swimming

[lenovo]

Sorry if this a repeat, I tried to search before posting.
How old does a pup have to be, when you let it swim,and at first do you use a lifejacket for dogs?
If we get the pup we are thinking of he will be six months in June.

 

[M & M's Mom Linda]

We had Marcus in the water at 14 weeks and he was swimming short amounts of time. We did not use a flotation device. By 5 months he was doing most of the exercises for a WD just not the distances required. The first time we did get in the water with him and coaxed him with some treats...once he got the hang of it he loved it!

 

[NessaM]

Nanook went into a baby pool in the backyard and waded in water up to his belly at 8 weeks. By ten weeks he was swimming in the big-boy pools. Pooka had gone swimming in a pond at the breeder's before we brought him home!

 

[BluwaterNewfs]

my pups have all beenabout 4-5 moinths thefirst time they went in to swim but they were winter born puppies, so it was late spring when they went in the water. I would let a pup into a pond or lake until theyhave had all their shots. A pool with fresh or treated water would be ok. I also would not let a adult dog or puppy in the water unless I was willing to go in with them.

 

[lenovo]

Hmm all the shots is a good point, thank you. Okay little pool in back yard till all is in place and then the little fella and I will go swimming in the bay. Why I never thought of getting a newf before amazes me I live in the water in the summer up north. Funny the breed I have had for the last few years sinks like stones and needs a life jacket on that's if you can even get them in, oh well they have lots of wonderful attributes too.

 

[jeva]

we had Skylar in at I think 4-5 months......but we were with her whenever she was in.....and even now at 3 1/2 years old when we are at the lake...she wears her life jacket.....she won't leave the lake and I want it on her incase she tires.....we are there but not always in the water.......she is treated just like the human kids are you want to play at the lake you wear your life jacket.......shore or not you have it on......lol

 

[rcantor]

Depends if you have leptospirosis in your area. My vet says it's on the rise here in MO. Tap water should be ok and you can do the wading pool (or bathtub) for fun and get a deeper tank for swimming if you want. Princess hates the bath/shower but looooves the water with a capital crazy!

 

[Mary Kay & Guy Germaine]

We live on a spring-fed lake, so the water is very clean and clear. Ozzie and Belle were in the water at 10 weeks. I put them in the day we brought them home. They were in the lake before they were in the house! It was too late at night when we got home with Bandit, so I waited until the next morning. Bandit was 16 weeks when we got him.

We were fortunate that we got all 3 Newfs when it was warm enough for me to get in the water. I took each one down to the lake and swam with them. Belle didn't even wait for me to get in the water! She knew what she was supposed to do as soon as I set her down. With Ozzie and Bandit, I held them and walked out a few steps and then gently lowered them into the water, all the time making sure they were not afraid. As soon as their paws hit the water, they both started "swimming". I lowered them down until they were actually swimming and walked along side them until they got back to shore (about 10 feet). After a few times, I didn't even have to get in with them.

 

[Wash]

Wash was in a spring fed lake about 12 weeks, didnt need any coaching. As soon as he saw that water he was like a kid in a candy store. Watched him very close at first to make sure he wouldnt do anything crazy but he took to it like a duck.

 

[2Paws]

I think it depends on the dog and their comfort in the water. I started Benson in the water without a lifejacket and he did fine. He was a winter puppy so he didn't get into the water until he was about 8 months old. He was very comfortable in the water. Now when we started doing WRDX training and he was in the middle of the lake, I put the jacket on him for my own comfort level. Once I was sure he had the strength to swim the distances, I would try him without it.

We got Glory when she was 3 1/2 years old and she was never in the water. She loved the water but sank like a rock. She needed to learn to use her back legs. I put the life jacket on her and we worked on teaching her how to swim. I would use the life jacket on some training days and go without it on other training days. She swims beautifully now.

Henry is a swimming fiend with no fear of the water at all but I noticed him dropping his rear when swimming for longer distances. He also needed to learn to use his back legs more. So I occassionally used the jacket on him just to teach him how to keep his back level in the water. I have noticed that dogs who swim vertically in the water are stronger swimmers.

I think the life jacket can be used as a tool for water training. Just don't make it a crutch. You want to make sure you have a well fitted jacket. I purchased a Ruff Wear K-9 Float Coat as they were the only ones who had a size with the length needed for a newfie. You want to make sure it's long enough so it will hold up the rear. They are a bit more pricey than other ones but I think they are worth it.

 

[lenovo]

Thank you all and 2paws thank you for the recommendation for the life jacket.