Hot doggy days of summer can be fun and dangerous for our pets. According to PetMeds, over 5,000 pets drown each year. Yet, most dog parents want to include their dogs in water activities. This then begs the question, “What are the best dog water safety tips for our pups and wallets?”
Let’s dive in and explore the safe ways to let your dog enjoy a day playing in the ocean water, freshwater lake, pond, river, or even your backyard swimming pool. These tips and tricks will help keep your pup healthy while keeping your expenses down.
Budget tip:
While water activities with your dog can be fun, they can be dangerous. It doesn't cost much to get your dog a life jacket, teach him to swim, rinse and dry him, supervise him, and avoid algae water sources. These simple steps can keep your best canine healthy and your vet bills down. That makes for a super win-win for your summer dog fun!
What are the water dangers to avoid with my dog?
Water, while fun for most dogs, can also be dangerous. Here are a few things you’ll want to consider:
- Never assume your dog knows how to swim
- Don’t leave your dog unattended around a water source
- Watch out for skin, ear, and paw inflammations
- Poisoning from pool water chlorine, ocean salt water, or dirty algae water is real!
- Water trauma and fear are a thing!
Note: A dog can develop intense fear or trauma associated with water when he’s forced or tossed into a water source. Fear can also be related to accidentally falling into the water from a dock or pool deck. Once this fear or trauma is established, it may be a lifelong issue. As a result, your dog may develop an aversion to water altogether. Thus, be gentle with your dog and treat him as you’d like to be treated.
What other precautions can I take to keep my dog safe around water?
There are a few areas you’ll want to think about to keep your pup safe around water. These include:
- Always supervise your dog (it only takes two minutes to drown)
- Use a life vest
- Teach your dog to swim (or find out if he’s a natural swimmer)
- Keep in mind some waterways are dangerous with strong currents, deep water, or extreme water temperatures
- Even a confident swimming dog can become tired, so encourage your dog to take swimming breaks
Note: Even if your dog is a strong swimmer, he can get tired. In turn, drowning can happen more easily. Thus, if you are on a boat, in a lake, near a river, or in a pool for a long time get your dog a life jacket.
For example, my childhood dog, Tag, hated the water. But my parents got him a child’s life vest (a dog life jacket wasn’t on the market back then). This way Tag could enjoy going boating with the family.
My dog hates the water. How do I teach my dog to swim?
Yes, some dogs won’t like water. It could be the result of a bad experience, such as tossing, forcing, or falling into the water. Instead, try to entice your dog to enjoy the adventure. Use a life vest and help your dog adjust to the water slowly as you lead the way. If your dog is food-motivated, then use treats to help.
Or if your dog is toy-motivated, then use his favorite water-safe dog toys. Start with only a few inches of shallow water so no swimming is required. Then as your dog gets comfortable, expand the distance into deeper water so he is swimming. Additionally, reward your dog when he completes each step with pets, love, and treats.
Here’s a great dog training video from Gundog Online that demonstrates this method in a lake.
Why is my dog always in the pool?
Your dog could be hot or simply love the water. If your dog is hot, try a cooling vest like this one. I have a cooling vest for my dog, Henry, and he loves it.
However, never let your dog swim in a pool unattended. Accidents can happen in a blink and you’re left with only regret.
Why won’t my dog even get in a kiddie pool?
This could be that your dog doesn’t like getting wet. Henry only enjoys being wet if it’s his idea. Or your dog may simply be afraid due to past trauma. However, one reason you may not think of is your dog thinks there’s more fun outside of the pool than inside. For example, if other dogs, critters, kids, or people are playing in the yard, rather than the pool, it may be less enticing. If this is the case, wait for a quieter time, and try to entice your dog to enter the pool with food or toys.
Are there any other water aids I can use for my dog?
Your dog may enjoy using a flotation device in your pool. Or he may even like sitting or lying on an inflatable water toy. Henry loves to float. However, I never leave him unattended. Not even for a second!
Henry in the pool floating by Terri RAre there any types of water my dog shouldn’t swim in this summer?
Yes! You may go to a state or national park and see signs that say, “Don’t fish, swim, or wade in the water.” This is usually due to various algae or even a bluegreen algae contamination. But, it could also be the waters have predators like alligators or sharks. Avoid these waterways!
In fact, one of my dog’s favorite hiking areas always has a sign each year telling visitors to not enter the water due to algae. It’s a common issue. But if it’s ignored it can result in a very sick dog and pricy vet bills. Worst case, it can be fatal. So, if the water doesn’t look appealing to you, then don’t let your dog enter it or drink from it.
Also, after your fur kid has been swimming or playing in the water, make sure you rinse his fur and skin thoroughly to avoid irritations. This includes ocean salt and pool chemicals. Additionally, you’ll want to thoroughly dry your dog’s ears, paws, and skin to avoid issues.
Are there certain popular dog breeds that are natural swimmers?
Yes, the fun-loving water dog breeds such as:
- Golden Retrievers
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Labrador Retriever
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- Irish Setter
- Otterhound
- Newfoundland
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
- Brittany Spaniel
- English Setter
- Standard Poodle
However, if your dog isn’t on this list that doesn’t mean he isn’t a natural swimmer. You’ll have to gently expose your furry friend to a water source and discover his swimming abilities. But I encourage using a lifevest regardless.
Are there dog breeds that have more problems learning to swim?
Some of the more flat-faced dogs, like a pug or Shih Tzu, may have trouble in the water. Thus, always make sure to equip your furry buddy with a life jacket.
How do I save money by being dog water safety conscious?
When you implement rules to keep your fur kid safe, you avoid future bills. Consider the following a moment.
| Issue | Estimated Price |
| Drowning | $1,000 – 15,000 |
| Skin irritations | $200 – 500 |
| Paw infections | $200 – 500 |
| Ear issues | $200 – 3,500 |
| Eyes problems | $200 – 2,500 |
| Water intoxication (too much water) | $500 – 5,000 |
| Toxic water poisoning | $100 – 2,000 |
| Healthy fur kid | PRICELESS!!! |
Related articles:
- Do Dog Cooling Vests Help Summer Dogs?
- Summertime Dog Activities On A Budget
- Ways To Cool Down Your Dog In Summer
- Easy Dog-Friendly Vacation Guide Tips
- Dirty Water Risks To Avoid With Your Dog
- Save Big When You Dry Your Dog!
- Fun in the Sun: How Sunscreen for Dogs Can Save You Money
It can take as little as two minutes for your dog to drown in water. Yet with a few precautions, you don’t need to be one of the 5,000 pet parents riddled with regret from a fur kid drowning. A life vest can be a game changer along with supervision. With just a little preparation it can be a fun summer of water activities for your dog without any unexpected vet bills or tears.
Our newest puppy has just learned to love the kiddie pool. We tossed toys and floating treats as well as got into the pool so we could show him it was fun and safe 🙂 Just in time for a major heat wave!
I love that you taught your puppy to enjoy the water in a such a kind manner. I’m not at all surprised. It sounds like he will be enjoying the pool all summer. Unless you beat him to it. 😀
We don’t take Pierre swimming and haven’t gone to the beach with him yet. Maybe this summer. His stomach is so sensitive, I can’t risk him drinking or ingesting anything. I’d love to have a pool he could enjoy!
Henry’s stomach is very sensitive as well. I understand watching what they eat and drink. It is critical. I hope Pierre can enjoy swimming or floating. Henry highly recommends it. 😉
It makes me nervous when people have their dogs out on their boats without life jackets. But maybe they have natural swimmers.
The blue green algae scares me even taking my cats out. Don’t want them drinking anything gross.
Blue green algae is scary. But even just open water can carry disease. I remember when I first adopted Henry. I stopped at a park on the way home, which is now one of his favorite places. I saw people letting their dogs drink from the crystal clear creek, so I thought it must be safe. Wrong! He got Giardia. I felt so bad. I hadn’t even had him 2 hrs and I made him sick. After some RXs he was healthy again. Thankfully, our fur kids let us mess up a little and bounce back. I chalk that one up to “now I know better, I do better”. He never drinks from an open water source. But I always carry a bottle of water and bowl for him.
My dogs hate getting wet, but they don’t mind walking along the shore and cooling their paws on wet sand. I wonder if they would like lying on a floatie like Henry!
Oh, definitely try the floating trick. Henry really enjoys it. He’d float all day except for needing food and a potty breaks. I was actually surprised how much he enjoys floating. I’ve yet to take Henry to the ocean. I suspect he will be the same as your pups with willing to get paws wet but nothing else. They are funny, aren’t they?
Henry is so cute floating on the raft – I love the video! Tag was adorable too. It’s more than sad that SO many dogs drown each year – I can’t even conceive of that. I got a life vest for Icy last year, it’s so great.
Life vests really are amazing no matter for a dog or human. Such a great invention! Tag didn’t even mind the child’s one at all. He just wanted to be with the family. I’m glad you have a life vest for Icy. I bet she’s adorable with it!
What a fantastic post and oh-so timely now, too! We leave near a tourist lake town and oh, wow, every day the lake is packed. There is also a doggy beach there, so lots of dogs in the water and your water safety info is so important! I’d love to print it out poster size and put it up all along the beach for visitors to read!
Your budget tip is right on point, too! I love the pic of Tag! What a great memory and so clever that at that time (pre-doggy vests) your parents used a child’s vest! My Huskies were not big fans of big waters, once we brought Wolfie to the beach and I thought for sure he’d pounce on the waves…nope, he cautiously tip-toed in the surf! I even tried a little water play with him, but he wasn’t thrilled. Suppose he wished it was snow! I was still glad he had a chance to see the beach and it sure made for some beautiful pics. Our other Husky, Harley, was able to go boating with us and we did have a life jacket on her. But she never really got her sea legs, as she, too, preferred the snow or our backyard kiddie pools I put up for just them. Now those I couldn’t keep her or Wolfie or the others out of!
As always, your budget cost savings is an eye opener and so important.
Henry is a doll and it sure looks like he is enjoying floating in the pool!
Excellent post, Terri. Sharing for sure! May you and Henry stay cool and enjoy that pool!
You know I always thought that child’s life vest for Tag was so clever. Then the pet industry caught up to my parents idea. I’m glad they knew that Tag needed it.
Oh, I bet your Huskies wished the water was frozen. That would make perfect sense. I haven’t been able to get Henry to the ocean yet. But it’s on my list. I think he’d love all the smells and critters. But I’m certain he’d be like Wolfie and not enjoy getting wet. He doesn’t like getting wet unless it’s his idea. He does love to float though. King Henry! LOLl
Thanks, Dorothy! I really appreciate it!