Does dogs love to swim? Well, the correct answer is it depends.
There will be no straight answer as yes or no because dogs, just like humans are unique. A lot of factors need to be taken into consideration. Like the breed, the environment where they grew up and to the very basic just depends on the dogs. Some dogs feel like they are going to die when their paws touched the water. On the other hand, others can dive into a swimming pool and just chill.
If you are an adventurous type of person and love to swim and dive into fun, consider getting a Labrador. Labs have webbed toes that allow them to paddle smoothly. Aside from that, its two-layered, water-repellent coat and broad tail make them the best swimmers.
Labrador is not just a cute, giant, pet it also has overwhelming energy. It can be with you in every activity; you’ll get tired before they run out of strength. Make sure you keep labs busy or else they’ll surely get bored.
Pugs are another dog type that is opposite to the anatomical features of a Labrador. Pugs have short legs and elongated body shapes which makes them not fit for swimming. These physical hindrances don’t mean that pugs can’t enjoy the water at all. You can still take them to the water but with caution.
Advisable, put a life vest on them to be safe. This is to give them confidence that water won’t eat them out. Dogs remember things clearly. Make their first swimming experience memorable and worth doing over and over again.
Do you know that there are school that teaches dogs how to swim? You can enroll your pets so they can be introduced to the water and be guided by professionals properly. It is important that they go to the water by themselves and without any force.
You can carry them and slowly submerge them into the water in a depth that they can tolerate. Once they got scared, your dog will panic and first reaction is to get away from the water in anyway possible. Just like humans, our first instinct is to get away from harm. In this case, once dogs felt that water is a threat, they won’t allow it to even touch them. It is important that dogs remember that water is a fun activity to do and not a traumatic one.