Taking your dog swimming...

With summer here, we all head to our favorite body of water – the backyard pool, a nearby lake or the beach. Of course, we want to bring our dogs along too! Most dogs enjoy the water, at least to wade in, and many dogs are natural swimmers.

Your backyard pool contains many chemicals to keep the water clean, with chlorine usually at the top of the list. Don’t let your dog drink the pool water: keep a bowl of fresh cool water poolside for him. The chlorine will also tend to bleach and dry out your dog’s hair coat. Rinsing your pet off after his swim in the pool will help keep his skin and hair problems to a minimum.

Never let your dog swim unattended in a pool, this is dangerous and can lead to drowning. Dogs often forget how to get out of the pool and may swim until they are totally exhausted. Never leave your dog at the pool alone, and make sure your fencing is dog proof as well as childproof.

Many of the problems with dogs in the pool are avoided at the lake. Still, it’s important to provide fresh water for your dog to drink at the lake too, as most lake water is not drinkable. Also, when you’re at the lake, watch for areas where there are sharp rocks, broken fishing tackle or broken glass, as these can shred your dog’s paws. And if you live down South, beware of alligators!

Your dog may want to go out in the canoe or boat with you. While it may seem silly, a Life Jacket for your dog and for yourself as well, is a good idea. If he should fall or jump out of the boat, your dog may be facing a long swim to shore. And he may not be a great swimmer to begin with! It’s a good rule to keep a life vest on your dog at all times, except when he is confined.

Swimming with your dog at the beach carries it own set of hazards. Hot sand can burn your dog’s paw pads. Sharp shell fragments, rocks and debris washed up on the beach may cut his feet. Eating or rolling in rotten dead fish is not healthy for your dog, let alone anyone who has to be around him! Keep your dog on leash until you are sure your area of the beach is free from hazards.

The salt water is also drying for your dog’s skin and coat. Rinsing after a day of swimming is very important. Remember that the tides and currents are strong compared to your dog. Don’t let him swim out or get caught up in waves. Always bring fresh drinking water to the beach and some sort of shade rigged up for your dog to get out of the sun.

Many beaches limit dogs to certain times of the year. Respect those limits! They are often in place to protect endangered shorebirds nesting and turtles along the beach. Make sure to clean up after your dog and keep your dog on leash. Responsible dog owners impress people and get invited back. Irresponsible dog owners can ruin a fun trip for everyone and cause dogs to be banned.

After your dog's swim, you may want to check your dog’s ears. Any redness could indicate that “swimmer’s ear” is developing. Swimmer’s ear is a moist, inflamed infection of the ear. A drop of vinegar ahead of time may help to prevent this, and drying your dog’s ears carefully with a tissue after water outings can help.

A basic dog swimming rule is DO NOT throw your dog into the water. Let your dog wade in and gradually swim on his own. Some dogs merely want to wade and splash in a kiddie wading pool, while others are great swimmers.

There are many fun things you can do with your dog at your favorite body of water.

Just remember when swimming with your dog to keep it fun but safe!