[Sweetums]

Here is a question we have wondered about. Our first beagle does NOT like the water but yet I see some of the dogs in photos here with life vests etc. Now that we have a new beag who seems to love playing water, we are wondering if he might like water and swimming. We only tried a small wading pool and it was the same look and behavior we got when we put her in her bumble bee outfit. Our beags water dogs? What are people's experience? The reason for asking is that many public pools in our area allow swimming with dogs on the morning they empty the pool for the season.

 

[angelaH]

All our beagles have loved water, much to the despair of our pond life. We also live by a lake and our first two beagles used to swim with us. However, Susi and Snoopy are kept on the leash so its difficult, but we let them swim on the edge whilst we hold the leads.

 

[Brisen]

My previous beagle Molly was never interested in swimming or playing in water. In fact, we had to hold an umbrella over her when it was raining so she would go outside and go potty.

Maggie's still too young to know if she will enjoy the water, but so far, she doesn't seem to mind getting wet in the rain or taking a bath.

 

[Toby & Lucky]

At the home where I lived when I first got Toby, my next door neighbor had a pond and Labs. At first, Toby looked hilarious dog paddling, just trying to keep afloat! In no time, though, he was swimming just like the labs. I always said the Labs taught him to swim!! Since we moved, though, he just doesn't get that many opportunities to actually swim. He does love playing in the surf at the beach, though!!

 

[BookerMoose]

Booker really doesn't like water (she also objects to having to go out to pee in the rain)... but sometimes we go out to the tidal flats when the tide is way out - and if we get caught when the tide is coming back in and the water gets high in places Booker will noticeably suck in her stomach (just like a person!) to avoid getting wet. But when the water is high enough that she absolutely has to, she is actually a good little swimmer and is quite bouyant (no comment).

Moosie is from the plains of Washington State and I don't think he had ever seen and ocean or lake when we adopted him. He tends to get a bit panicked when he has to swim and starts swimming in circles... plus he clearly has more muscle than Booker does (or maybe his technique is just bad) and therefore his rear end tends to sink rather than float.

We haven't seen enough of Popcorn in the water to really know how she is with it - she did jump in to the water one time by mistake when we were at the beach, though - she clearly thought it was just a shiny flat surface and was quite surprised (and unhappy) when she fell in and got totally soaked!

 

[Murphys Dad]

Maggie loved swimming -- I would do exactly as Doghouse does with Snoopy and Susi, keeping her leash on and letting her swim out as far as she could and then bring her back. I never tried her in a regular swimming pool but bet she'd love it. At least with the pool I wouldn't have to worry about alligators!

 

[oneshutter]

Molly hates the water. She hates it when it rains. She doesnt't like the dew on the grass in the morning so she will hold it for as long as she can and then go running for the doggy door.

 

[beaglina]

Beaglina loves water, swimming is mostly a summer thing, but even this time of year she'll splash around in the river (trying to chase the water!) and then she always has a major case of the zoomies when she gets out! Here she is just on her way in, this was a couple of weeks ago...

 

[valariereiser]

Maggie used to hate water. We were at the lake for the first time and she went to go sniff the water and a little wake came up and she yelped and ran away. However, recently we have been around water that was 3 to 4 inches high and I got her to get into that and play around. I think it depends on the dog but if you introduce it slow enough they probably won't care.

 

[Pack Leader]

Henry loves to frolic in the shallow streams and creeks around the home place. I adopted him in September 07, after I'd been camping, fishing, and boating all summer, so I haven't had the chance to expose him to deep water and swimming. He's a playful guy, though, and mostly black, so I think he'll like swimming just fine come summertime. I hope so, because I love the outdoors, and growing up near the ocean in South Florida, I love to swim.

 

[Murphys Dad]

Murphy hated the water. Then he had his back injury and needed swimming therapy (underwater treadmills for dogs didn't exist then). So we took him to a horse training facility that had a pool. He fought it at first, but once he realized he was able to swim and go where he wanted, he changed his mind.

 

[Zookeeper]

We haven't taken Duke to the lake yet, but he doesn't mind the rain. Now baths are a different story!

We don't know what his reaction was when he jumped in the spa when it's cover was off. We didn't see it, but he was out of there fast! LOL

The labs may teach him to love the water like they do. Our old house had a pool with a wooden slat gate blocking it off from the patio and they would chew through the wood to get into the pool! We finally learned to leave the gate open for them.

 

[Mom of 2 Beagles]

We have a 12 X 24 inground swimming pool. We have had it about a year and a half. Neither doggie will get in. We have tried to coax them in, they won't come in. We have tried to carefully carry them in, talking soothingly, but they only act terrified. So, ours so not like the pool one bit and will not get in.

 

[BookerMoose]

Originally Posted By: Steph&MollyShe doesnt't like the dew on the grass in the morning so she will hold it for as long as she can and then go running for the doggy door.

That sounds just like Booker - she doesn't want to even get dew on her clean and dry little paws! She also walks around puddles... So funny!