Learning to swim

[pet]

I have to put a life jacket on Chester when he goes swimming. He gets really nervous in the water, and I have to hold him up by the handle. He loves the water though. Thank god for Doggie Life Jackets.

[Frenchy]

If it wasn't for the tail, I tough this was a cat too bad we can't see his face :sad:

[pet]

Trying to swim..sorry about the quality..

[mummummum]

Just a word of caution... some breeds of small dogs actually cannot swim. Their body weight is beyond the capacity of their legs to paddle enough to carry them and they sink. Sometimes, depending on the frame of the dog and the fit of the jacket, the addition of a life jacket reduces their capacity to fully extend their legs and use all of their chest muscles. Myself, I would let him go into water with his life jacket on of course and with you by his side the entire time only as far as he is comfortable and let him teach himself to swim without holding the jacket handle. If he shows a capacity for swimming, you can encourage him by throwing a floating a frisbee just beyond his nose so that he goes further and further .

Btw ~ I thought he was a cat too before I saw the tail !! Very sweet doggy !

[Smiley14]

Oh, very cute! I love his little life jacket.

[rainbow]

I think we need to see more pics of cute little Chester.

[Crestedcrazy]

Originally Posted by rainbow

I think we need to see more pics of cute little Chester.

I agree he is a darling little cutie

[Hunter's_owner]

Oh he is very cute He really does look like a cat from behind,