Swimming is one of the very best forms of exercise. The resistance of the water, the full range of motion and the cardiac work are the main reasons. Even if you are not a strong or good swimmer, there is still fun and great exercise to be had. Wear a life jacket or floatation belt to help you out and you can have just as much fun as the good swimmers, even if you don't look as cool.
Safety is everything in the water. Always be safe and make sure the kids and pups are safe. Admittedly, I really know nothing about child safety other than make sure they always stay with their Mom or Dad. That way I don't have to worry about them:-)
Now dog safety, that's a different animal, literally. As a canine water therapist, one thing I hear a lot that is simply not true, is that all dogs know how to swim. What all dogs know how to do is kick their legs when they are in the water. Many of the dogs I work with at SplashDog splash around, kicking their legs and straining to keep their heads out of the water in the beginning. This works pretty well for a while but I can tell you, they will tire quickly. If there is any kind of current this is an even faster recipe for disaster. At SplashDog we do teach dogs how to swim and swim safely.
The only way to know if your dog is able to swim safely is to watch them do it. I don't advise anyone to throw their dog in the water as I have heard of some people actually doing. They have the opinion that the dog will sink or swim. Well, that is pretty harsh. The shock of being thrown into water will create a panic and, more than likely, create panic swimming which is what I described above, not safe.
A better way to see if your dog can safely swim is to walk them into the water, or if in a pool, lift them in. Be sure you are fully covered, not in a bikini or just swim trunks as you could possibly get pretty scratched up. Once the dog is in the water far enough to need to swim let go of them but keep close enough to be sure you can grab them if need be. They could swim the wrong direction, away from you or begin to sink. If either happens, lift them up a bit under the torso and steer them by holding the chest as well.
If the dog turns out to swim on their own relatively well, still keep an eye on them in case they tire before they get to an area that they can stand up. We tend to feel that dogs are capable of climbing up on docks, boat steps and big rocks after they have been swimming. That is a dangerous assumption. Be ready to help your dog out of the water after a swim. I've seen many dogs at SplashDog have a great swim and then collapse when they tried to walk up the steps to get out.
One way to be assured that your dog is safe is to use a canine life vest. There are several on the market. The only way to be sure to get a good fit is to try it on. If you order one and it doesn't fit snug and close securely, be sure to return it and get a better fit. The last thing you want is to be in a dangerous situation and have the dog slip out of the vest. Most vests have handles built in to the top of the vest that help if you need to grab your dog. Many now have reflective strips which are especially great if you boat and are out with your dog after dark.
One website I found, listed below, has several types of vests.
I did a search for "canine floatation device" and came up with quite a few sites. Or you could check with local pet supply shops and sporting goods supply stores to find a vest that you like.
My last word on this subject: not all dogs like to swim, even Labs. Don't force your dog to swim. If you want them to swim or want to know they can for safety, be patient and help them learn. This is the kind and safe way to enjoy the water with your dog and your dog will probably appreciate the time with you in the process:-)
Have fun, enjoy summer and stay safe!
No comments:
Post a Comment