And there’s more: a dog that knows how to swim is pure cuteness! After all, it’s impossible not to smile when you see the little animal with its head held high and its paws splashing in the water.
Although swimming for dogs has several benefits, the activity also requires a lot of care. So, read on and learn all about this cool dog sport!
5 benefits of swimming for dogs
Physical activity is always recommended to keep dogs healthy and at their ideal weight, in addition to prolonging the animal ‘s life expectancy . When it comes to dog swimming, the benefits are even greater, as water provides low-impact exercise.
Let’s get to know some of the main benefits of this sport?
1. Relaxation and stress reduction
Swimming is known to reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress in humans, and the activity has the same benefits in dogs. Dogs have a lot of fun in the water, and about 30 minutes of movement is enough for the pet to stimulate the production of serotonin and work the muscles at the same time.
2. Improves physical conditioning
Dog swimming stands out for being a complete training for the animal’s body. The activity improves physical conditioning, as it works on musculoskeletal and metabolic functioning. In addition, it acts on muscle strength, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and physical endurance.
3. Muscles strengthened with low impact
For animals that have joint problems, swimming is a good choice for strengthening the muscles without causing a great impact on these regions.
Ideal for treating trauma, joint and motor diseases, this is an exercise widely used for rehabilitation and recovery of dog movements. The activity helps both puppies who are born with motor problems and adults who need physical therapy after surgery, for example.
4. Helps in weight loss
The low impact and high caloric expenditure make dog swimming a great option for pets that are overweight or obese.
5. Opportunity for the tutor and pet to have fun
Let’s face it: taking a dip in the pool is all good during the summer, right? So just as we humans like it, dogs love it too. That’s why it’s worth teaching your pet to swim, because the time between you will be fun and, in addition, it will help to create an even greater bond.
Is it good for a dog to swim?
We already know that swimming for dogs is a very fun activity, but, in addition, it is recommended in some specific situations. Check out the main ones!
- Puppies and adult dogs with lots of energy;
- senior dogs that need low-impact activity;
- dogs in rehabilitation ;
- obese and overweight animals;
- animals with muscle loss;
- pets with cardiovascular diseases;
- puppies with joint and motor diseases.
So, if your dog falls into any of these cases, look for a veterinarian and talk about the possibility of including the activity in the pet’s routine.
Types of dog swimming
There are two versions that work well for animals, each one designed with the dog’s anatomy in mind and the best exercises and interactions for him.
The first of these is recreational swimming for dogs , that is, it is a moment of relaxation and light activities, such as catching a ball that is in the water or reaching for other objects. Thus, there is no specific training for this moment, after all, the important thing is for the pet to learn to swim and have fun in the water.
On the other hand, we have therapeutic swimming , which is nothing more than the one made to treat the traumas that we have already mentioned. This type of exercise requires even closer monitoring by a physical therapist, as the movements must be designed for the recovery of a muscle.
Dog breeds that love water
Contact with water is synonymous with fun for many dogs, especially for breeds that are natural swimmers.
Check out the list of dogs that like water the most and will love the activity:
- Golden retriever;
- Labrador;
- Airedale Terrier;
- Cocker Spaniel;
- Poodle;
- Australian Shepherd;
- Siberian Husky;
- Irish Setter;
- American Water Dog;
- Portuguese Water Dog;
- New land;
- Lagotto.
