Swimming.....Is it second nature or should beginners wear lifejackets?

[Tricia, Shiloh, Fenway & Tessie]

I'm planning on taking my guys swimming in our local river where all the cool dogs go to get wet. It will be our first time. Should I worry that they will need lifejackets, or do they just start swimming like I've always heard doggies can do? They love the backyard pools, but that isn't exactly swimming.....so what do you think?

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Dexter swims fine w/o a lifejacket at the beach (in the inlet). However, he will only jump into and swim in our pool w/a lifejacket on. We'll see if anything changes this year (if the weather ever improves enough to think about going in the pool), but I think the whole jumping part makes him nervous.

[Sessa]

Although my doodle Mija did not need a PFD to learn how to swim,
we do use one when we go boating....and I would highly recommend it to anyone planning on taking a dog on a boat---most simply, not only does it help them to stay afloat safely BUT it also makes it MUCH easier to lift them out of the water and BACK into the boat should they decide to take a dive (as most PFD's for dogs have loop handles on their back).

Here's my Mija sporting her lively PFD number last weekend while boating...

We call this shot the "Outward Hound" catalogue shot! We're not TOO biased are we? LOL!

[Lorraine Bromley]

Our Neely is 5 mths old and has been less than enthusiastic about swimming. It was the end of winer when we got him. There is a small stream at the dog park but he didn't want to go into it either. His friend went in fine but he stayed on the sidelines. My son has taken him to his gf pool and he did swim right off the bat but he didn't seem to enjoy it. He didn't jump in or want to offer to go in himself. The pool hasn't been that warm. Then last week I took him to the dog park and he got ahead of me in the bush part and I heard a big splash and there he was water low and mud high up to his thighs. Today we went to the pool and it was up to 84. He started off as usual not to interested so my son took him in. Apparently the water temperature was the problem as he didn't want to get out and did a couple of laps instead of going to the steps. Then we started to call him from in the pool and he took off diving in. He got progressively better at diving and longer laps at a time. He got pushed under the water totally by accicent and he came up fine and kept going not even a swallow of water. It is a salt water pool to so no worry about his skin and chlorine either. I am so proud.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Please, I was told today of a doodle that drowned in a back yard swimming pool. The pool blanket was on the pool and I am sure the doodle was encouraged to swim and jump in and didn't realize the pool cover was on or thought it was a solid footing. Please fence your pool off from your larger yard to protect people (our friends lost a 3yr old little girl the same way 20 yrs ago) and dogs.

[Tricia, Shiloh, Fenway & Tessie]

That is really sad....I have heard about these kinds of accidents, too. We don't have a pool....but it is good for everyone that does have one to be aware of the possible danger.

[Sue & Willy Babe]

We tried to have Wilson swim this past Sunday he was very afraid of the water it was a in ground pool, my daughter tried to bring him in but he was scared, Wilson would look at me in the water and wonder what I was doing, I want to try a lake near by I am thinking if we walk him in slowly he will get the idea, He likes his baby pool. but is getting very big for that.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Neely was like that the first few times as well. We figured it was the temp of the water as when it was 84 the last time he was like a beaver swimming away and even started diving in from the side. He is a swimmer for sure now. I would just keep taking him in slowly and be with him or holding him. Just short little swims. I think it is important that you are in the pool with him so he soesn't get the feeling he is being segregated from the rest of you. I am no expert just a gd puppy mom too