[observer]

Mick is absolutely right (as always). The first thing you teach her is how to get out.

They aren't always naturally great swimmers. When I took Missy for pool therapy a year or so ago, I told the therapist I didn't know if she'd ever been in a pool before. His response after the first session (he used life jackets as well -- they do help!) was that if she had ever been in the pool before, it hadn't been her idea! She got good at it really quick, though, and it is wonderful exercise as well as cooling them off in the coming hot weather.