Swimming?
 

Just wondering if anyone has had any success getting their Yorkie to swim? My folks have a swimming pool at their place and I'd love to get Jackamo attracted to the water at an early age. But I also read somewhere on here about not getting water in their ears? I thought I'd ask here before introducing her to the pool.

Thanks

elite swimmers
 

Oh my gosh! My boys think swimming is part of the weekly fun and we have to spell the "swim" word or they go crazy. We have two yorkies in our family and 3 in our extended family and they all love to swim. Each have the life jackets from SitStay.com that has the handle on the top. We live on a lake and have a Sea Doo on a platform that goes down into the water. They love to swim back and forth to our float and the platform and whoever is swimming. One of our Yorks, Harley loves to dive from several feet up on the boat dock .(He learned jumping in with a sheltie. Those two dive in with us like little polywags). He would rather swim than eat! I think the trick is to introduce them when they are 4 to 6 months old. I think in the winter if I bought a pup I would even introduce a young dog to a bathtub with me in it. They get lots of exercise that is easy on the joints. We teach them how to get out of the water also on a ramp next to the lake wall in case if anything ever happened they could get out of the water without us. In my sister's pool they all learned how to get out safely. Take the time to make them safe around the water and then...enjoy!

wel she will know how to swim no problem.... it's instinct. but just don't dunk her head under the water and she will be fine. It's great if you can introduce her early.. Layla HATES pools... but loves the beach!!!! go figure! You might think about a life jacket to help her keep her body up and not get too tired too fast... i always have one on Layla when she is in the pool... so she won't panick... and of course.. just make sure you are in there with her :)

swim
 

I wrote a post to you but it did not show so this is a test.

swim
 

I have 2 york's and they just love to swim in the pool and lake. They jump in from the boat dock diving with us too. We have life jackets from SitStay.com that have handles for safety. We have to spell the "swim" word or they go crazy. Teach them a safe way out. We swim from a platform and a floaty and they just love it. We have to make them get out! I think it is good for their joints, lots of exercise without joint troubles. Enjoy!

swimming
 

My 15 wk old yorkie Lily jumped full speed after our standard poodle into the small creek behind our house. She almost drowned and my husband went in immediately shoes, pants and all and scooped her out. She was paddling but underwater. She coughed water for an hour and I called the vet for care. She is fine, but no way to water without a life jacket. Kimberly

I just introduced my 8 month old pup to the pool. Within 2 days he fell in love. As soon as I open the back door, he runs as fast as he can around the pool thinking we're going in. Even late at night when we go out for a walk before bed, he runs around the pool wanting in. After 2 weeks now, he jumps on a netted rafts and them jumps off that into the pool. He's a nut. Like Marci said, its their instinct.

Kismet.....thanks for the website! I just ordered Jack a life jacket and as soon as he is healed from being neutered he will be trying out swimming. The life jackets on that site were cheaper (including shipping) than the life jackets at Pet Co and it looks like it fits them better. Thanks again!

first swim session in bathtub!
 

We had our first swim session this weekend. I filled the bathtub up with water and put Wall-E in. He was fine up until I let go of his body to let him try paddling in the water. He totally freaked out and started to splash the water frantically with his paws the moment he realized he couldn't touch the bottom of the tub with his feet! I know its not funny, but I thought it was hysterical. HE IS SOOO CUTE. :p

Anyway, I will try getting one of those doggy life jackets and see if it helps him in our next swim session in the bathtub. I want to upgrade him to swimming in a kiddie pool eventually!

We also brought Jackamo into the pool for her first time this weekend. She was hesitant at first, but eventually kinda liked it. I just walked around in the shallow end holding her letting her paws touch the water and she didn't get scared at all. It was pretty hot outside though, so she probably felt refreshed!

We have two ponds. Bailey will circle the ponds and chase the frogs in. She fell in once and got out very quickly. The next week, hubby and I took her swimming. We wanted to see a slow graceful fun swim - but the reality was a sloppy rushed and anxious swim. Bailey couldnt get to the edge fast enough. I guess she'll just keep circling after the frogs! :)