Oliver Goes Swimming

Hi my name is Oliver. You may have seen my picture on J's site (although I am much handsomer in person) as I occasionally get massages from her

About a month ago my mom picked me up at The Whole Pup (another good place to see pics of me) and said "you are going to see J Linn tomorrow and swim!" Huh I thought-me swim. Oh no I don't think so. I am a Lhasa (ok mix but still) not a LAB-what was she thinking??

Saturday arrived and off we went-yippee. I have been to Splash Dog before Tully Girl used to go there to swim. I smelled the air and thought I am outta here no swimming for this dude!
I see J Linn and think ok, not so bad a massage which I could use after a hard week playing at TWP.. Egads, I have to get in the water first- no way Jose! Well, of course I was overruled and into the water went. Now I love my mom but she acts like a cheerleader-"come on Oliver you can do it." Geez, how embarrassing. Then she makes fun of my unique use of my tail as a rudder. How rude is that I ask you?

Well, finally I am done and let me tell you I ran down the ramp and was excited to get into the tub for a bath-which I am usually not-who wants to smell like that shampoo? I like my manly ala naturale smell.

Low and behold two weeks later and there I was again. It was not as bad this time but still-I am a cool dude and messing with my "do" is just not right. My mom tells me I am swimming better-Tully must me helping me. Well, maybe a little. She was old and she could swim like nobody's business.

Then last Saturday there we were again. I was excites this time though because I had been practicing my technique during my many naps. And let me tell you I was a sight to behold! I swam and swam. No rudder needed! I swam around the pool 3 times! Not bad for a pup with crooked front legs. J Linn said I am buff like I work out in the gym (thank you for noticing!) but with more swimming I will have a body like a runner! I may be neutered but I am still a chick magnet. Devi, Char and all The Whole Pup girls like to spend time with this dude!

So now I like going to Splash Dog and seeing J, grabbing a massage and SWIMMING! If I can only keep my mom from putting Tully's yellow ducky robe on me after my bath! I mean really.. a yellow duck on this buff bod? What is she thinking??

The Paw Rating System for Vehicles

Over the last month or two I have been shopping for a different car. My 1990 Subaru Legacy wagon had served me well over the last 8 years and I am grateful that I had such a low maintenance vehicle. It has over 200 thousand miles on it and lots of little, head-ache repairs that need to be done to make it as lovable as it used to be. That could be a story in itself.

I will jump to the current. In the beginning of my search I was sure I wanted another Subaru wagon. What better car for someone who is prone to lugging around lots of stuff and who takes her dog pretty much everywhere? Okay, I hear all of you suggesting mini-vans and SUV's, but I like a wagon.

A friend of mine has a Forester and I suggested that if she wanted to sell it, I would be interested. I love the 1 owner, used cars. She told me it was a '4 paw' but the new ones she has looked at are definitely '3 paws'. What?! Oh, the paw rating system. On a scale of 1-5 how well does the car accommodate dogs and the needs we have with our dogs, 1 to 5 paws. Now that she mentioned it, there are more considerations than I had originally thought.

The next step was searching Craigslist and hitting car lots. The first thing I noticed was that big paw rating reducer, the seats did not fold down flat in the cargo area. Not great for several reasons. Another downside, cloth upholstery. My '90 Subaru had beautiful dark blue brushed upholstery...with little white furs stuck in it, everywhere, thick. Hmmm, to increase paw ratings my next wagon needed a flat cargo surface and leather or vinyl upholstery.

As I began looking at other makes of cars, I got choosier and could tell with a glance whether it was dog friendly or not. Too high off the ground, nope. No sunroof, huh-uh. You get the idea.

All of this lead me to what seemed to be the perfect choice, the Volvo wagon. Skip ahead now as I knew that was what I wanted and was on a mission to find the right match. Mileage, wear and tear and price were the main considerations. Found it. Bought it.

After getting it home and transferring the important stuff like the "wag more, bark less" stickers and the dog beds, I was ready to take Devi for her initial ride in the new, luxury, 5 paw wagon! Da-da-da-DA! She jumped in and sniffed it over, saw her stuff in it and knew we were going somewhere. She jumped into the front seat a little precariously due to the new feel of leather under her paws. She settled into her co-pilot's seat, sitting up straight, looking out the front window, occaisionally checking out the sides. Wait a minute! She couldn't see out the front window and barely out the side. The seat is low and the dash is high. She stood up and stretched as high as she could but slipped and crashed back down to an awkward sit. Feeling unsure of herself, she curled up in her nap position and rode the rest of the way without standing up.

Could it be? After all of that searching for the perfect 5 paw wagon I got it wrong? Would any dealer let me take my dog along on the test drive? Next time I will check. But for now, we have a 4 paw wagon that has a new foam, non-slip, booster seat and some rubber, non-slip, covers on some key areas of upholstery. Devi loves the sunroof and the flat cargo area, oh, and the air conditioning (another must on my list of paw rating advantages). I am happy with the car and my decision despite the alterations. And Devi? Well, she puts up with anything as long as we are together :-)

My Demo Dog

Not only is Devi my (almost constant) companion, playmate, ambassador, and protector, now she has become my demo dog as well. I teach a class which introduces people to canine massage so that they can use some professional techniques on their dogs safely and effectively. Devi helped me demonstrate a few of the techniques for a class and did very well. She only had to help for a few minutes as we didn't have a chance to have a good exercise session before the class and I didn't want her get disruptive.

She also was able to help alleviate a fearful dog's anxiety about the pool at SplashDog. The dog is afraid to swim and is anxious about the pool itself. I have had 3 sessions with her standing on the entry stairs across my lap to receive massage and have gotten her comfortable enough to stop shaking and stand up on her own. We have begun to leave the steps and make a circle in the water. Baby steps. She did pretty good with the circle this last time, getting a few swim strokes in.

As we were getting out of the pool I had an idea. The client dog knows Devi and they have gotten along well. Devi has never liked to swim but she has learned to do it very well when I direct her. I brought Devi up and got her into the pool, swam her a few laps so the client could see. Devi did great and the client actually did watch her. Now we'll see if she has any more confidence next time.

I have my work cut out for me training her to help me demo the 1st aid/CPR class, but we'll start working on that and keep working her into the other areas more. Do I have to claim her as an employee? W2? SS#? Hmm. Maybe I'll just pay her in biscuits.

Devi's Tummy Scratching Technique

Safe Swimming - Part III

Devi, safe in her life vest

Now, what if your dog doesn't swim, doesn't calm down or continues to be frightened. If you have tried the method in Safe Swimming - Part II and kept the sessions short and calm while praising your dog and they still aren't getting it or wanting to it could be that your dog is not cut out for swimming.

You can try a couple of options to make it more fun and/or distract them. If you have a significant other or a friend your dog loves you can both get in the water and guide your dog to swim to that person. When they get there they get LOTS of praise and maybe even pick them up and carry them back to the starting point and do it again.

Another thing that may help is a toy or treat. If you have a pup that is crazy for tennis balls or loves cheese that might give them a little motivation to loosen up and go for it. Some dogs aren't interested in treats or toys in the beginning but after a session or two and they still haven't calmed down you can try introducing the treats or toy then.

If these methods don't help be safe and only put your dog in the water when you are with them and can retrieve them in case of an emergency situation. I recommend using a canine life vest, fitted properly, anytime your dog is on or in a body of water. The video at the beginning of Safe Swimming - Part II is of my dog Devi swimming in the pool at SplashDog. She wears a floatation device around her neck. In the photo at the beginning of Part I she is in a raft with me on a lake with her life vest on.

A few notes before I conclude the series. You might notice your dog shaking their head while they are in the water. Some dogs can be sensitive to water getting in their ears. Devi gets quite distracted when water gets in her ears. Her swimming becomes erratic. That is why she wears a flotation ring to keep her ears out of the water. The ring can also help if a dog can't keep their mouth up out of the water. These rings are sold as alternatives to the cones or elizabethan collars, but they work great in the water.

If you have any question about your dog's health, be sure to check with your Veterinarian before putting your dog in the water. Swimming is a good workout and if your dog has any health issues there can be safety concerns.

Take care of your family around water so you can all have fun!

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.

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.