Monday, April 26, 2010

Safe Swimming - Part II



Teaching Your Dog to Swim

There are ways a person can safely determine what kind of swimmer their dog is and teach them proper, safe swimming form. The easiest of these is to call the closest canine water therapy pool or equivalent in your area. SplashDog in Edmonds, where I work, gets plenty of people who want to 1. find out if their dog can safely swim, 2. teach them the safe and effective swimming techniques and 3. get them comfortable with water.

Having worked with many of these dogs, I have found one thing that is going to make the process go faster and that is to be in the water with the dog. You can do that in any safe body of water, but at the canine pools, the water is warmer, more comfortable. When you work with any dog in the water, especially for the first time, expect to get beat up a little. Their flailing paws and unpredictable movement can get you scratched up. Wear clothing that will cover your arms and your upper legs. I wear water shoes as well as it gives me better traction in the water and it can be a challenge keeping up with a panicked dog.

The key is to be calm yourself. Don't get frustrated and force your dog into the water. If they won't walk in, don't pull them in by force right off the bat. Pick them up and walk in with them. Stop when you can stand them up in the water without it being over their shoulders. Try to get them to stand up. that may involve physically putting their feet on the bottom and holding them there for a few seconds so they can feel the ground. If they won't do it or begin to become anxious begin the swim training right away.

Staying calm, breathing and speaking in a soothing and happy tone of voice is a must. If you find yourself getting frustrated or frightened, stop the session promptly. Be sure to let the dog know they are doing a good job (even if you don't think they are). Some dogs can be very anxious about the unknown. If they are not typically around water they have no idea what is going to happen. The trust between you and your dog is key to making this process work well.

Once you are at the point of the dog standing in the water or have gotten to that point and they will not stand, proceed by putting one hand under them on their belly and a forearm or hand across their chest. Gently but purposefully pull them as you walk into slightly deeper water. Don't lift their belly or propel them through the water or they will allow you to do all the work. Your contact is only for support and steering. When they begin moving their legs, keep their forelegs in the water with your forearm,, or hand for smaller dogs across the chest. If the rear end begins to sink low, lift it a bit but don't constantly hold it up.

Steer the dog back to where they can stand on their own and encourage them to stand up without letting them run off. If you let them run onto shore now, it could be a struggle to get them back into the process. Repeat the process several times. When you feel the dog begin to relax with the paddling, not flailing as much, and they are swimming back to your starting point without a lot of steering on your part, then you can let them try swimming without full contact.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Safe Swimming - Part I




Springtime. One day is warm and sunny, the next cool and rainy. This is a great time to think about summer safety, before summer is here. If you spend time around the water with your dog be sure your dog is going to be safe. There are a variety of ways to help insure their safety in most water and weather conditions.

Many people still believe that "all dogs can swim". Uh, not true. This misinformation has been around forever. It seems to be based on the idea that if someone throws a dog into a body of water the dog will paddle and keep themselves from drowning for a while. I cringe whenever I hear that idea. Working with dogs in water regularly has shown me just how untrue it is.

Back in the days when dogs were considered working animals more than family members people didn't think much about how the dog felt, especially psychologically, about being forced into a situation that they weren't comfortable with. That is still the case in many people's opinions.

Let's put this in personal terms. Think back to when you were a child and you looked up to your Mom or Dad. You were about 4 years old. You were at a lake for a picnic on a warm day and all was fun and comfortable. Then suddenly Mom or Dad pick you up and toss you into the water. WHAT?! Do you know how to swim?? Uh, NO! But you kick and flail your arms and are able to keep your self from drowning for a few minutes. How would you feel? Probably scared to death, confused, and if you are lucky not scarred for life.

It may not be different for your dog. Yes, some dogs are naturally drawn to water and have more of a natural ability to swim properly. It isn't always breed specific as we are inclined to believe. I've worked with Labradors that didn't like to swim, and Dachshunds that loved to swim. It isn't always predictable. Even if a dog loves the water, he or she may not know how to swim well enough to swim safely, especially if they are in water with any kind of current or left alone.

Please read the upcoming posts to help insure your dogs safety while enjoying summer fun around the water.