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Can your Dogue swim?

eoj89

Well-Known Member
So, since we've moved house a mile down the road from where we were previously, we've got a nice big park we can take Murphy too, with 10x the amount of dogs you'd get in the park before - it's literally teeming with dogs at all times. It has a lake too. There's also a little jetty-type thing which I'd like to take him on, if he can swim.

When I walk him in this new park, I will walk him around the whole lake, and about 4 times of out 10, I'll walk him right next to the water which he's absolutely fine with. What I always wonder, though, is if he were to pull to get to one of the geese in the water and jump in after it, would he be able to swim or would he sink? Luckily though he wouldn't dream of going after one, he's a bit scared of them because they're cocky little b***ards. They wouldn't back down from a fight with even the biggest of dogs there, and Murphy's one of them.

My question is, though: Can your Dogue swim, and how did you find out?

Thanks,

Joe.
 

DDSK

Well-Known Member
Pretty much every dog I have ever met have been able to swim.
When I was a child I was so pissed at my dad when he picked up our cocker spaniel mix and heaved him out of the boat.
Poor pup was scared shitless but swam right to shore.
My CC Abby running around an ice cold river in the Sierra mountains just leaped into the river current and immediately swam to shore, that water was ice cold.
I have seen wild Coyotes swim across creeks and small rivers.
I'm guessing your dogues instincts would kick in and he would dog paddle his way to shore.
 

NYDDB

Well-Known Member
Mine can. Mind you, it's not the prettiest swim in the world, but he gets the job done- and seems to enjoy it. :)

Mateo fell into the bay at about 3 months old, and sank like a stone. My heart stopped! But before we could go in after him, he bubbled up to the surface and swam to shore (about 20 feet.)

That's when I knew he would be okay in the water.
 

eoj89

Well-Known Member
Thanks guys. Maybe I'll take him down on a long line one day when it gets a bit warmer and check it out :razzberry:
 

RockstarDDB

Well-Known Member
Some love the water , and some just prefer to cool their feet like my boy lol. once the water gets past his pasterns he runs for the hills. i suggest a pool first where you can assist him
 

PrinceLorde13

Well-Known Member
I have corsos but I broke both of them into swimming at a young age, I get in the water first holding one then slowly lower both of us then just gently support the belly till they have a good doggy paddle going and let em go
 

Wilsons

Member
Our Wilson can swim although he prefers to paddle about rather than swim but he will swim if it means keeping up with us:)
 

Caztratt

Well-Known Member
Sammy doesn't like getting his feet wet lol.
Tia will swim forever, she runs in the water to get away from Sammy when he gets on her nerves


Carol