Swimming?????

[Charlies Mamma]

I am wondering do yorkies instinctively know how to swim If I take Charlie to the lake or pool would he just know how or do I need to test him in low water some how? We are going to get him a life jacket for the boat but I have never had him in water (besides the kitchen sink for a bath) so he has never been required to swim so I just wondered should he just know how to on his own......

Thanks for the help

[Teresa Ford]

Some dogs have to be taught to swim. I took mine in the pool with me. I had them paddle to me, from hubby a tiny distance. Over a week or so they were jumping in on their own, to get on the raft with me. I have four Yorkies and two love water play and 2 prefer staying dry. They all can swim. I taught them how to swim to the steps. Here in Fl. I would never let my dog swim in any lake, pond, or stream. I am afraid of alligators.

[Charlies Mamma]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

Some dogs have to be taught to swim. I took mine in the pool with me. I had them paddle to me, from hubby a tiny distance. Over a week or so they were jumping in on their own, to get on the raft with me. I have four Yorkies and two love water play and 2 prefer staying dry. They all can swim. I taught them how to swim to the steps. Here in Fl. I would never let my dog swim in any lake, pond, or stream. I am afraid of alligators.

If he is not real fond of a bath will he not be fond of swimming? He is very good at bath time but you can tell by his face he would really rather not be there LOL

[Britster]

I find that most dogs will naturally know how to swim. Very rarely do they not... there are certain breeds, however, that may never be able to swim due to being so top-heavy. I believe French Bulldogs CAN NOT swim, but I may be wrong about this.

Oh, and Jackson is a water freak... except for the bath. So just because a dog hates a bath doesn't mean they will hate swimming.

Jackson took right to swimming and highly enjoys it, but my dads two dogs (who don't really "enjoy" it as much) still knew how to swim naturally when we put them in the pool.

I used the lifejacket a lot last summer but now he doesn't really need it nor want it.

Another excuse to post Jax swimming pictures again, I guess...

[chachi]

Originally Posted by Britster

I find that most dogs will naturally know how to swim. Very rarely do they not... there are certain breeds, however, that may never be able to swim due to being so top-heavy. I believe French Bulldogs CAN NOT swim, but I may be wrong about this.

Oh, and Jackson is a water freak... except for the bath. So just because a dog hates a bath doesn't mean they will hate swimming.

Jackson took right to swimming and highly enjoys it, but my dads two dogs (who don't really "enjoy" it as much) still knew how to swim naturally when we put them in the pool.

I used the lifejacket a lot last summer but now he doesn't really need it nor want it.

Another excuse to post Jax swimming pictures again, I guess...

That is funny because thats exactly how Chachi is he hates his baths but he loves the water. We have a stream and he runs through it and plays in it. We havent let him recently with the heat and his eye problems

[Charlies Mamma]

[QUOTE=Britster;3625996]I find that most dogs will naturally know how to swim. Very rarely do they not... there are certain breeds, however, that may never be able to swim due to being so top-heavy. I believe French Bulldogs CAN NOT swim, but I may be wrong about this.

No you are not wrong about this I saw this just this morning on Dogs 101 It is because their heard is so large

[Tigger427]

Tigger took off the very first time we put him in the water! Our family goes to a small lake in Ohio and we set him in the water off the back of the boat... wearing a life vest, of course! He was young when we did it, but we checked with the vet before hand and she said it was fine for his age. I don't know how to upload a video, but here is my best try...

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[CouversMom]

I would definitely test them before putting them in water. I prefer for my two to always have lifejackets on in the water just in case they tire. Couver loves the water, but I honestly think he prefers to be able to touch the ground. Khloe on the other hand, avoids the water like the plague

[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

[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

[Mom2TwoYorkies]

Both of mine have life jackets. They go in the pool with us probably 3 to 4 times a year . . .I'm not a big pool fan . . .The first time this year when we went in I handed off Brody to my husband and instead of paddling when he was put in the water, he just tilted over to the side . . . He wanted NO part of swimming . . if my husband wasn't there to make sure he didn't tilt all the way over, it might of looked as if he said "I give up, goodbye cruel world" it was pretty dramatic . . .

[BlueBelle]

Originally Posted by Mom2TwoYorkies

Both of mine have life jackets. They go in the pool with us probably 3 to 4 times a year . . .I'm not a big pool fan . . .The first time this year when we went in I handed off Brody to my husband and instead of paddling when he was put in the water, he just tilted over to the side . . . He wanted NO part of swimming . . if my husband wasn't there to make sure he didn't tilt all the way over, it might of looked as if he said "I give up, goodbye cruel world" it was pretty dramatic . . .

Oh how funny!! Yeah I think some swim, some sink, some some paddle a bit.

[Charlies Mamma]

Originally Posted by Mom2TwoYorkies

Both of mine have life jackets. They go in the pool with us probably 3 to 4 times a year . . .I'm not a big pool fan . . .The first time this year when we went in I handed off Brody to my husband and instead of paddling when he was put in the water, he just tilted over to the side . . . He wanted NO part of swimming . . if my husband wasn't there to make sure he didn't tilt all the way over, it might of looked as if he said "I give up, goodbye cruel world" it was pretty dramatic . . .

ROFLOL that is hillarious!!!!!!

[Princes mom]

I saw this cute video you youtube that I wanted to share.

Yorkie Takes Over Local Wading Pool! - YouTube

This must be a doggie pool.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Mom2TwoYorkies

Both of mine have life jackets. They go in the pool with us probably 3 to 4 times a year . . .I'm not a big pool fan . . .The first time this year when we went in I handed off Brody to my husband and instead of paddling when he was put in the water, he just tilted over to the side . . . He wanted NO part of swimming . . if my husband wasn't there to make sure he didn't tilt all the way over, it might of looked as if he said "I give up, goodbye cruel world" it was pretty dramatic . . .

That is hilarious you should try to get that on video