I have a 90 lbs. black lab that should weigh about 75lbs. I`m trying to get him to lose some weight through swimming. How long is a good amount of time for him to swim? I`m normally in the pool having him swim about 15ft.(length of pool) to get a toy and then he swims back, gets out, and runs around to give me the toy so he can swim for it again. He wears a life jacket if that makes any difference.
DavidStevenson Webboard User Reg: 12-01-2001
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Swimming is a good exercise to lose weight. It builts muscles and he'll get stronger but so is walking, retrieving the dumbel on ground and many other things. How about control the food too? This is the first place to start. How long to swim? I think the dog will show it in some form when it's getting to much. My dog slows down in bringing me the dumbel back and I know that it's enough and I stop. Always stop when it's still fun for the dog.
How long to swim? I think the dog will show it in some form when it's getting to much.
Einstein is a retrieving tennis ball and dumbell maniac. He`ll go til he drops without showing that he`s getting tired.<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> I was just looking for some general guidelines on how long would be a good time to start out on. We go to the park mornings and evenings and sometimes he still has too much energy. With the 100degree heat around here swimming is the best way to make a partially sane house dog out of him. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Why the life jacket? I think they are great if you have a dog out in the middle of a lake but they are not really necessary on a dog that knows how to swim in a pool. By giving him a lifejacket you are supporting almost all of his weight and the benefits of swimming are not as good.
Swimming is great exercise. I don't "time" the process, but I keep an eye out for panting, etc. As he gets in better shape he will be able to go longer. The same as with any exercise.
Why the life jacket? I think they are great if you have a dog out in the middle of a lake but they are not really necessary on a dog that knows how to swim in a pool.
Einstein fell into the pool a few times and got scared of swimming in it. The life jacket helped him to get over it. Right now without the life jacket he keeps trying to touch bottom with his rear legs and his hind end sinks. He`s really out of shape so he`s still getting some benefit from swimming with the extra floatation. I figure that once he builds up some muscle I`ll cut some of the flotation out so he has to work harder with the goal of just having the vest with no floatation in it. I called a canine water therapy place in our area and they said they do that with some of the overweight, but otherwise healthy dogs they get.
I would put a long line on the dog and walk him up and down the length of the pool. You can leave off the life jacket and pull him level if he tries to touch the bottom. If you have control of the dog on a long line he won't drown or do anything stupid (like hop out of the pool on his own). Make the dog work.
You can leave the life jacket on. The additional drag it causes negates any benefit you might think he gets from wearing it. If the dog is overweight that also increases drag. I used to swim a lot and had to drag little buckets behind me. Now, I would drown.
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