Swimming

[Maggie's Mommy]

Maggie could care less about her swimming pool. She thinks it is a big watering dish. But when she hears me running water in the jacuzzi, she comes running into the bathroom and starts to kidney bean and prance around in hopes that she'll be put in the tub. When she was smaller, I'd only fill the tub with 6 inches or less of water, and she'd "swim" all around. Now that she is 7 months old, 37 pounds, and getting to be a big puppy, the water level is a bit higher and she's beginning to have difficulty navigating the turn-arounds. She loves to stick her head under the water and try to grab toys off the bottom. It's so cute seeing this little butt nubbin bobbing in the water. Maggie also likes when I turn on the jets of the tub. She kicks back and "chills out".

 

[Adelle]

When Hooligan was a pup we tried to teach him to swim by bringing him into the water and tried to encourage him to swim while we still supported him with a hand, but he really did not like it and freaked out so we gave up. As he got older he would play at the edge of the water, and go in up to his chest but if he accidentally went in too deep and could not reach the bottom he would freak out again. Sometimes when he was too hot he would go to the edge of the lake and find a place where he could laydown in the water with just his head sticking out to get cool - its was the cutest thing. I have seen other boxers who could swim but they were not very graceful, I don't think its something that comes naturally to boxers.

 

[Wendy Swalls]

We take Mickey to the beach with us and thought he'd never swim, but now he does okay. He's even brave enough to launch himself off of the back of the boat! Shocked my and hubby to death the first time he did it, but he swims until his feet touch the sand and then shakes the water off of him like mad! :p He does tend to sink and doesn't swim well for any distance, but he can get from the boat to the sand with no problem. Maybe in a year or two he'll be ready for the Boxer olympics!!!

 

[Jackie]

Our first experience with taking a boxer swimming was 28years ago. Dear Benny was probably about 6 months old. We had taken him to a family picnic near a small river about 10feet across. Hubbie picked Benny up waded into the water about thigh high, and gently let go; expectin as you would for some kind of swimming action. Well, down he went straight to the bottom, the water was very clear and it was as though for a second or so he looked around him and then realised what he should be doing and came up again splashing. He was never in any danger as we were just about to scoop him on out again, but he did look funny. Then our second Boxer Benson,did not fare much better he fell in the pool right in front of us and we had to jump right in and save him. We have taken Chester to the beach but he only ventures as far as he can stand on his own 2 feet.

 

[Bosco'sMom]

I've heard somewhere that some Boxers aren't very good swimmers. I've never tried it though but I hope to this summer.

 

[karencostello]

Porter

We don't have a pool but Porter loves to take a bath in the tub. He sits there like the champ he is! So proud of himself after he is fresh and clean....loves getting his teeth brushed...I swear his smiles are wider and constant.

J.D. used to love the water too....loved chasing the water sprinkler out in the yard on hot days...he used to stand in front of it and let the water beat on his chest and in his mouth....couldn't get wet enough. Cooled him off too!

Good luck with the swimming lessons but I do think it is instinctive for dogs to swim

 

[KC]

I agree with the majority - don't just throw him in. Lexy's daddy decided to do that one day when Mommy wasn't home - just chunked her in the pool (southern slang for "threw"). Well, she sank like a rock and just stuck her legs straight out and stared at him from the bottom. Needless to say, daddy had to dive in and fish her out. Also needless to say, Daddy was lucky to survive his encounter with Mommy when she found out about it. So much for doggies all knowing how to swim.

This summer is the first year Bailey will be big enough to do anything more than just paddle around - so we're gonna head to the lake with them both (Lexy will wade knee-deep). Bailey loves water, and will stick her whole face under the water in her kiddie pool - so she'll probably swim. We're just going to go in and encourage her to come out. If she does, fine - if not, that's fine, too. I'm not going to force the issue. But, I expect she'll love it! :cool:

 

[cb977]

Sammi LOVES the pool! We had a thread going about a month ago called "Part Boxer, Part Otter?"...
The important thing is to show them where the steps are to get out, and to train them that they can't go in unless there's a human in with them.

 

[Mom3]

After reading all these replies, I just wanted to add one thing. Just because a dog likes the water and being wet, it does not automatically translate that he is going to do fine in a swimming pool. Riley loves getting baths, loves the hose, and nothing makes him happier than romping around in a driving rainstorm.... but he still can't swim to save his life.

 

[Dempsey J's mom]

swimming lessons

Dempsey J. was 5 months old when his first summer came around, and he splashed in the lake but would not swim.

Fast forward to the second summer: Dempsey J. is 17 months old, afraid of NOTHING, and has a new sister Kaida the three year-old leonberger. Now, Leos have Newfoundland blood in them, so you can imagine how she takes to the water!

As soon as Dempsey J. saw that we were all swimming, he was ready to be in the middle of it. He's not one to be left out of any fun. BUT--he could not swim. He tried to keep his back legs touching the ground so he was completely vertical in the water. He splashed and sank. He actually had to learn--from Kaida! He would hang on to her (not sure how) and she'd paddle him around. Later, he would hang on to a stick she was carrying. It was so bizarre, but he picked it up and now, in his third summer, can outswim just about any dog at the park.