Dog Water Safety Tips

As temperatures are heating up, many dog owners start to dream about the days of sitting around the pool and hanging at the beach. With their dog, of course! As we all know, most dogs absolutely love water, and you can’t stop them from splashing in every bit of water they see. But do dogs go perfectly together with water? The answer is no! 

It is estimated that about 5,000 family dogs die from drowning in swimming pools yearly. That doesn’t even include anything that might occur at lakes, rivers, ponds, or the ocean! So what is the best way to keep our dogs safe in and around water?

Know Your Dog’s Breed

Not all dogs can swim well. Even some who can, don’t do it very well, which puts them at a greater risk of drowning. Dogs like the Whoodle, golden and Chesapeake Bay retrievers, Portuguese, and Newfoundlands are some of the better swimmers out there. So if you have one of those, you can rest easy knowing some of the pressure is off, but there can still be problems.

The first step is understanding whether your dog likes or doesn’t like water. If you force a dog that doesn’t like water to go swimming, it’s more likely to panic and drown quickly. Make sure you completely understand your breed’s general likes and dislikes and then what your specific dog likes. 

Never Leave Dogs Around Water Alone

The most important rule is never leaving your dog alone or unsupervised around water. It doesn’t matter if it is a pool, lake, river, anywhere. If you aren’t there, things can go wrong in the blink of an eye, even if you think your dog is a good swimmer. No matter what it is, something can go wrong with the best person or animal at anything.

If your pup is taking a swim, pay attention to signs of tiring, struggling with currents, or anything that can potentially be a problem. If you’ve got a backyard pool, make sure it is fenced in so your dog can’t go in unless you allow it. If your dog ever does begin drowning, you should be fully prepared and capable of performing CPR so you can save your dog’s life.

Take Breaks

Playing outside in the hot sun and swimming can be tiring for both people and dogs. Please pay attention to your dog’s energy levels and make sure that he takes breaks throughout the day, preferably in the darker shaded areas or environments with air conditioning.

To make sure that your dog takes breaks, train your dog to sit and stay on command to prevent any chance of things going south. Dogs that aren’t trained could invite themselves to go back in the water without any rest, which could cause your dog to exhaust himself and potentially drown.

Rinse Your Dog After Swimming

Ensure that you are rinsing your dog off after any adventure to the beach, lake, or even your backyard pool. Things like saltwater, chlorine, and lake algae can irritate your dog’s skin and can cause some severe side effects.

Dry Your Dog Thoroughly

Drying your dog off is also very important, especially around his ears. Moisture that becomes trapped in the ear has the potential to cause a painful ear infection. If you and your dog spend a lot of time in the water, then make sure that you clean his ears out a minimum of two times per week.

Everybody assumes that a strong swimming dog is fine around the water until something goes horribly wrong. So with your dog, please pay attention to every detail and make sure your dog is getting the proper care and supervision during any water events. Dogs are like family, so don’t wait until it’s too late to make changes. Incorporating safety into your routine now could save your pup’s life later! We as humans benefit from dogs as much as they do from us, so don’t take them for granted!