Swimming.......

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marciafinn

Boxer Insane
Hi Everyone,

I have read the posts here and wanted to elaborate on life vests. The Whole Dog Journal rated them in one of their issues during the spring. There are a lot of things to look at before buying one. It turns out the one I had decided on was rated one of the worst - thankfully I got the issue in time.

We have a boat and Mason goes with us all the time. Mason cannot swim and even with the life jacket isn't comfortable over his head. It was important to me to make sure that we got a good jacket since we are out very deep in the boat.

Marcia & Mason
 

robinejenkins

Boxer Pal
We have a new swimmer!

Blue now loves to swim as well, but only in calm water. Fortunately, a very nice friend showed her how to swim in a lake. We went out on a boat with them this past summer and he wanted to make sure she could save herself. After that she has been a great swimmer, but sometimes it is vertical rather than horizontal! :)
 

lillibirdy

Super Boxer
Hi Marcia, I found this thread when I began my thread search on topic of life jackets or vests. I was wondering if you still had that issue of The Whole Dog journal around, and if you would not mind elaborating on the best/worst thing? I am also hoping to find a boxer comfy one that won't rub tender undersides raw with ill fitting straps ect...
Thanks KathyW
 

bettybooplov

Boxer Pal
swimming

Just wanted to let you know that "some" Boxers can swim, in fact both of mine swim fine. Sophie kinda doggie paddles and Zip swims like a pro. I think the pool might be a little uncomfortable for your dog, but try the lake where they he/she can walk out to a comfortable depth. Good luck.

Beth
 

SOBE

Boxer Booster
Swimming Boxer ....yikes...........

My 14 month old boxer swims likes a lab.....I don't get it... holy moly, she was a 3 month old when I first brought her to the dog park that has a small lake in it, and off she went.... she still goes at 14 months again now the weather is well enough to bring her to the water.... I was there 2 1/2 hours last weekend, and she was in the water for at least an hour... she swam out to the stick that someone threw out... she tried to get the tennis ball and her mouth wasn't big enough to get it in water, so she kept pushing it out deeper and deeper until I called ? her back.... I turned my head once towards her and saw her diving under the water for ???? I am not kidding, she plopped her head under and was looking for gold. This is really a boxer.. I have my other 2 1/2 year old boxer and she does the walky , swimmy thing boxers are known for in safe waters, and I have even had to pull her out of the water when she couldn't get out once. This other one, though, she swims and I hear people say, "isn't that a boxer????" As if boxers can't swim... ha? Love them both bunches, fins or not.....
 

bigears

Boxer Booster
One lousy life jacket

I haven't checked out the Whole Dog Journal article yet, but I can tell you from experience to stay away from the orange life vest made by Outward Hound. Mugsy must wear a vest for swim therapy because he has barely any shoulder muscle--a result of his neurological condition. I bought the vest in late January. It is used twice a week. By March it started to fray and unravel. It is completely coming undone, and is now very close to retirement. I thought it looked so secure, with the wide neoprene belly band, however, the stitching on the velcro was the first to go. My husband emailed the company, explaining that our dog is handicapped and really depends on the jacket way too much to have it constructed so poorly. Their response...we never got one. Thank you for the link to the back-dated articles, Susan. Although I have a replacement vest in mind, I'm going to check it out so I don't go through this again.

Allison
 

Moonietx

Boxer Buddy
It looks like Boxers are different when it comes to water. My old Boxer from years ago, used to love the local pond near my house. He wouldn't swim as such, but bounce on his back legs on the bottom of the pond. But he certainly wasn't scared of the water. Apart from one time, an idiot some how managed to throw a wooden picnic table into the middle of the pond, the top just showed over the surface of the water. So, Sammy bounced out to it and climbed aboard. Unfortunalty he got stuck, he didn't have the guts to jump off and back into the water, after trying everything I knew to get him back, I had to wade out to him and carry back. Sometimes they are too clever for their own good.

My puppy Boxer is very unsure of water right now though. I took him and my mutt to Barton Spring in Austin for a day out. This is a cool place where you can go swimming with your dogs in the spring or the river. My mutt just jumped straight in but I had carry little Winston out to the deeper part. I held him underneath, and he tried to doggy paddle. As soon as I took my hands away he sunk!!!! But, know he is getting better, especially down our dog park. The problem with Texas in the summer it is soooooo hot. Winston just goes and stands in the pond upto his chest and doesn't move. So, hopefully this will get him more and more used to the water.
 
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