Swimming in the winter

ZoomZoom

ZoomZoom

New member
I am pretty sure this is going to turn out to be a question that gets many of you laughing...but I am just checking to make sure...

Is it okay to let the dog in the water in the dead of winter? I know they are cold water dogs. I know they come from the some of the coldest parts of the world...but I live in CT and my Newf is basically an inside dog. I am near lakes and the Long Island Sound. Should I do anything differently in letting her in the water when it is really cold outside? I just keep imagining that she would come out and be a frozen icicle!

Thanks..don't laugh too hard!
 
Bär

Bär

Active member
I think I have seen a couple of pictures of "newfcicles" here on NN.
Other then that I am sorry but I have no advice, since there are really no swimming spots where we live.
 
newfam

newfam

New member
yep Tsunami has been a "newfcicles" at least twice. Once we took him swimming and didn't realize until we got home how cold it really was. He was swimming when the air temp was 23 degrees, He didn't act cold at all... actually would have loved playing longer... We just couldn't take it any longer.
 
Blacknewfs

Blacknewfs

New member
My gang are indoor dogs, but we spend a lot of time outdoors hiking and playing. My guys go in the water every chance they get, no matter what time of year. I have pics of Neptune swimming with ice all around him, pics of them with their fur all frozen as they run and play outside after a winter swim.

As long as the dog is a healthy adult and has a proper coat they should be fine.
 
ZoomZoom

ZoomZoom

New member
As long as the dog is a healthy adult and has a proper coat they should be fine.[/QUOTE]

Weell, you have convinced me to go ahead and find something very warm for ME to wear so that I can stay out there as long as she does! Thanks everyone. I will make sure to take pictures and post my own set of Newcicles!
 
Bojie

Bojie

New member
Bojie would like to answer this question for you:


Have fun swimming in the snow Scarlett!!!
 
newfy

newfy

New member
I had Mickey, our border collie on the Manasquan dog beach last early March, he jumped right in the river & started chasing the ducks until they took off, clear across the other side, almost by Pt. Pleasant, you could baarely see him, them he turned around & came back, took at least 15 minutes, I was worried, Merlin could care less, but Merlin would not go in. The water was cold. I asked my vet about this later, he always go to the same beach with his dogs, he told me that the type of dog & the good condition he is in, he could probabley swim for 3 hours; still I won't take Mickey there again in the winter, maybe Tiki; its the herding instinct in the border, must get those birds!!
 
noblenewf

noblenewf

New member
Gabe would swim in Arctic temps if he could...if the water wasn't frozen. He loves it. He swims year round...as long as our lake isn't frozen solid.
 
amyk

amyk

New member
Eloise used to go year round swimming at my parents house who live on a lake, if she saw water she was in, but in the past year or so, she's 6 now, she has been less enthusiastic in the freezing temps. She'll usually do one run in to the water to get the bumper and then she takes it in her mouth and walks back to the house. lol
 
J

JackandKelly

New member
Blacknewfs said:
My gang are indoor dogs, but we spend a lot of time outdoors hiking and playing. My guys go in the water every chance they get, no matter what time of year. I have pics of Neptune swimming with ice all around him, pics of them with their fur all frozen as they run and play outside after a winter swim.

As long as the dog is a healthy adult and has a proper coat they should be fine.
Click to expand...
This last sentence got me thinking since we live on a lake and let Lola swim regularly..
Lola has no undercoat to speak of. She is only 8 months old and has never seen winter. She was born in a warm state and came to us in the beginning of May. So she has never been in cold weather or snow yet. I assume this is why she has no undercoat yet. Can she still swim in cold water if she wants too or should I not let her do that until next winter when she may have more coat?
 
Peter Maniate

Peter Maniate

New member
JackandKelly said:
This last sentence got me thinking since we live on a lake and let Lola swim regularly..
Lola has no undercoat to speak of. She is only 8 months old and has never seen winter. She was born in a warm state and came to us in the beginning of May. So she has never been in cold weather or snow yet. I assume this is why she has no undercoat yet. Can she still swim in cold water if she wants too or should I not let her do that until next winter when she may have more coat?
Click to expand...
Newf pups as early as four months of age have swam in winter - this means they did it without the outer coat which is absolutely amazing.

As long as you are not forcing the pup to be in the water it is safe. If she finds it uncomfortable, she will exit the water.
 
J

JackandKelly

New member
Thanks Peter, I will let her do what makes her happy. Right now the surface temp is 48 degrees and I can't keep her out of it :) Come January it will be frozen.
 
ardeagold

ardeagold

New member
Even our Goldens go in the water and become Goldencicles. Here's a picture of Amos...swimming in the icy pond (it was 17 F air temp, but not for long...that's why the pond isn't totally frozen). And one of what he looked like about 30 seconds after he got out of the water....his coat is frozen solid.

If a Golden can take it, a Newf surely can! (And ours do!)



 
J

JackandKelly

New member
I wish I had a photo of what I looked like one year when I fell through the ice. I guess it would be a Kelly-cicle? By the time I got out of the water and walked to shore my hair was frozen :)
I can tell you the Golden and the Newfs probably like it WAY more than I did
 
lacey9875

lacey9875

New member
I for one am glad someone else asked this question, because I've been contemplating posting it for days!!!

I didn't want my wee baby to get cold!!
 
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