Boxers & Swimming!!!?

[skeggjold]

Hi! I have a 5 year old boxer and I have been trying for 5 years to get her to swim. She has been in the ocean, river, and in the pool. I bought her a life jacket for the pool. She can swim, but I don't know if she really enjoys it. She doesn't play fetch or anything, but will swim around (if put in the pool) to cool off, but then comes right to the steps and gets out.

Does anyone else have a boxer who reacts similar with water?

Are boxers swimming dogs?

Is there anything I can do to help her to swim; I think she would love it if she knew how and trusted herself better.

Thanks for you help!

 

[Charlie-girl]

Charlie loves to swim. Both Amber and I would wade into the water in a local lake with one of holding her and the other calling her name. She would swim over to the other person knowing that we would hold her and she wouldn't sink. Now she is 16 months and loves to swim. It is a real treat to see her have fun on a hot day.

Rich

PS She will only swim when she is hot

 

[Ronin1]

We used to have a two Boxers. The male never mastered swimming very well but he did love it. He would walk out into the water as far as he could on his hind legs - and then swim when he finally had to. The female absolutely HATED water. Would give us an evil look when she had to go out into the rain to go potty. Now we have Ronin - he used to love water and now it takes all of my strength just to get him into the bathtub for a bath.

 

[LokiGem]

My boxer doesn't swim either

I have read somewhere that dogs with deep chests, like our boxers, tend to have trouble swimming. I don't know how true that is though because I have seen swimming boxers.
My boxer Does not swim. He will walk in the water but won't go deeper than he can stand. I take him for walks at lakes and the ocean and he will walk through to cool off, but wont swim. I don't pressure him. I'd rather him just have a good time when we are out on these walks.

 

[markandhaley]

that is so funny that i come on here today and there is a post about this. my boyfriends brother was telling me that he went over to his aunt frances' friend jim's house and jim has three boxers. he was saying he was getting ready to jump into the pool for a swim and as he was running to the ledge, one of the boxers beat him to it and jumped into the water...then here come the other two...he said once he got in the boxers wanted to play (me picturing this laughing the entire time).

we are going to see my parents this weekend and they have a pool...i want to see if asia will get in or not ... that should be interesting

 

[lorioniris]

Hi there.

Although I don't have a lot of personal info on the subject, I recall reading a post about doggy life jackets. A lot of people said that these really helped their babies feel more secure and less fatigued and stressed in the water and really helped them to enjoy water. Aditionally, the cost seemed very reasonable, around $15 to $25. So you might consider trying this and seeing if it helps.

Good luck.

Lori

 

[mugs&guiness]

I used to take Mugsy to a dog beach where dogs are free to roam unleashed and swim and play. Mugsy used to swim every time we were there. He was only a few months old then. Now he is 9 months and we haven't been there in a couple of months due to hectic work schedules, so I don't know if he would still like it. My lil one, Guiness who is 3 months, hasn't been in a swimmable body of water yet. I hope to see how they'll do in the future. Hoping to take them next weekend.

 

[douma]

Avra LOVES swimming and more than swimming she LOVES playing fetch...so much,that it comes addiction......i can't enjoy and relax to the beach and the sea anymore,because she begs all the time and when we ignore her she would look me in my eyes and would start trembling with impatience.
If i want to swim, someone else must play fetch with her

Sophia and Avra

 

[KJZMOM]

Jackson and Karma LOVE to swim. They hate the rain and aren't terribly fond of the bathtub, but when we take them to my grandparents' who have a pond, they will tear straight to it and swim until you think they are so tired they will drown. They've also been to a pool which they enjoyed but Jackson played to much the cement rubbed the skin off the pads of his paws and he was leaving wet, bloody pawprints, so we had to call it a day. They've been to the beach once but neither was as excited about the waves as they are in still water.

 

[Kat and Jeff]

Kind of funny that there was a post about this today. Earlier today my husband and I were walking our boy. Well, he will only go in up to his chest but wants to go further. I suggested to move him out and see how he does....well the poor guy sank. He did not even try to swim!! I allmost had a heartattack. Jeff pulled the poor thing out of the water....and then he ran off wagging his tail jumping everywhere. On the way back he went over to the spot and wanted to go in again. He kept trying, so I put the leash on him this time b/c I was freaked out from the last time. He had a good time. He just does not want to get in. He likes it once in. He stands on the side trying to get in the water...but just backs up.

I just can't believe he sank!! He just balled up and sank. It was weird. I decided only a boxer would do something like that (joking of course, but who would think he would not even try). Brutal is a strange one but we love him!