsection and use encouraging words.
6. Let go of his midsection and let him paddle on his own. Stay very close to him and praise his efforts.
7. Keep the practice sessions short and get him out of the water before he gets too tired or anxious. If your Schnauzer seems very fearful or stressed, end the session and try again another time.
8. Continue this process as often as possible, daily if you can, until your Schnauzer either takes to the water or clearly indicates that he’s not at all interested.

Water Safety for Your Schnauzer

Remember that not only are Schnauzers not bred for a natural love of water, their intelligence (while very high for dogs) is still only comparable to a 2- or 3-year-old human.

These facts make it essential to not only train your Schnauzer with consistency and patience, but also to always supervise him around water.

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Keep these water and heat-related tips in mind, and read my article Can Schnauzers Hack the Hot Weather? for critical safety information:

• Never leave your Schnauzer in water unattended, even in shallow water. Even if he has learned to swim well, he could become overwhelmed and at risk for drowning.
• Ensure that your dog has a life jacket whenever they are getting into any water body. This will guarantee their safety while they are inside the water and significantly reduce their risk of drowning. However, your Schnauzer should always be accompanied by someone, even when wearing a life vest.
• If you choose to include an inflatable flotation device (such as a floating disc or raft) as part of water play, be sure that your Schnauzer is still wearing a life vest and that you are nearby.
• Be sure to have clean drinking water with you. This will be essential for your Schnauzer as he needs to stay hydrated. It will also keep him from drinking dirty pool or lake water.
• Have access to a shady area where your Schnauzer can recuperate after a swimming activity. Schnauzers don’t necessarily do well in the heat and without proper attention, heat exhaustion and stroke are possibilities.
• Keep a canine sunscreen with you and apply it before and during water play. Schnauzer’s noses, ears, and any skin exposed by their coat can be sunburned.

How to Handle a Water Emergency

Your Schnauzer can drown, especially if he is exhausted or becomes panicked. As the saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and this could not be more true than with Schnauzers and swimming.

Even if he becomes an excellent swimmer and has an affinity for water, the unthinkable can happen.

Keep in mind that your Schnauzer can die from drowning immediately just by inhaling a large amount of water. Even inhaling a small amount of water can begin causing lung problems within 24 hours.

If you plan to swim with your Schnauzer, it might be wise to take some canine water safety and CPR classes.

For now, here are some general steps to follow in case of a water-related emergency:

First, supervise your Schnauzer and stay alert for symptoms of near-drowning, such as:

• Labored or open-mouthed breathing
• Irregular breathing
• Weak pulse
• Changes in the color of his gums
• Odd posture or posture changes
• Hypothermia (body temperature below 28⁰ Celsius or 82⁰ Fahrenheit)

If your Schnauzer’s behavior worsens, he may have inhaled water. Take these steps:

1. Call ahead to your veterinarian or nearest veterinary hospital and plan to transport your Schnauzer.
2. If your Schnauzer becomes unresponsive and you cannot feel his heartbeat after a near-drowning experience, you should be prepared to perform emergency CPR. This will require a combination of mouth-to-nose resuscitation and chest compressions. You should only perform canine CPR when there is no sign of respiration or a heart beat. If you can feel a faint heartbeat or breath, performing CPR can result in physical complications or even cause fatal damage.
3. When your Schnauzer is revived, keep him warm and calm. Wrap him in a blanket, but do not restrict his movement or cover his mouth or nose.
4. Transport him to a veterinarian or animal hospital for treatment and monitoring. The veterinarian will provide emergency care for your Schnauzer, which may consist of blood pressure monitoring, oxygen supplementation, electrolyte monitoring, and diuretics. If assisted ventilation is required, your veterinarian will ensure it is done appropriately until the Schnauzer is out of danger.

A full recovery will depend on the severity of the situation, how much water your Schnauzer has inhaled, and how quickly he was treated.

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Many Schnauzers can learn to love water and swimming, even though it is not an activity they naturally enjoy.

Keeping their breed-specific tendencies in mind, you can decide whether it’s something you want (and he is willing) to do together. If it is, great….just be trained and safe. If not…well, just chalk it up to your Schnauzer being true to his breeding.

If swimming just doesn’t work out, there are many other sports your Schnauzer is well-suited for. Consider reading my article What are the Best Sports for Schnauzers? for some terrific options.

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