Doggy swimming

Caroline_a

So when my two came back from their 7 months in foster care when I was ill, I noticed that Oakley was getting a little stiff around his hips. The vet wasn't too bothered, said that she thought he was just getting a little 'creaky' - he's 7 now, and is a very long-backed GSD. So rather than waiting for him to need pain meds I started taking him (and Sid) for some fun swims in our local hydrotherapy pool.

They absolutely love it! They get half an hour of continuous swimming, and it knocks them out for a good 24 hours, so happy snoring dogs! It also seems to be strengthening Oakley's hips and back legs too, he doesn't seem as wobbly at all. Sid of course is a water dog with webbed feet, so swims round like a loony chasing toys. Initially Oakley was a bit tentative, but he wears a life jacket thing and now is happy swimming back and forward after balls thrown for him.

It's not that cheap as a dog hobby, but for me if it helps the old boy's mobility, it's worth every penny!!

chucknorris

Caroline_a wrote: »

So when my two came back from their 7 months in foster care when I was ill, I noticed that Oakley was getting a little stiff around his hips. The vet wasn't too bothered, said that she thought he was just getting a little 'creaky' - he's 7 now, and is a very long-backed GSD. So rather than waiting for him to need pain meds I started taking him (and Sid) for some fun swims in our local hydrotherapy pool.

They absolutely love it! They get half an hour of continuous swimming, and it knocks them out for a good 24 hours, so happy snoring dogs! It also seems to be strengthening Oakley's hips and back legs too, he doesn't seem as wobbly at all. Sid of course is a water dog with webbed feet, so swims round like a loony chasing toys. Initially Oakley was a bit tentative, but he wears a life jacket thing and now is happy swimming back and forward after balls thrown for him.

It's not that cheap as a dog hobby, but for me if it helps the old boy's mobility, it's worth every penny!!

Sounds great, how much does it cost, and for how long?

Caroline_a

I pay £30 for both for half an hour. As they are always out of their depth it's a proper work out, so doesn't need to be any longer.

jrtfan

A friend's elderly Harrier has the same kind of hydrotherapy and for the same reason. My friend is delighted by how well it's been helping with her dog's mobility. Glad to hear it's doing your dogs good as well

Caroline_a

They've been tonight, and after a mad hour or so on their return they are now crashed out and snoring. I think that these small hydrotherapy pools are more and more offering 'fun' swims for anyone, rather than those referred by vets.

I would recommend them to anyone, if only to give their dog a treat! Even those that are initially a little apprehensive seem to embrace it and have a lovely time.

teddysmum

It would terrify my 13 year-old cavalier, as he doesn't even like baths (shivers all the time) or being out in rain.

chucknorris

teddysmum wrote: »

It would terrify my 13 year-old cavalier, as he doesn't even like baths (shivers all the time) or being out in rain.

Our last dog (god bless him) Mills was a lab/springer cross, he absolutely hated baths but absolutely loved swimming ! He loved it.

It has crossed my mind a few times to build a dog hydrotherapy (and fun swim) centre, but I'm not sure if there would be enough demand. The objective would be only to cover costs, rather than make a profit, Mills lost the use of his rear legs to cancer before he passed away, he could have really benefited from something like that.

jrtfan

chucknorris wrote: »

Our last dog (god bless him) Mills was a lab/springer cross, he absolutely hated baths but absolutely loved swimming ! He loved it.

It has crossed my mind a few times to build a dog hydrotherapy (and fun swim) centre, but I'm not sure if there would be enough demand. The objective would be only to cover costs, rather than make a profit, Mills lost the use of his rear legs to cancer before he passed away, he could have really benefited from something like that.

I suppose it needn't be too expensive to set something up initially, just to 'test the water' so to speak (sorry, terrible pun! :rotfl: ). Have you seen these above-ground easy-set rectangular pools (Bestway has a range, I think)? These were being used for the Dash'n'Splash challenge at Paws in the Park last weekend and the largest pool must have been 16' long. If you had somewhere under shelter to set up a pool like this, could it be an inexpensive way to offer doggy fun swimming and see how much interest it might generate, before committing yourself to anything more permanent? Just a thought.

teddysmum

chucknorris wrote: »

Our last dog (god bless him) Mills was a lab/springer cross, he absolutely hated baths but absolutely loved swimming ! He loved it.

It has crossed my mind a few times to build a dog hydrotherapy (and fun swim) centre, but I'm not sure if there would be enough demand. The objective would be only to cover costs, rather than make a profit, Mills lost the use of his rear legs to cancer before he passed away, he could have really benefited from something like that.

It's being wet rather than the actual bath that upsets Joly.


We used to have two springers who hated baths, but loved getting wet and would happily sit under the spray from a garden hose.


The bath aversion wasn't about soap, either, as we would often come home to find teeth marks in the soap on the wash basin. The girls wanted to steal the soap, but couldn't quite reach and would also, grab a soap wrapper if possible and eat that.

Caroline_a

They're funny in their likes and dislikes aren't they. My GSD would happily paddle in streams etc but was very very uncomfortable going out of his depth, he used to splash about a lot getting back to being able to put his feet down. However, now he has his 'life jacket' and swims very gracefully chasing down toys in the pool. I'll be interested to see how he is out of his depth in one of the pools that we encounter on walks - not tested that yet!

arbrighton

Trying to guess what Ripple, my miniature poodle would make of it. She swims and retrieves very well but will only go in if she can walk in rather than jump!