Does You Dog Love the Water? Tips For Safer Summer Swims (My latest article in Bay Woof)
The dog days of summer are fast approaching. During this warmest time of the year, most people and dogs enjoy cooling off by a pond, lake, river, or ocean. Some may even have a pool in the backyard.
I used to think all dogs naturally liked to swim, but through the years I’ve learned this isn’t always the case. My brother’s dog Loki only goes into the water up to his belly. He splashes around and then runs back onto shore.
But I’ve been lucky to have had four Golden Retrievers who all loved to swim, and I’ve always enjoyed letting them play in the water. To me, that’s what summer is all about.
When Willy first came into my life, I was living along the Russian River. Willy and I couldn’t wait for the hot weather and our daily swim and ball-fetching games. All summer long and into the fall, I’d toss his ball across the river to the other side and together we’d race after it like an Olympic event. Sometimes I could even hear him squeal in delight, paddling so fast I thought he might just fly out of the water.
But my favorite thing was holding Willy while we were both in the river. He’d sit on my knee and we’d take in the scenery as the water flowed around us. I’d wrap my arms around him and kiss his wet forehead. When he’d finally had enough of this smooching, he’d squirm out of my grasp and head to shore. Back on land he’d slam his body onto the dirt and roll until he was covered in mud. I didn’t mind. It comes with the territory when you have a Golden.
Be Aware: Swimming Risks for Dogs
While summer splashing can be fun, it’s important to remember that taking your furry BFF out for a swim always has its risks. Never let your best friend swim unsupervised and always know the condition of the body of water.
Once Willy and I were walking on a wooded path near the Russian River in the wintertime. It was the rainy season and the river was high and flowing strongly. I had no intention of letting Willy into it. But as we meandered along, the bank curved and there was an unexpected trail leading right down to the water. Willy, off leash, bolted. He leaped into the water and began to be carried downstream. I ran along the edge coaxing him toward shore. Little by little, he got closer until he was against the bank of the river and I helped him out. I learned my lesson that day that even well-trained dogs can suddenly do unexpected things.
There have been some heartbreaking stories in the news lately about humans attempting to rescue their dogs from turbulent ocean waves only to be swept away and drowned. Shortly after Thanksgiving last year, a family and their dog were walking on a beach in Eureka when a wave suddenly swept their dog out to sea. Their 16-year-old son went into the breaking surf to attempt to rescue the dog, and when he got in trouble both parents rushed into the water to save him. The dog made it safely back to shore unharmed. The mother, father, and son did not.
A month later, a Bay Area man died attempting to save his dog from the surf at Point Reyes National Seashore. Two weeks after that, a 32-year-old woman was walking her dog along the coast at Shelter Cove when a sneaker wave carried her out to sea. In northern California alone, at least seven people have died since 2008 while attempting to rescue their dogs from the ocean. In all but one case, the dogs made it safely back to shore without any human intervention.
According to army veterinarian Captain Lynn Miller, “The simple truth is that dogs are better swimmers than their two-legged masters. Compared to their human counterparts, many dog breeds have a compact center of mass in relation to their limbs and an elevated head and neck, which makes them good swimmers in calm water…If your dog is swept away, simply give him or her an opportunity to swim back to shore. Dogs are far better equipped to ‘go with the flow’ and get themselves to shore than are humans.”
Tips for Safe Swimming
If you do take your four-legged buddy to the beach this summer, keep these safety tips in mind.
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Vigilance and prevention should be foremost. Know where your dog is at all times.
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Always make sure you and your dog have plenty of fresh drinking water. Too much salt water is not good for a dog’s intestines and stomach.
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Use a dog life vest. To quote Captain Miller, “As a sensible safety precaution, any dog that enters open water (whether at a beach or riding on a boat) should be fitted with a life vest, regardless of their size.” Note: A life vest is also helpful for senior dogs. When my third Golden, Morgan, became older and grew wobbly with arthritis, we bought him a life vest to help him swim and keep his head above water. Swimming is a great non-impact exercise and helps keep the muscles strong and firm while keeping weight off a dog’s legs.
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If needed, use a sunscreen approved for use on dogs. The American Kennel Club now recommends sun protection for some breeds. Is yours one? Learn more here.
The heat won’t be with us forever so get out there now and have a nice safe splash with your best friend. Enjoy these dog days of summer while they last. We’ll see you in the water!