I want to introduce swimming to Capone this week for his hips. I have a friend who has a lab that loves water and the two get along so I was going to use him as a way to introduce the pool as being OH SO MUCH FUN =)
Questions-
1.Pool is 50 degrees right now, and the heater isn't working. Is that too cold for him considering his hips and he is short hair? Will the cold water cause more harm than if I just wait until summer to introduce swimming? The swimming would really benefit his hips right now. He has no muscle to aid his hips taking all the weight.
2. Should I get in (in a wetsuit because I hate the cold lol) and introduce him to the water and the steps slowly before having the play date or just dive in, no pun intended =) with the play date and a good toy?
Brad Higgs Webboard User Reg: 06-13-2010
Posts: 511
Loc: Western Australia
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Not sure about the temperature, hope someone else can advise you on this, bu as far as introducing swimming with all mine I just started them with a doggy life jacket and a lead attached and they picked it up VERY quickly, vest just helps them get used to the motions as at the start they had trouble stating afloat but after a couple goes was able to take it. I've found they become addicted to it and get extremely excited whenever we go to the pool and it's been great exercise for them. Once they're in just use a leash to guide them, I don't think you need to hop in unless Capone has an aversion to water, I found it was easiest to make it into a retrieving game and throw something in and let them swim out and back fetching something. I know a dog who had both hips removed and after swimming as part of it's rehab now seems to move fine as i really helped the supporting muscles. Good luck!!
I don't know about water temperature as it relates to dogs but I can tell you that 50 degrees is extremely cold water. Dogs like Newfoundlands and other very heavy coated dogs are much more adaptable to cold water than Pits or Cane Corso (i cant tell by the pic but it looks like Capone is one or the other)
The other thing to consider is that if you hate the cold water he may hate it just as much and 50 is cold enough to create a first impression that will stay with him forever.
I agree that 50 is probably too cold for him. Do you have any possibility of finding a heated or indoor pool for him to learn in until it warms up some?
Leerburg, Cindy, had a video with a newsletter, explaining swimming, teaching how to swim, in a pool. Don't know if this helps, but I am sure you can find video with search, swimming.
I found the video, doing a search: swiming; but don't know how to copy link.
It was part two, of Cindy, & Endy, learning/teaching to swim. Good Stuff!!
It's on here under the streaming video's.
Regarding the cold water factor, my dog doesn't mind cold water, don't know if individual or not, but hesitation could also be that he has never been swimming in a pool. Just an after thought.
Thanks everyone. I am going to hold off on the pool for now. Either til I can find a heated one, or until spring/summer. And I'm going to go look for that video. I did a search last night and read a bunch of threads on water and swimming. I want to make this as positive as possible!
Tracy Collins Webboard User Reg: 10-09-2008
Posts: 1917
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri
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Luca loved wearing a life vest when he was younger. I think it game him confidence in the water. He just walked in and kept walking until he was dog paddling.
Thanks sheila, I found that in my search too. The closest one is about an hour or so away and the link didn't work. Ill have to call tomorrow. Maybe we could just set up a lesson or two and hopefully hell just take to it like a lab
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Introducing swimming
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