Swimming

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Originally posted by spidey
Swimmers who do seriously long distance swims (like across the English Channel, for example), however, tend to have high body fat, see here. The fat adds bouyancy and helps with insulation and energy.

I think the issue with Greyhounds may depend on the individual dog, but they have REALLY low body fat, even the leanest human has a far higher percentage of body fat than a Greyhound - it's not really comparable as far as I know. I also suspect that it may also be related to a combination of their lack of bouyancy (no body fat) and their shape (a deep chest doesn't give you much horizontal surface area, which can help with floating).

I guess by "long distance" swimmers I was referring to a few I know that do tri-athalons. Their body fat is extremely low. I did some searching on the net and found a couple people with swimming greyhounds, but the majority I read about weren't swimmers.

[Grendl]

We met a couple at the beach once who had brought their 2 yr old Cheasapeake Bay Retreiver. Their dog and our 2 yr old Rott swam and played and retrieved together, which gave me an opportunity to observe the swimming differences. The CBR was much more bouyant than our girl, and he had this impressive leap into the water when going after the camvas-covered, sausage-shaped float (I cannot for the life of me think what this thing is called). Anyway, our girl kept up with him, but only because of tremendous desire on her part. Her competitive drive outweighed his superior swimming skills. It was interesting to watch, and they both got a really good work-out!

[legalbeagle]

Both of mine swim naturally, though it's awkward looking as their heads and withers stay horizonal, while the backends seem to sink a bit more than most dogs. My male likes to go underwater too - will chase a stone down around 4 feet if he can and brings it up to the surface. He's crazy for rocks however will ignore sticks floating. Our girl loves to leap like a Chesapeake Bay into the water, but she's not as fast as they are. WHat she lacks in speed she makes up for in stamina and heart. :)

[spoteet]

I had to lure Sajan into the water at first, took several days as I remember. Now he is a duck in a Rottweiler suit. He also does that leaping entrance into the water. He'll come back to shore just close enough that his back feet touch and use those big thigh muscles to leap back out.

[Storm]

Yeah my guy will charge the pool, very eloquently indeed, SPLASH give a few impressive strokes then his A** goes down and the rest follows! LOL Something like the "Titanic"! .................. just with me running and diving like a "lunatic" after him and all the guests thinking "keep it in the circus"!!!!!!! LMAO :D

[Nina&Bill]

For the longest time I thought that Smidgen couldn't swim because when my BF at the time & I would take the dogs to the lake (he had a GSD named Dax a few months older than Smidge) Smidgen would wait for Dax to get into the water, climb up on his back & ride piggyback while Dax did all of the swimming! Needless to say this was a riot to watch & Dax would always wait patiently for her royal highness to climb up before he'd set out swimming.

When the ex & his dog (still miss the dog) were no longer in the picture I'd take Smidgen to the beach but she'd only splash, never try to swim. It was a few years later when my husband took her wading & had her on the leash, he was up to mid chest in the water & Smidgen's head was still bobbing along. That's when we realized that she could swim just fine...she was just lazy...or maybe a big scaredy dog :).

Nina

[Brooke&Ryan]

All of this swimming talk has gotten me sooo excited for warmer weather. I can't wait to see how Julius will react to getting into the water. We took a hike yesterday & we went down by the stream to check it out. I took a stick & threw it in about 3-4 feet where it ended up being caught by a rock. Julius was a bit hesitant at first but then ended up going & getting it. He only got his feet wet but it was a start!!!:) I think we'll be investing in a kiddie pool this summer too!!!

:)
Brooke

[Emme]

Emme loves to swim - the first time we had her at a pool, she was tenative walking down the steps - as soon as she began to float she became spooked, but we coaxed her in with her favorite toys and tons of encouragement, and now if we call her she will run full speed and LEAP into the water, then spash and paddle all over - what a blast. We also take her into the ocean using a 50 ft lead - she loves biting at the waves as they curl and will actually stand in about 2 feet of water and let the waves come up - lift her up, and then put her down - however the love of water has its downfalls as well - we have been fishing and she has taken a leap over the edge a few times, as well as leap off the dock....now we watch her like a hawk, or will tie her out when on the boat or sitting on the dock. Nothing more frighting that seeing your beloved dog floating 20 miles out in the Atlantic while you try to coax her back to the boat over the 8 foot swells....lets just say that you ALWAYS end up in the water..

[chuss]

I live across the street from the beach and my female loves the water. I take her to the beach most days and she will always have a little paddle.
But she is still quite akward and scared. If i'm in the water with her, she'll swim to me and want a cuddle. But if I leave her by herself she's totally unco and struggles to keep her head in.

However, I did a test once. I ran into the water about 20 metres away and called her. She wouldn't come, she'd run in then get scared and run out. So I started screaming as if I was drowning, she jumped straight in and paddled for her life and came right up to me, I was so amazed and I loved it.

the best way is to introduce them slowly to the water and go in with them and give em re-assurance that it's ok.

Good luck.

[LE Wilson]

Originally posted by spillar
Does drinking lake water harm dogs?

YES, YES, YES. Do not let your dog(s) in any type of lake water or creek. The only exception is in the mountains. Mountain spring water, which is safe for a human to drink, is also safe for a dog to romp and play in as well as drink. Lakes and creeks are full of bacteria, despite what people think. Ecoli is the worst!!!

Despite being warned, my brother has repeatedly allowed his dog to go swimming in the Augusta Canal/Savannah River in Augusta, GA. I brought her home with me Sunday night to go to the vet [he still uses the one here]. She is in KIDNEY FAILURE. That's right, kidney failure, due to a severe [untreated until now] infection, which they suspect she picked up from the water sometime ago. Her BUN was at 104. The norm is 7-25. They're flushing her out as we speak over the next 2 days hoping to restore proper kidney function. We all are worried sick and heartbroken about her condition, which could have and SHOULD HAVE been prevented. They say by the time it's all done, testing, X-rays, IV fluids, antiobiotics, possible ultrasound, vet stay, he's looking at a minimum of $1500 in vet bills.

Please, please DO NOT let your dogs get in these types of waters. If you want reassurance or confirmation, then just ask your vet. I'm sure they will give you the same warning. I see that you live in TN. There should be plenty of fresh, healthy mountain water near you for your dog to enjoy.

p.s. All the people who have allowed their dogs to get in these types of waters and have experienced no problems, then you're very, very lucky.

[rasmy]

First time I took johnny to swim he was 6 months old, I took him to the see lots of waves, he was afraid and shy first because of the sound of the waves and he completely refused to go into the water, but when i got into the water he abrked and then followed me in happily, but he was not sure of what is going on and he was a little bit afraid, but he swim well from the first time.

[MontanaRott]

Originally posted by Carina43
Bulldogs also cannot swim, they just sink! I had a resue French bulldog for some time, and I was warned repeatedly by Frenchie people never to let her get out of her depth.

Butr I've found that while some dogs are eager & comfortable in water right away, most need to get used to the idea first...but certainly a Rottweiler will instictively swim, if it's a choice between that and sinking!

I'm pretty sure dogs can get giardia & all sorts of nasties from drinking lake or creek water...I hike tons with my dogs, always have - and it's pretty difficult to stop them ingesting water once they're in it! I've never had a dog with any problems due to that, not serious enough for me to notice anyhow.

You are right about frenchies, our sinks like a stone if he gets to deep in the river we walk them to. It is a sad sight, this boy really wants to swin and loves the water! Our rott girl Raven LOVED the water, she saw water she was in! I have read they can easily be trained to retrieve like labs.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Woo Hooo! Well we bought a kiddie pool from Wal-Mart last week & filled it with a bit of water today & after a bit of sniffed Julius climbed right in. :) Too Cute! I don't think we're going to have a problem with him not wanting to get into the water after all!!!

:)
Brooke