Many dogs love the element of water: They love to romp around in the water and take their laps with pleasure. In summer your four-legged friends find a welcome cooling off here. We'll tell you which dog breeds are particularly water-loving.
What breeds of dogs love to swim in the water?
Particularly water-loving dog breeds are Golden Retriever and Labrador . Similarly, Newfoundland , German Shepherd or Landseer keep already as puppies difficult by the wet element. Jack Russel Terriers can often be seen having fun in the bathing lakes . Portuguese water dogs and Spanish water dogs (as the name suggests) are also true water rats. Other breeds that enjoy bathing are poodles , settlers, and water spaniels. But be careful with Maltese: Malteseare talented swimmers; unfortunately, the breed is prone to rheumatism and arthritis. The symptoms of the disease can worsen in the water.
For which breeds of dogs is swimming a horror?
On the other hand, there are the sensitive, who can only get a few pleasant things out of the water. Pugs , Rhodesian Ridgebacks , Great Dane and Dalmatians are considered water-shy dog turfs . Basset hounds, bulldogs , pugs, and greyhounds are bad swimmers . It should be noted that exceptions occur naturally within these races. It is well known, however, that these breeds in particular often need several attempts before they become friends with the element. Once the initial shyness has been overcome, there is no stopping the water-shy races either.
How do I get my dog used to swimming?
With a bit of persuasion, almost any dog can be persuaded to bathe. A simple but effective method: throw a buoyant toy into the water , e.g. B. a ball, frisbee or a dummy. As a rule (after initial hesitation) the dog will finally run into the water and look for the object of its desire in the cool water. It is also helpful if the dog is accompanied by his best friend or the dog owner on the first bathing trip.
The basic rule is: Don't force your dog to do anything . Throwing the dog into the water is an absolute no-go. In the worst case, you stir up fears and the dog retains a permanent fear. Very water-shy four-legged friends must be slowly brought into the water.
For example, lead the dog to the water with a stimulus rod : start the game on land and slowly approach the water. You can throw the stimulus rod further and further into the water. Start with a flat spot first. You can explore the depths soon enough.
Be sure to remove the dog's leash beforehand - it can get caught in underwater obstacles and cause the dog to panic. Paddling, which is awkward at first, can also result in the four-legged friend getting tangled up with his runs.
There are life jackets for extremely anxious cases: This aid is particularly suitable for those dogs that may not be able to swim, but still love the water. For example, some dogs do not move their hind paws when they come into contact with water and, accordingly, sink with their hindquarters. A life jacket can be an effective solution in these cases. Learn more in the guide to using life jackets for dogs .