Why Dogs Love Swimming

In the hot summer months, you are likely to see many different dogs swimming at dog-friendly beaches or even at some local pools in your area. In fact, dogs enjoy swimming, as much as, humans do! Swimming is a great way for your dog to cool off on hot days, get in some great exercise and have a little bit of fun all that same time! However, that brings us to our initial question, why do dogs love swimming? We know that most cats dislike water or even swimming. So, what makes it so much fun for dogs then?

The majority of dogs love to swim for two very good reasons. One is that their bodies are built to swim and two is that dogs are introduced to water fun at a young age. The combination of these two things makes swimming fun for dogs. However, not all dogs like to swim. This is because the best swimmers have a certain type of body type. The characteristics that makes for a good dog swimmer include: having evenly distributed body weight, a big tail that acts like rudder, a good water resistant coat, webbed feet to aid in the dog paddle, and dogs with longer legs. A few dogs that have this body type include, but are not limited to, Labradors, Retrievers, Setters, and Spaniels. These dogs love the water and their bodies were built for it. A few examples of dogs that are not built for swimming include Bulldogs, Pugs, Greyhounds, and Basset Hounds. Typically, these breeds should stay on dry land. The other aspect of why dogs love water is how they are introduced to it when they are young. You may have some dogs that dislike baths but are still born swimmers. It is up to you to train your dog properly when you are taking them for a swim. You should not push your dog to learn fast or invoke a fear of water into your dog. If you train him to swim safely and have fun, more than likely you will have a dog who loves to swim. It is really in the training methods used. If you dog is anxious or fearful of water, never force him to swim. You can seek professional dog training if you need help in soothing your dog’s water fear. Always keep in mind the body type of your dog and how you train your dog when it comes to swimming. Just like some people don’t like to swim, it is the same for your pup.