Swimming Your Dog - How Long , I Know This Is Breed Specific

[freundhund]

We are always saying swimming is good for dogs, but I was wondering if anyone had found any links or articles preferrably of scientific nature as to how it helps the dogs and if it helps the dogs.

I was also interested if there are any studies on how long a dog should be swum, is there any specific length of time etc. Is it breed dependent, (read breed also as size dependent).

Hopefully my questions make sense.

Thanks everyone in advance for their help.

[B-Q]

I don't think I can really help with proper answers but I love swimming Quinn. She LOVES the water and we have a small dam near our house that is perfect.

I just take a stick down and throw it out a few times, I found it a great way to build fitness, strength and muscle tone while she was too young to do much hard excercise.

I started just throwing it out 4 or 5 times, then built it up and now I'll run her down to the dam (about a minute jog from our place) find a stick ont eh way and send her out a few times, then play a big game of tug, back to swim a few times, play some ball etc and head back home. She's in such great shape at 10 months old now but we still try not to push the hard excercise so swimming is great.

[Monah]

I swim mine daily. Re breed specific etc. , if you really want to know the best times I'd ask a dog physio. I have a terrific one and yes, swimming IS good for dogs and yes it does help dogs and is VERY important in any recovery.

Both of mine are breeds who have to swim for their 'work' and I've found breed does apply in most instances as compared to say herding dogs, that I've owned, the swimmimng breeds (gundogs inc irish water spaniel) have been much 'better' swimmers and much more inclined to want to swim (try getting them out!!!)

sighthounds I"ve had have not liked the water for swimming, but maybe it's just been my experience.

swimming is also fantastic for the heart as well as muscles.

Edited April 9, 2011 by Monah

[aussielover]

I swim my labrador daily. she is in the water for around 30 mins to an hour.

The key is to build up activity specific fitness(like any form of exercise). You couldn't just throw a dog in the water and expect it to swim for an hour, if it hasn't been built up to that level.