Swimming with life jackets - Page 2

I'm in favor of life jackets for dogs. My young male loves to swim, but he has so little fat he doesn't float and swimming is work for him. In a small stream or pond he's fine but if  out on a lake, a jacket is simply insurance that he wouldn't tire and go under. Better safe than sorry, I say.  A buddy and I had our dogs out swimming and he told me that one of his boxers went into water over his head and just sank like a rock. He had to dive down and feel around for the dog and haul him back up to the surface. Luckily, the dog didn't try to climb on top of him once the dog's head cleared the water again. Many drowning dogs and people will do that and actually drown their would be rescuer. In my much younger days I was a lifeguard so I say life jackets all around, please. It's not worth the risk otherwise.

Well, I followed everyones advise and got Jack a life jacket.  When we got to the river he was the only one wearing a vest and all the other dogs laughed and made fun of him. He felt very bad and wanted to go home.  So now he is self conscious and has self-esteme issues.  Thanks A Bunch!

Better put the pink coat and booties up for sale on e-bay then!

i must tell u this lol my german shepherd named monty wasnt a swimmer, he had to learn with life jacket first, took us 7 weeks to get him to swim without a life jacket and he was swam in an equine pool,lol bless him first attempt under he went good job we had long length lead on him or id of been in pool to save him lol as i pulled him out by the lead he grabbed me he was so shocked, after speaking to the lady who swam the dogs she said not all dogs can swim!!! so makes u wonder, now im very careful when i take mine swimming always jacket first lol

jeanette

My friend has a Boxer that can't swim... drops like a stone.  He'll jump off a dock and then walk back on the bottom.... Lots of courage, no brains!

From what I understand...at least with people... fat acts like a buoy in the water... muscle and bone are higher density and will sink.  So it makes sense that the leaner dogs would tend to be lower in the water when swimming (or sink if not).... So    if your dog is lean...I would go for the life jacket. 

actually...  even if my dog wasn't lean, I'd rather be safe than sorry and go for the jacket :-)

Barbie swims very well without a life jacket but I have one for her in the Patrol vehicle since we live along the columbia river there is always the chance we could get a water deployment onto one of the little islands.  It is super easy to bring her back into the boat or onto the dock with the handle on the back of the life jacket.  (real nice at the seminar with the little rubber boats)

Colleen and K9 Barbie

I don't think the only reason they sink/swim low in the water is because of their weight (thin vs. fat).  I think part of it is swim techniques.  My dogs swim all over the pool but my 15 month old female splashes water horrible with her front legs and is very low in the water because she has poor swimming techniques.  My younger male was a much smooth swimmer, very little splash and his back end is up higher in the water.  I also found out that Audi (14 month old female) was using her back legs (in the shallow end of the pool) to kick around instead of swimming.  She was not a natural or good swimmer so her breeder suggested I start putting a life vest on her to lift her body up in the water helping her to maintain proper swimming position in the water while she built up her skill and strength swimming in the pool.  I leave it on for a while and then take it off for a little bit.  She has built on her swimming skills and endurance. :o)  They are like us, some are natural swimmers and some aren't.  She takes after me, I'm not a good swimmer my legs drag the bottom when I'm doing laps too. :o(

I think when every you are in deep water, rough water or far from the shore on a boat it is always safer to have the vest on the dogs.  God forbid something happens and the boat is over turned, etc. and everyone has to swim for shore.  It is going to be safer for everyone to have a vest, including the dogs.  When I work my cadaver dogs from a boat, they wear a jacket and so do I.  They can all swim but how far????  How far can you swim with a dog fighting to stay afloat.  They could easily fall overboard while sniffing over the side of the boat.  It is just not worth the worry or chance because we all know S _ _ t happens when you are not expecting it. 

Teri