[Charlies Mamma]

Originally Posted by gemy

If your dog is going in a boat then just like humans he/she should be wearing a life jacket. This is such an important safety precaution.

But beyond that I like to teach dogs how to swim with a life jacket on. Get the kind that supports their head/neck; there is a piece that velcors underneath their upper chest. The life jacket should fit at the shoulders back to their sacrum so that the hind limbs are free to move. For example a jacket that goes to their tail is too long.
Most dogs will kind of swim, but when unsure/just learning will tend to use mainly their front paws, and their rear end sinks. The life jacket keeps up their rear end, and they don't feel so panickey when first introduced to water.
I always use a lifejacket in water that is unknown to me or the dog and at the beginning of the swimming season.

Also when introducing your dog to the water, I am not of the opinion to just throw them in; you know sink or swim? Instead we play by the water first; build excitment /toy drive; then on lead I start to walk the dog into the water and just walk through the water. Some dogs immediately take to the water, particularly on a hot hot day, some dogs not so much. But you just gradually work with the dog in the water and eventually they will feel more comfy in that water.

It is advisable to use an ear cleaner after swimming and also to dry their ears. If you are swimming in a lake pond or ocean, make sure you also check their paws. Fishing lines and hooks are not unknown in that environment and also there is the occasional sharp rock that can pierce/cut their paws.

If the paw is cut or abraded, first I use a standard saline solution and wash wash wash the paw. This is repeated at least 4times a day, and in between I use a liquid bandaid on the paw, until the paw heals over.

Also try to make sure your dog is well watered prior to swimming, in hope that the dog won't try to drink the lake dry...lol

This was very helpful things I had not thought of like checking paws afterwards. And yes life jacket is a must I agree. I appreciate the "size" info as well.... thanks so much