Goldendoodles – Page 24 – Goldendoodle Advice

Water Dogs: Can Goldendoodles Swim? Do They Like It? If you're like many new Goldendoodle owners, you probably want to know if your dog can swim or not. We'll be sure to answer this question in full, and let you know the best things you can do for your Goldendoodle to get them accustomed to the water and get them swimming in no time. Can Goldendoodles Swim? Can Goldendoodles Swim? Yes! Most Goldendoodles can swim, but it might take a little loving encouragement from you in the beginning. Remember, each Goldendoodle has its own personality. In general, Goldendoodles love swimming and being in the water. Some important things to keep a note of when teaching your Goldendoodle how to swim is, get them accustomed to the water so they can easily become more familiar with swimming. They're going to need to know how to enter and exit the water (mostly how to exit as they can be more than willing to jump right in and might not know where to exit the pool). Make sure they don't tire themselves out from swimming around looking where to exit the pool. If you want to get something to help your furry little friend get in and out of the water, you can always purchase some ramps and steps for the pool by choosing an appropriate product from Amazon. Swimming In Lakes, Rivers or the Ocean Source HEALTH WARNING: There Are Dangers Associated With River and Lake Swimming! Read This Warning. Especially during warm summer months. When swimming in natural waters such as the ocean or rivers, be very careful with the tides and currents, as they can often change. It's always better to be safe than sorry, and keeping them confined to pools or lakes is a much safer alternative than letting them swim in the natural waters. When taking your Goldendoodle swimming, be mindful of their age and how in shape they are. It's important to keep their swimming sessions short if they're too young or too old. Younger pups will be inexperienced and might panic and older dogs might think they are strong like they used to be, but they could tire out faster and possibly drown. Luckily, because Goldendoodles are super intelligent, they are also very easy to train. It shouldn't take long to get your dog to respond to simple commands (and even more advanced commands) by rewarding them with their favorite doggy snack. The same goes with teaching them how to swim. For teaching your Goldendoodle how to swim, it's important to start them off in a small, safe environment. Best pools to teach them how to swim, are going to be any small pool made out of hard plastic. You can also get them comfortable being in water by filling it up a little bit at a time and then putting more and more water in there as they get acquainted with learning how to swim. Letting your dog learn how to swim in a hard plastic pool with no exit would be a big no-no! Make sure they always have a place to exit the pool, as they can become exhausted from swimming around too much looking for their exit. Since safety is our #1 concern when looking after our pets, it's not a bad idea to take a course for pets on first aid and CPR. You never know what might happen in the future and it's always a good idea to be prepared ahead of time. Your training could not only save your companion's life, but you could also save someone else's dog as well. You can call your local Red Cross and see if they offer any courses on first aid and CPR for animals or you can check online here https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/first-aid/cat-dog-first-aid Do Goldendoodles Enjoy the Water? Do Goldendoodles Enjoy the Water? Yes and no. No two dogs are the same. If you want to get your Goldendoodle to swim, the best bet you have is going to be to train them from a young age and provide a safe (and fun) environment for them to learn in. When you start them off early, they will never think twice about having fun with you in the water because it will be something that's always been a part of their life. The more often you take them swimming the better. Throwing their favorite toy in shallow water is a good way to start out, and always make sure to reward them with their favorite snack afterwards. From there, you can increase the water by different increments until they feel safe with getting wet and jumping right in. We don't recommend letting your dog learn to swim in inflatable kiddy pools because doggy paws and inflatable plastic, don't go very well together. Make sure whatever you do when starting out, to make your dog feel comfortable and safe. If they aren't too keen on going into the water at first, try holding them and sitting down in shallow water, and then setting them next to you. Let them know it's safe to stand up in the pool and be there with them the whole time. This extra sense of security will help younger dogs who haven't learned how to swim yet feel safer and increase the likelihood of them enjoying the water. Never put your dog into waters that you yourself wouldn't be comfortable swimming in. If it's too cold outside or the currents/tides are too strong, then find another way to have fun with your pet. There's plenty of ways to give your Goldendoodle exercise, and there's no reason to ever put their lives in danger. Even though your Goldendoodle is enjoying the water, it takes a lot of energy out of them. Make sure you always have fresh water nearby for them to drink and rehydrate. You don't want to let them swim too long as an exhausted dog can be at risk of drowning. Are Goldendoodles Good Swimmers? Are Goldendoodles Good Swimmers? For the most part yes, Goldendoodles seem to have a natural born love for swimming. I've noticed that not all Goldendoodles are the same type of swimmers. Some might feel more comfortable doggy paddling with their belly under the water, and some might feel completely fine dunking their whole body under water, no matter what the situation. Get to know what type of swimmer your Goldendoodle is and you can find different ways to play with them in the water. Goldendoodles are natural athletes. They are going to need extra food on the days they are more active than others. Make sure to only let them swim for 5 - 10 minutes when they're swimming for the first time. It's very physically draining to swim in a pool, and it's no different for dogs. A good thing to keep in mind is to let your dog swim for 5 - 10 minutes and add an extra five minutes per month of age. For example, if your dog is three months they can swim 15 minutes, and when they turn four months old, it's ok to increase their swim time to 20 minutes a day. When they're fully grown, they can swim a much longer time. It's important to note that no matter how good of a swimmer your dog is, there are other things you need to be on the lookout for to make sure your dog stays safe. During the late summer, algae can grow on top of standing waters in lakes (and other still waters), and if they end up swallowing some, it can be poisonous enough to kill any pet that swallows the water. If your Goldendoodle hasn't become a good swimmer yet because they're new or afraid of water for some reason, then you can always reassure their safety by purchasing a doggy life vest. The most recommended high-quality life vest for dogs can be found here. [Amazon Link] If you want to take your dog for a swim for the first time and you're not sure how they'll react to deeper waters we always recommend safety first. It's always best (especially if it's your first time taking your dog out to unfamiliar bodies of water) to consult your veterinarian before taking your Goldendoodle out on your next vacation. Most dogs are used to drinking fresh filtered water from their doggy bowl, and if they haven't had time for their immune system to build up the proper bacteria in their stomach to fight off the foreign bacteria that are often found in certain types of water, then you're going to want to make sure you know ahead of time. Keep safety on your mind at all times. Never leave your dog unattended and unsupervised. Goldendoodles are very smart and energetic dogs. They will find ways to entertain themselves if left alone and you have to very cautious if you ever leave them alone, especially around bodies of water. Some Final Thoughts About Goldendoodles and Swimming Be mindful and train your dog young if possible. When they're in or out of the pool, make sure they are obedient and come when called. Make sure they feel safe at all times and reward them when appropriate. Go the extra step and take some first aid and CPR classes. Buy them something to help aid them in swimming if you think it will help, whether it's a life vest for the ocean or some doggy steps for the pool.