Dog Community

Swimming Problems

Posted : 5/4/2006 10:51:57 AM

Last night I took Boomer to the park and for the first time he really showed interest in the pond. He was so funny, watching him learning to swim and biting the waves and bubbles… but we had a problem. There were several dogs in and out of the pond (they were much better swimmers than he is) so they would get out there and he'd swim after them and try to paw or play-bite them while swimming. He tried several times to get both paws kind of wrapped around another dog. Understandably, two of them got really snappy with him. They played great on land though.

I couldn't tell by watching… is he just trying to play with them in the water?? I almost got the impression that he was trying to hold on to them because he wanted help. Does that make any sense? He wouldn't go in on his own except to lay by the bank, but he didn't really like it when the other dogs went in further without him - he hates being left out so he went in too.

Should I be concerned for his and the other dogs safety if they start playing around in deep water?

twelvepaws

Posted : 5/4/2006 10:58:50 AM

I'm not really sure the answer to your question, but perhaps Boomer will not be so annoying to the other dogs once he gets used to the water. I doubt you're putting the dogs at risk as far as drowning or the like, but you might be putting Boomer at risk of another dog getting mad or fearful and possibly hurting him.

I wanted to relate tht it is very possible that Boomer is "hanging on." I had an Airdale mix when I was growing up and I used to take him swimming. He kind of liked the water, but like Boomer, was a little unsure. He used to swim out to me and then wrap his legs, all four of them, tightly around my body, clinging to me like a small child!

sooner

Posted : 5/4/2006 12:49:28 PM

Hmmmmm, I wonder how to get him more comfortable in the water? I'm NOT going in this pond with him -gross- and when I carried him in our swimming pool with me he freaked out - maybe he'd be more willing if there was another dog in there but my other two don't swim. I sure don't want him in a position where he'll get hurt or hurt another dog.

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 5/4/2006 3:17:50 PM

Some dogs don't like swimming pools. I'd try to take him somewhere else where there are no other dogs swimming & try him out there.

BTW, I LOVE your avatar. I just want to kiss his head.

labcrab

Posted : 5/4/2006 3:24:15 PM

I have to say that I agree with the "hanging on" theory. It sounds like he is grabbing on to the other dogs because he's nervous about swimming. That's probably why he won't go in on his own and feels the need to swim out to where they are - for security. My advice would be to take him swimming alone, train him to be a stronger swimmer. I bet that once he feels secure with his swimming, he'll stop "harrassing" the other dogs (for lack of a better word!)

sooner

Posted : 5/4/2006 3:35:33 PM

Thanks! Boomer loves head kisses - I'll give him an extra for you.

Okay, guess we'll put this swimming thing on hold for a while until the lakes warm up to where I can go in with him.We're better off with him not liking the swimming pool anyway - that way I don't have to worry about him jumping in all the time.

Oh man - I hate having 'the annoying one' at the dog park. [sm=blush.gif]

griffinej5

Posted : 5/4/2006 7:48:37 PM

At least he will try to swim. Max realizes his feet are leaving the ground and he gets scared. I've thought about a life jacket for him, maybe that would help Boomer? Max does like his little plastic pool though, and he was in the little pool when he went to daycare. I know since when I picked him up, he was all wet.

tashakota

Posted : 5/5/2006 7:00:28 AM

My girl Tasha will occasioinally swim, but she doesn't like the feet leaving the ground so much. She loves to run through water, especially since the others won't come near her when she's in there. Kind of like a taunting thing for her.

But anyway, we bought her and the others life jackets for on the boat and it doesn't give her any more security. She doesn't understand that it will hold her up out of the water, only mom's arms will. Thank god she goes limp when you hold her, she weighs 50 lbs! Just my 2 cents.

Edited: It does give ME piece of mind though that she won't drown.