Learn How To Swim Doggy Paddle

The Doggy Paddle, also called Dog Paddle, is one of the basic swimming techniques that allows novice swimmers to stay afloat and swim across small bodies of water. The arms and hands paddle like a dog does while he is swimming, hence the name.

Dog Paddle Video

Here's a video that demonstrates the technique:

Advantages and Shortcomings

The Dog Paddle is swum on the stomach with the head above the water. This allows to breathe freely and to have good visibility. However, as the hands need to constantly paddle and the feet need to continuously kick the swim stroke can quickly become exhausting.

How To Swim The Doggy Paddle

• Push of the wall in a prone position (lying on the stomach).
• Keep the head above the water surface and look in front of you.
• Keep the arms extended in front of you, face down.
• Start to flutter kick with the legs: keep them extended and quickly move them up and down. The feet are flexed away from the body and act as paddles that keep the legs up.
• Start to dog paddle with the arms: alternatively move each arm to the front until it is extended. Then move it down and back until it arrives at the level of the chest. Then move it up and extend it to the front again. This continuous circular motion of the arms keeps the head above the water and allows to move forward.

Swimming Tips

• The arms should always stay under water.
• If you have trouble keeping the legs up with the flutter kick, try to wear swim fins in the beginning.
• This swim stroke is a good stroke to learn for novice swimmers as it is easy to learn and will give them confidence in the water.
• Avoid doing this stroke for too long distances as keeping the head above the water in this position can strain the neck.