English Setter Originally bred as a bird dog to point, his happy place is the water. With proper training and encouragement, swimming can be one of his favorite things, along with hanging out with his people, of course.

Top 10 Swimmer Dog Breeds

• 1) Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
• 2) Labrador Retriever.
• 3) Golden Retriever.
• 4) Newfoundland.
• 5) Portuguese Water Dog.
• 6) Poodle.
• 7) Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
• 8) Irish Setter.

Here are 7 dog breeds that love water:

• Labrador Retriever. Though Labradors are among the most popular breeds for families today, they originated in Newfoundland as water dogs bred to help fishermen pull in large nets of fish.
• Irish Water Spaniel.
• Poodle.
• Newfoundland.
• Golden Retriever.
• Portuguese Water Dog.
• German Shepherd.

The Bulldog, Pug, Dachshund, Pekingese, Basset Hound, and Boxer are some of the most popular breeds of dogs who are generally unable to swim due to their anatomy and facial structure. Additionally, dogs with ideal anatomy might struggle to keep afloat if they have heavy, thick fur coats.

Never force or throw your dog into the swimming pool. It is always better when the dog thinks getting into the pool is their idea. Unlike the ocean, a lake or pond, a swimming pool has walls, and your dog may sense they will be trapped. Never force or throw your dog into the swimming pool.

Although their hair and dander is harder on a filter system, it is not known to cause serious damage if properly maintained. Another way to maintain your filter system is to use a skimmer sock to catch dog hair so you can remove it from the pool before it goes through the system.

Yes, you should wash your dog after swimming in the pool. Chlorine dries out dog fur and skin as it strips the natural oils. The chemicals in the chlorine can also have a bleaching effect on a dog’s fur and can even turn it a green shade.

Dog Swimming Safety Overall, if your furry friend is properly cared for after and while swimming, chlorine is safe. The biggest misconception is how your dog actually approaches swimming.

We bet you can guess how chlorine will affect him, too. The long and short of it is, if your dog’s a frequent swimmer, he’s probably going to end up with dry, flaky skin if you’re not vigilant about it. Chlorine and other chemicals can even strip his coat of oils, leaving him looking dull.

Whether you’re at the pool or the beach, you should keep fresh drinking water on hand for when your dog gets thirsty. If your dog consumes just a few mouthfuls of salt water, it’s likely that the worst they’ll experience is diarrhea, says American Kennel Club.

When too much water is consumed in a short period of time (especially if the dog isn’t urinating or throwing up any of the water), the balance of electrolytes in the dog’s body is disrupted, which can cause a disturbance in brain function. Water intoxication can lead to brain damage, heart failure, and death.

To prevent water toxicity, Godlevski suggests keeping swimming sessions short, 10 minutes maximum. Also, she says, “Do not throw a large toy in the water for your dog. A flat, small toy, like a soft flying disc, is best.

Dogs new to the sport can often only swim 10 minutes until their stamina level is reached. For dogs recovering from an injury or illness, gentle progressive exercise is the key. Each visit will increase his stamina. Your 30-minute swim session is industry standard for the average dog.

Water Intoxication Water intoxication is when a dog swallows too much water and the sodium levels in the blood become too diluted. While this is rare, it does happen and if not promptly treated, it can be fatal.

Dogs don’t always know when they’ve had enough. While playing, the action of biting at water, or diving beneath the surface of a pool or lake for a toy or ball means that they can unintentionally ingest water. If they ingest too much, they can suffer something called water intoxication.

If your dog regularly cools off in your swimming pool, take a look at these maintenance tips:

1. Clean your pool after each use. There is a saying that one dog in the pool is equivalent to 50 human swimmers!
2. Regularly clean your filter.
3. Prepare your dog for a swim.
4. Watch the chlorine level.
5. Consider the design of your pool.

You can use a solution of ½ cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. To kill parvo, soak the items in the solution for 10 minutes, then rinse and air dry.

This includes pools with too much or too little chlorine. Occasionally, you may need to do a chemical shock to the pool. In general, taking the occasional drink of pool water is unlikely to cause harm to a dog. In fact, humans inadvertently drink small amounts of pool water while swimming and rarely experience issues.