What breed can't swim?

mrv

MRV's first dobeman, Morgan La Fae CDX was a lab in a dobe suit.  If I still had her, she would be competitive in Dock Dogs.  She would go off the diving board in my parents pool when we went to visit.  She started her swimmnig career unexpectedly.  She was about 10-12 weeks old.  We lived near OSU (columbus) at the time and were walking down by Mirror Lake.  The one section had water level and ground level just about equal.  She walked past the stone, sunk straight down about 14" or so.  I reached in hauled her out and was scared to death.  She followed us further down and splashed into the shallow end and it started.  She loved the water.  Would out swim every thing at Mirror Lake expect one GSP who was just as driven and athletic as she.  She would bet the labs and goldens to any thing thrown out into the water.  Her most fun was to jump from a height and make a big splash.  I need to get those pics scanned and loaded on my website.

I want to teach Misty to go after her frisbee or anything off of the dock!  I love to watch those competitions, and Misty can leap!  I would love to get her into that.  Over the weekend here, it was in the 80's and the black lab, down where we keep our boat jumped off the dock after a stick, and Misty, almost went in after him.  She came really close, so I'm hoping it's just a matter of time.  If you find those pics, please post them.  I would love to see them.

I have a friend that has a boxer and he can swim, he does not swim well and it looks as if his lack of a tail is what hinders him.

My Vizsla took a long time learning to swim well. Most of this is our fault since we had one of those large donut pools and he loved to play in it. It was just deep enough so that he would swim with his front legs but always kept his back ones on the ground.

 His first real swimming experience was frightening to him and us as he lept into the pool (without being asked I might add) and tried to "swim" as he understood it. His front legs were going like mad and he gradually sunk until only his nose was above water (by this time DH jumped in to save him) and we had to spend a lot of time holding him up so that he learned to use his back legs. Even to this day when he goes in to the water he will start out front legs only, then it is like he remembers (Oh yeh!! I got to use the back ones to!). He is a pretty strong swimmer now but it was funny watching him learn.

 My German Shepherd can swim, but she paddles like she's actually trying to climb out of the water.  I don't think she gets it quite yet....but she will follow me in!

 Rosco is not a good swimmer. He forgets to use his back legs, and is strong enough up front to stay afloat, but if he changes direction, he can have real problems. We keep a long line on him so we can grab him if need be, but I think he'll start wearing a lifevest instead. Poor guy always wants to chase Lexi and Luna in the water and then he can't keep up.

The funny thing is that he'll hold his tail way up over his back, so it looks like a flag.
 

Pit_Pointer_Aussie

 Rosco is not a good swimmer. He forgets to use his back legs, and is strong enough up front to stay afloat, but if he changes direction, he can have real problems. We keep a long line on him so we can grab him if need be, but I think he'll start wearing a lifevest instead. Poor guy always wants to chase Lexi and Luna in the water and then he can't keep up.

The funny thing is that he'll hold his tail way up over his back, so it looks like a flag.
 

Friends of ours down where we keep our boat have a german shepherd who couldn't swim, even though they took her out on the boat with them all the time, she just didn't like going into the water.  Once they bought her a vest, it gave (Sony) confidence and she's coming into her own now, when it comes to swimming.  I think it even mellowed her out a little.  LOL

my dog is terrified of water =[ kinda not fun since we live in FL, but oh well.

We have a pond by our picnic/break area at the shelter I work at and every once and a while, we bring dogs in there on break with us. Mostly medical dogs that don't get out too often. (it's all fenced) We had one pitty, Winnie, who loved to play in the shallow end, and one day ventured out deeper after a stick she saw.... well... Winnie the Pit Bull CANNOT SWIM. She started to sink... another staff member had to jump in after her and pull her up. She wasn't allowed on break with us any more... =]

 My boxer doesn't like to swim but she can.

 Liesje: Both of our shepherds do that too! Where they throw their front feet waaay high out of the water and act like they're trying to get up on top of it. Sheila even bites at the surface of the water as she's swimming, like she's frustrated. XD

 

What about Pomeranians?

We had two Dachshunds that would swim like fish, they use thier tails like a boat rudder.

You couldn't get my last Rottie near water. Our pup Lucy swims good now, but I have seen some Rottie's that are not good swimmers. ( to much muscle ) Fat floats muscle sinks.

Chasmanian

What about Pomeranians?

I was wondering about that too.  I've had Benny in my mom's pool, and he moves his legs like he wants to swim, but I was too afraid to let him go.  Maybe I'll try next summer. 

Rocky is Boxer/Lab mix.  He hates water!  When he was around 8 weeks old, he saw me in the swimming pool and he thought he'd jump right in.  Needless to say, he swam like a rock, straight to the bottom!  The only time I have even seen him intentionally get wet was when he walked across a tiny little creek.  The water was about 1 inch deep!! 

Trey can't swim.  I know that's not a breed, but he just can't.

I own Pugs and they can swim, I think an overweight Pug would have a hard time. But a Pug in slim shape with lots of exercise is a great swimmer. My Pugs love to swim. I have one that will try jumping in our above ground swimming pool when I'm in the pool and will cry and scratch at the outside wall of the pool until I put her in. She is also one that will jump in a tub of water when you are taking a bath. I always tell her she should have been born a Lab. LOL

Snuffa swims very well... Kayjin, my standard poodle loves the water, he just cant swim.  He willingly plods into the water, sinks... and then springs up for air

It can be rather frightening to watch