Boxers and Water?

[Rushing]

I would like to know how other peoples dogs like being in water (swimming,playing) and how did you teach them. I have gotten my 7 month old male to come into the water up to his chest but that about as far as he will go on his own. I have also tried carring him out aliitle ways and supporting him while he swims back to shore. Am I doing the right thing or am I just scaring him?

Thanks
Rob


Pround Papa of Gibson A tiger striped Brindle male with cropped ears and tail!!!

 

[Lisa M]

Most boxers are not water dogs, they are top heavy and are not usually graceful swimmers. I've heard that some in fact have sunk rather than swam despite going through the proper motions.

Casper will happily go in and splash around up to his chest in the ocean and up to the second step in the pool but he loathes falling into the water and thrashes about like a frantic beast until one of us "rescues" him - which is always right away of course . My lab is quite a differnt story when it comes to water!

I haven't tried to teach him to be in the water, I just let them do what they enjoy when it comes to recreation in that way. I know you probably can teach them, but it seems to me it wouldn't be as much fun for them that way. You know what I mean, it seems they would be doing it more to please you than to have fun?

 

[scarlet19]

I try to get mine to play in the water also. They love baby pools, the water hose, and they hate baths. I have to agree that boxers are definately not water dogs. I guess it's just natural if they like the water they'll go play in it and if they don't then they just don't.

 

[HELENE]

Sergeant will go into the river up to his chest and that is all, if he feels it is getting too deep he comes out right away. Some Boxers like the water and some don't.

 

[nanabear]

My female Katie (waiting for me at the Bridge) was a great swimmer. She was a good sized female - 65lbs. But she loved the water, still water, that is - didn't swim in the ocean. But she used to take herself swimming when we were by the lake camping and she would retrieve sticks from deep water forever.
Our male, Mack is 87lbs and he wades but that's it. Last summer we gently led him down a slope into lake water with hand under his chest - he sank right to the bottom like a submarine. He would not be safe on a dock or in a boat without a vest.

 

[Peggy G]

We dont know if Scarlet likes *swimming* yet but we are anxious to find out this summer. (We do know she has no problem running through and down streams!) I too had heard that since Boxers are solid mussel they may sink. We go boating so we bought Scarlet a life vest just in case. We didnt get the bulky one that goes around the neck cause I know Scarlet would have no part of that kind. I'm hoping that the vest will give her added confidence in the water. (If not her, me.)

Here's a picture of the one we got.

http://mirror1.overtons.com/cgi-bin/overtons/order/large.cgi?10423X

 

[Christian C.]

I've been slowly getting my 7-month old female used to the water--people think I'm nuts because as the previous posts have pointed out, boxers are not known for being water dogs. But I like the water and I like having her with me, so I'd rather her be used to it. Like yours, she won't actually swim, but she wades by the edge of the lake by herself, and loves to splash through streams. When we go out on open water, she'll wear her life vest.

It sounds like you're doing all right with your dog as long as he's not desperately thrashing and floundering trying to get out. If you really want him to be a swimmer, he may well need a little extra help. Get him fitted for a life vest and just leave it on him when you're near water--that may give him the extra confidence he needs.

Good luck and have a great summer!

 

[dpasto]

I have not had any luck with any of my boxers liking water. My boy absolutely HATES the water whether it is hose, baby pool, or bath. My girls all like the hose, Bridget was the only one that would even get in the baby pool. The others just use it as a big drinking bowl.

 

[nordi10]

No one has told Jack that boxers are not good at swiming.He is not only swiming , he also jumps in from the side, but he uses the steps as well. And he is following the poolrules , never pees in the water . It looks to funny , seeing him leaving the pool , running 50 meters (or yards ), lifting his leg on a tree, running back to the pool and juming in again.He is doing it in under 2 minutes.
If someone would like to see 2 pics of Jack , jumping in the pool , e-mail me , I don't have a website.

Greetings from downunder
Ron

 

[Sasha's Mom]

Most boxers are not water dogs, they are top heavy and are not usually graceful swimmers.

- Ain't that the truth! We live on a lake and Sasha will "usually" only go in up to her chest (she does like it though - especially on a hot days). One exception is when our next door neighbor was tossing a ball into the lake for his lab to retrieve. Well, Sasha threw caution to the wind and followed her right in! We couldn't believe it. She was doing okay until she realized she couldn't touch bottom and she quickly turned around and started back to dry land. It was quite a sight! I wouldn't necessarily call it swimming - she was flailing her legs like a mad woman. She did manage to keep her chest out of the water though. Now she's back to hugging the shoreline.

Susan
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