[News] Swimming Classes for Pampered Pooches
 

If behaviour therapists, designer outfits and gourmet food aren't enough to keep pampered pooches happy, owners can now try swimming lessons.

The class for puppies is one of the latest ways New Yorkers are pleasing their pets in a city famed for owners indulging their dogs.

"We teach them how to swim, how to get in the pool," said Stacy Alldredge, whose Manhattan dog spa houses the swim classes and pool, complete with built-in dog steps.

"It's about becoming socialized."

Salty learned to swim by wearing a life jacket and having his paw held, but now he shows off his aquatic skills by constantly leaping into a pool.

Four months after his first lesson, the miniature schnauzer is the envy of his classmates, who excitedly bark and sniff the water but don't dare jump in without the instructor's help.

While some New Yorkers worry about whether their pet is sporting the latest fashions, other owners want their dogs exercised and healthy, said Alldredge.

"If you think that getting your dog to do fun things, giving them a great diet and making sure they are happy is spoiling them, that is wrong," said Alldredge, a canine nutritionist and behavioural consultant.

At a recent class, owners paid about $15 (7.50 pounds) to let a swim therapist hold their puppy and encourage it to swim solo to the pool's edge. Several owners soothingly willed their puppies into the water or shouted "good girl!" upon a successful swim.

Other pooches just wanted to make friends in the class that began last year.

But don't dogs instinctively know how to swim?

"That's a myth. Dogs don't naturally know how to swim, although some dogs do," said Alldredge, citing breeds such as Labradors or golden retrievers."

Other breeds "feel awkward" and need help, she said. "The Dog Run" facility she runs also offers swim hydrotherapy and massage for aging or injured dogs.

Salty's owner, Valerie Cortes, said it was all part of growing up.

"I mean, only in New York, but man, thank God. He loves it!"

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyE...0070828?rpc=92

lol i wanted to see if princess could naturally swim so i put her in the middle of a kiddie pool last week and she actually swam to the other side :D she didnt seem to like it tho!! :p

I actually wish they had someone like that here. While my yorkies are fine without ever having to swim, I would love to get Daisy (border collie mix) and Peppi (cocker spaniel) in it. It is a good work out and it keeps their joints moving better and all around better for their health.

Oh and I agree, not all dogs instinctively know how to swim. If fact Peppi even though her breed is suppose to be good swimmers did awful at it. I had to go out and buy her a life jacket and she now does great with it on.

My guys love to swim with me, and they didn't have any professional lessons. LOL

My little girl has gone swimming in Lake Michigan before. It didn't take her very long to figure it out; I went out into the water and started splashing and playing and laughing. She paced on the sand for a minute or two, then bolted into the water and swam out to join me, looking like a little drowned rat. A man walking a labrador saw her and commented on what a good water dog I had. :rolleyes:

She'd still really rather stay on the beach and dig than swim, but she can definitely do it.

Both mine swim well. They jump in and swim to a raft but we have to watch them because my daughters pool has a metal ladder at each end-not concrete steps. My grandaughters french bulldog sinks like a rock. I need to find pool steps for them

skylar!!!!1
 

:aimeeyork me n my baby skylar!!!! some one give me a lil advice..about my yorkie..he is 8 wks old...and he is a lil agressive..i dont know if he like that cause he is teething..or is that a habit...how can i break it...???

Swimming
 

Hey that's a good thing. I have already taught Rocky how to handle him self in the pool take a look at his pics.

edgewaterluv