Paws to Consider does daily dog walks in Jamaica Plain, Brookline and West Roxbury, and it’s not often that our dogs get to cool off during the summer months in a pond, lake or pool. Beigli (pronounced Bay-Glee) had the opportunity to jump in the some water to cool off on a hot day this week (shown in the above picture). However, is it safe to assume that dogs are natural swimmers?

As it turns out, dogs are instinctively able to tread water if they fall in, AKA the doggie paddle, but this isn’t the same as knowing how to swim.  Here are some important rules regarding dog water safety:

• Know your pet; some breeds are better suited for water, while others particularly short snout breeds are not built for swimming
• Never throw a dog into water
• Do not leave a dog unattended around water
• If you have a pool, make sure you show your dog where the entrance and exits are, practicing this helps as well
• Swimming can be very tiring, make sure your dog has plenty of rest in between dips
• Dog life vests work great and dogs love them

As a general rule, Paws to Consider never lets dogs go swimming without an owners consent, however if your dog has a favorite watering hole we are happy to incorporate it into your regular dog walks!

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