Pompano
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Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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The Rescue
"Hold On...Don't panic!! I'm dog-paddling as fast as I can."
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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SFandH
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Posts: 7084
Registered: 8-5-2011
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It's interesting how dogs seem to know innately how to swim. A few years ago on our small dog's first trip to Bahia Concepcion I carried the little
guy out into knee deep water and he started to do the dog paddle BEFORE I set him into the water, while I was carrying him. I placed him in gently and
he steadily swam back to shore. First time in water. Now he goes in by himself, but just to cool off.
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AKgringo
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Posts: 6027
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Not all dogs get it right away! I have Labrador/Pit mix that has always loved the water, but she was all muscle and bone, so not much flotation. In
Alaska she would go completely under water to grab a stick off the bottom and drag it out of the water, but if she got in deep water her hind quarters
would go down she was left thrashing with her front paws. I rescued her several times.
All that changed on the first trip to Baja together. She followed me out in shallow water as I waded out to go snorkeling. A gentle swell lifted her
up so she could no longer touch bottom, and she started swimming successfully for the first time in her life.
At twelve years old she was not as dense, and that warm salt water had to be a bonus, but an old dog can learn new tricks! After that she continued
to swim out on her own, especially if I was in the water.
Edit; I also discovered at that time, that if she had a stick or toy in her mouth she would keep her head down, which made her front paws more useful
instead of thrashing.
[Edited on 6-13-2015 by AKgringo]
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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Dog-powered kayak
When kayaking, Co-pilot is always joined by our water-loving Labrador, Cheyenne.
Aha! A great idea is forming... I can train Cheyenne to hang over the rear by her front paws and dog-paddle Co-Pilot around the bay! I tell them
both about this great revelation! And am met with derision...
Hey, they laughed at the Wright Bros, too. 
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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I was always under the impression that all dogs could swim instinctively.
However our untrimmed Lhasa Apso fell into our pool and luckely I did see it and had to jump in to save him after he went under for the 3rd time,
likely because of the weight of his fur. That was in middle of winter in Sacramento.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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Ed, these two Maltese terriers are part of our menagerie and are not champion swimmers either, and after talking with other owners, it seems the
majority of this breed really can't do water. And ours are classic examples. They're brothers and behave exactly alike..they both hide under the bed
if they think they are getting a "bath" - a word we cannot say or they head for the hills. We spell it out. Pampered...? Oh Yeah.
I do have them trained to ignore Rice Krispie bars. Those are MINE..all mine!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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