Swimming Doodle Question

[Carol and Banjo]

We've been spending these hot days on the lake trying to keep cool.   Before heading out on the boat I let Banjo swim off the beach tethered to a 30' leash.   He loves swimming and pretty much stays close by.  But each time we're there at some point he'll just head out, paddling straight out to the end of the 30' at which point I call him back, gently pulling the leash in my direction.     My question is.....do dogs have a natural instinct as to "how much is too much"?    I wonder how far he would swim off shore if he weren't on leash.....and would he turn around and swim back before getting too tired?     Are dogs "drown proof"?       I know I'm being over protective with him and worry about just letting him swim "untethered".

Once done swimming we get on the boat and head out onto the lake, dropped the anchor and spend time reading, talking, eating and swimming.     We used to "lower"  Banjo down out of the boat using the "handle" on the back of his life vest.  (He wears this at all times in the boat).   He didn't seem to like this too much and so we've stopped doing it.....but he clearly wants to get in the water when I'm in swimming around.....he constantly balances and gets up on the edges of the boat....just trying to gather the courage to jump in....as you can see by the pic here.    So far no-go though!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Dogs do get tired and they can drown.  Does Banjo wear his life vest when he is swimming off shore?  Using a life vest allows them not to tire as quickly.  Also, they make a ramp for boats to help dogs to get in and out of the water easier.

[Carol and Banjo]

He doesn't wear the vest swimming off shore.  I'm going online to look for the ramp now Tina, Thanks!!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

If Banjo wore the vest off shore it would give you some peace of mind.  Some vest are made to assist with swimming and others have better floatation like vest we wear.   I would worry about him getting tangled in the lead or it getting caught on something.  Has it ever gotten in the way?

[Carol and Banjo]

It hasn't......I attach the lead to the front of his chest on his gentle leader.....it's a clean open area and I'm always able to keep enough tension on the line that I have good control so he doesn't tangle in it.....and in the event he did some how....I'm right there to get to him.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Another comparison.  Many dogs LOVE the water, not all like, or do well swimming, and that includes doodles.   I see that a lot at this park also.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

We had a lab once that got away from us and was lost.  He ended up - unknown to anyone - in a person's above ground pool down the road.  The ONLY reason he didn't drown was that his claws tore the liner and he swam until the pool slowly drained.  The home owners found him when they returned from work.  He had been there for about 9 hours we think. 

[Carol and Banjo]

OMG...Jane....that is just to scary to think about.   The poor dog!!!!     So scary for him!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

We were beyond upset.  20 years later - still don't really know how he got away.

[Linda and Murphy]

Really scary!

[Donna K & Quincy]

I worry about this as well when I take Quincy swimming in the pond. Luckily so far he can swim but he's not that brave. Banjo looks right at home on the boat.

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

Around here the wildlife can be a problem for swimming dogs too. We have beavers on the river (much to my surprise!) and last year one pulled a young Labrador under while he was swimming at the local park.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Carol we have a boat too and it took Rosey a while but finally this year she gained some confidence... our boat is a little different and has a swim platform off the back which she would never jump into the water from, but we tied a flat tube to the boat and she loved to just sit on that and eventually jumped off the tube into the water.  You might try a boat ramp, but we always made her wear a life jacket too cuz she doesn't know when she is too tired and dogs can get cramps, swimmers tail etc...