Dogs And Water - Can My Dog Swim?

Everyone remembers learning to doggy paddle in the swimming pool when they learned how to swim. So, that means that dogs love to swim, right? Not all dogs are even able to swim properly, at least intuitively, and so not all dogs like to swim.

There are those dogs that will jump into water and swim without any coaxing at all. These are the dogs that like to swim. However, it should be noted that just because you see your dog swim doesn't mean he actually likes to do it. There are many instances where people see if a dog will swim, and the dog swims for a specific reason, not enjoyment.

On the flip side, just because a dog hesitates to jump in water doesn't mean he doesn't like to swim. So what you're going to have to do is know your dog and continue to figure out what he likes. You can always try it out, but you want to keep a few things in mind.

First of all, certain breeds are not really made for swimming. Furthermore, just because a particular breed of dog swims doesn't mean your dog of the same breed is going to like swimming.

Most of the dogs I've owned in the past could swim, and a couple of them really enjoyed it. However, the dog I own now is a mix between a Chihuahua and a Welsh Corgi. He has short legs, and he does not seem to like the water at all.

I live on the ocean, and he absolutely loves running up and down the beach. And, he has been in the water plenty of times, but he doesn't like to go in there. It is just every great once in awhile that I put him in the surf with me where he's fine. He loosens up after that and is okay.

His short legs make me think that he most likely isn't even able to swim. When he's in the surf alone, the water comes up to his belly. Maybe he can, but he's one of those dogs that at least doesn't like to swim. And, he doesn't like baths either.

If you feel like your dog likes water enough and can swim, then there are training methods to help him, just like you would a child. And remember, don't forget to have fun!

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