Most people assume that a dog naturally knows how to swim, not true. Certain breeds have a natural knack around water, but they still need to be eased into it in a controlled environment. As you all know by now, I own a Labrador Retriever, a dog that has certain physical gifts (partially webbed feet) that allow them to be great swimmers. However there are even dangers to dogs who are excellent swimmers, I have listed some things to be aware of below.

• Fatigue: This is one of the most common mistakes people make when having their dog around water. Give your dog frequent breaks when having him/her fetch things from the water, a fatigued dog can easily drown or be overpowered by even the lightest current.
• Parasites: Where there is water, there is mosquitoes, and mosquitoes carry heart worm. Make sure your dog is protected against this life threatening parasite.
• Stagnant Water: Did you think that letting your dog take a swim in that pond, think again folks. Stagnant water attracts mosquitoes, as I mentioned above, and it also collects algae. Most people aren’t aware of this, but algae is extremely dangerous to dogs. One algae in particular, Blue-Green algae is very dangerous. If a dog ingests this it can be fatal. Also keep your dog from drinking from these pools as the number of harmful parasites can really hurt your pet.
• Make sure if your dog has access to your inground pool, there is a easy way to get out. As for above ground pools, limiting access to the pool is advised. You cant rely on a ladder as a safe exit strategy for your dog. Pools are the greatest area of concern in my opinion as far as drowning goes.

I hope this guide helps you to keep your dog safe around the water this spring and summer. Thanks for stopping by!

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Hopefully this helps you to keep your puppy safe around water this coming spring and summer. Remember, while dogs love water, we need to make sure we keep them safe and always supervised