Super excited to move the Canine Swimming to an indoor heated pool for the autumn and winter period.
Everyone thinks why must a dog swim and why must we teach dogs to swim – all dogs can swim!
No! Some dogs are natural swimmers but some dog’s needs to be taught to swim.
Why do I focus on Canine Swimming and not a sport like Fly ball? Because 99 percent of dog breeds can swim or can be taught to swim, where some of the other dog sports are breed specific. This way I can accommodate most clients and dogs.
We advertised swimming because I was worried about the Xmas rush when people buy puppies over December when people are at home. But January people return to work and a lot of time puppies are left home alone in January. The danger of the pool is real just like with children.
I teach dogs and puppies to not fear the water, to stay calm in the water and where to find the steps to exit the pool.
Dogs don’t drown because they can’t swim, dogs drown because they panic and try to exit the pool on the side and not at the steps.
Beside the safety aspect of Canine Swimming, it has a huge benefit for both the dog and the owner.
In the winter, less sunlight hours create the problem that people come home too late to walk their dogs. Swimming for an hour, keeps energy levels down for the next three days, and dogs are not as destructive as when they are frustrated from no exercise.
The warm, heated pools burns fat and assists overweight dogs with weight loss.
- Provides hyperactive dogs with mental stimulation
- Heated water tends to calm anxious dogs
- Warm water has therapeutic aspects as benefit
- Swimming assists all dogs with muscle development and strength