Admit it. You could watch clips of dogs splashing and diving and doing that slo-mo shake all day. We’re here for you.
Before checking out this hilarious compilation of canines cavorting around water, we’re also here to remind you that like all things watery and wild, safety comes first. Here is the AKC’s swimming pool primer for teaching your dog to safely enjoy a dip.
After checking out this hilarious compilation, it may be time to step away from the screen, grab the leash, and get outside with your pal, even if it’s just on dry land.
An abbreviated version of a few “non-negotiable” pool rules:
– Never leave your dog unattended.
– Make sure new swimmers can always touch the bottom.
– Use a life jacket for all first-time or novice swimmers. For safety’s sake, it is a good idea to put one on any dog in an uncontrolled area, such as a lake or river.
– Stay next to new swimmer and guide her by hand.
– Wait two to four hours after a meal before hitting the water. A full stomach could promote bloat.
– Make sure your dog knows where the pool stairs or ladder are.
– Discourage drinking pool water.
– Watch for signs that your dog is getting overtired, such as pale or purple gums.
– Rinse off chlorine with warm water.
Also, water can be therapeutic for all of us—it’s both relaxing and exciting, and a stress- and calorie burner. But it can also be therapeutic in the literal sense, with treatments such as underwater treadmills and controlled swim-based rehabilitation at places such as Water4Dogs in New York City, which treats dogs with injuries or medical conditions.