Precautions for Taking Your Dog Swimming
📝 Summary
Swimming is great summer exercise, but a dog's first time is frightening and needs calm coaxing with a life ring. Carry large dogs with a U-hug around the belly and small dogs like a baby, avoid the midday sun, cap sessions at about 5 minutes for unfit or older dogs, and watch for panting or cramps. Rinse the dog afterward and keep short-nosed or sick dogs out of the water.
1 Things to Know When Taking Your Dog Swimming
What to Watch When Taking a Dog Swimming
1. Help the dog overcome fear of its first swim. A dog’s first time in water is often tense and fearful from lack of security, and non-swimmers feel this most. When you first take a dog swimming, soothe its emotions: hold it in your arms, let it soak, calm it patiently, and only let go once it relaxes. Stay beside it until it adapts, and put a life ring on it for the whole first session. Dogs with a natural aptitude learn quickly.
2. Carry the dog into the water correctly. How you hold it matters. For a large dog, hug around the abdomen in a U shape; for a small dog, cradle it like a baby.
3. Control the swimming time. Dogs that have learned love to swim, but it is not always appropriate — dogs also fear heat and cold. Avoid the midday sun when it is strongest and hot, as that can cause overheating. Also limit time in the water so the dog is not exhausted; too short and it won’t be satisfied, so getting the duration right matters. If the dog pants while swimming, get it out at once — that means its strength is spent and it needs to rest. For dogs with little exercise, weak stamina, older age or beginners, take it out for a rest every 5 minutes. Obese or weak dogs should swim even less, because flagging in the water is dangerous.
4. Stay calm in emergencies. A dog may cramp or have other sudden issues. At the first sign of cramping, get it out immediately and only consider returning it to the water once the cramp eases. It is best to warm the dog up before swimming so its muscles are loose.
Besides the above, do not let short-nosed dogs or dogs with skin or infectious disease swim.
Short-nosed dogs can easily inhale water into the lungs, choke and even go into shock. After swimming, rinse the whole body with clean water soon to lower the chance of allergies, skin disease or infection.
These are the precautions to keep in mind when taking your dog swimming, to reduce the risk of accidents in the water.
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