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Did you know that Pitbulls pass temperament tests 87.4% of the time, meaning they are not inherently aggressive? The word…
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SAVING JONES & STAND UP FOR PITS HAPPENS NOV 3rd!!!
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5 Vet-Approved Carob Dog Treat Recipes to Make at Home
The post 5 Vet-Approved Carob Dog Treat Recipes to Make at Home by Misty Layne appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.
You know chocolate is toxic to canines, so giving it to your pup is out of the question. But sometimes those begging eyes are so hard to resist! However, while you can’t feed your dog real chocolate, you can feed them carob, which is “dog-friendly chocolate.”
In truth, carob isn’t related to chocolate, as it’s created from the bean pod of an evergreen tree, which is why it’s safe for dogs to consume. Not only is carob safe (and delicious) for dogs, but it is also high in potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and niacin!
While you can purchase carob dog treats for your pet or carob items from a pet bakery, you can also make your pup homemade carob treats! What can you do with carob that’ll have your dog salivating in no time? Here are five carob dog treat recipes you can make today!
The 5 Vet-Approved Homemade Carob Dog Treat Recipes
These recipes are reviewed for general safety as occasional treats in otherwise healthy dogs. However, these recipes may not be suitable for all dogs. Dogs struggling with obesity, wheat allergies, lactose intolerance, sensitive stomachs, or prone to pancreatitis for example may not benefit from these recipes. It is your responsibility to ensure your dog can cope with everything you feed them. We recommend asking your vet before including these treats in your dog’s diet. Refer to the articles in the sources for a full discussion of the risks and benefits of ingredients.
1. Carob Peanut Butter Balls – Dogster Recipe
Carob Peanut Butter Balls – Dogster Recipe
Equipment
-
Bowl
-
Piping bag optional
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup smooth, natural peanut butter
- 1/8 cup plain quick oats
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup optional
- 2 tbsp carob powder
Instructions
-
Combine oats, peanut butter, and maple syrup (if including it). Mix well.
-
Form marble-sized balls (approximately a teaspoon) with your hand.
-
Roll the balls in the carob powder.
-
Place balls on a tray and put them into the freezer for an hour.
-
Once done, simply grab one of your tasty dog treats and give it to your dog to enjoy!
Notes
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Nutrition: 0.6 grams of sugar (if maple syrup is added)
You should ensure the peanut butter and other ingredients don’t contain any harmful additives. Plain, all-natural peanut butter is best, but it’s critical to ensure it isn’t artificially sweetened with xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
Image Credit: AB-7272, Shutterstock
Nutrition
2. Glazed Carob Heart Cookies
It seems people enjoy making their dogs heart-shaped dog treats! This recipe requires baking, but it’s still fairly easy to accomplish and comes complete with a yummy glaze your pet is sure to love!
| Calories: | ~62 kcal per cookie |
| Number of Servings: | 2 dozen |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
For the Cookies
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 3 tbsp carob powder
- 1/4 cup water (more may be needed)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon honey
For the Glaze
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp honey
- Cookie trays
- 3 Bowls
- Whisk
- Rolling pin
- Piping bag or spatula
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a couple of cookie baking trays with parchment paper and set to the side.
- Whisk carob powder, cornmeal, and flour together in a bowl.
- Mix egg, water, oil, peanut butter, and honey in a different bowl.
- Stir wet and dry ingredients together to form a dough.
- Roll your dough to about 1/4” thickness. Use heart-shaped (or whatever-shaped!) cookie cutters to cut cookies out.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then cool in the oven for 10 minutes.
- For the glaze, mix the ingredients in the third bowl.
- Use a piping bag or spatula to spread the glaze on the cookies.
- Put glazed cookies in the fridge for at least 4 hours before serving.
3. Peanut Butter and Carob Dog Treats
Peanut butter is so popular in dog treats because what canine doesn’t love peanut butter? These treats also pair peanut butter and carob to make a delicious and healthy treat for your favorite pup.
| Calories: | ~56 kcal per cookie |
| Number of Servings: | 30 treats |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup unsalted peanut butter
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup fine polenta
- 1/4 cup carob powder
- 30 carob buttons
- 2 tbsp water
- Baking sheets
- Medium bowl
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix peanut butter and eggs in a bowl.
- Add carob powder, polenta, and rolled oats to the mix. If the mixture is thick, add the tablespoons of water. Stir until fully combined.
- Roll the mixture into balls about the size of a walnut.
- Into each carob ball, press a carob button.
- Bake 25 minutes.
- Let cookies cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
4. Carob, Peanut Butter, and Peanuts Dog Treats
Peanut butter and carob are a big hit together when it comes to dog treats, but these dog treats take things a step further with the addition of chopped peanuts. Of course, if you have concerns about your dog choking on the chopped peanuts, you can simply crush them or leave them off altogether.
| Calories: | ~237 kcal per cookie |
| Number of Servings: | 18 treats |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
- 4 cups oat flour (more if necessary)
- 2/3 cup plain applesauce
- 1/2 cup unsalted peanut butter
- 2 large eggs
- 6 ounces of carob chips
- 1/2 cup unsalted, chopped peanuts
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Large bowl
- 2 Shallow bowls
- Rolling pin
- Bone-shaped cookie cutter (or cookie cutter of your choice)
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix applesauce, eggs, oat flour, and peanut butter. If the dough is sticky after mixing these thoroughly, add more oat flour as needed.
- Roll the dough out until it’s at 1/4” thickness.
- Use cookie cutters to cut treats, then place shapes on the baking sheets.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Treats will be slightly dark around the edges when done.
- Set treats aside to cool.
- Meanwhile, melt carob chips in a shallow bowl and stir until smooth.
- Place chopped (or crushed) peanuts in a shallow bowl.
- Take cooled dog treats and dip the top of one half into the carob, then quickly roll that half in the chopped peanuts.
- Set treats aside to let the carob harden, then serve!
5. Marbled Pumpkin and Carob Dog Treats
If you want to avoid peanut butter, your dog may enjoy these tasty pumpkin and carob treats. It’s an interesting combination, but many dogs enjoy pumpkin immensely, and with the added bonus of “chocolate,” they’re sure to go wild over these treats!
| Calories: | ~190 kcal per cookie |
| Number of Servings: | 12 cookies |
| Difficulty Level: | Medium |
- 5 tbsp + 1 tbsp canned 100% pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup or honey
- 3 tbsp melted coconut oil or vegetable oil
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup powdered roasted carob
- Baking sheets
- Bowl
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutter
- Toothpicks
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Combine five tablespoons of pumpkin puree, coconut oil, maple syrup or honey, and eggs in a bowl.
- Begin stirring in flour a bit at a time. The dough should be smooth but not sticky, and you should be able to knead it. You may not need to use all three cups of flour to achieve this.
- Separate the dough into three separate but equal portions and set two aside.
- Keep the last portion in the bowl and knead in carob powder and the last tablespoon of pumpkin puree.
- Once finished, set all dough in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
- Once the dough is chilled, remove it from the refrigerator and separate it into 1” dough balls.
- Next, smoosh all those dough balls together in random patterns and knead to achieve the marbled look of the treats.
- Once accomplished, roll the dough into 1/4” thickness and cut out shapes for your treats.
- Before sticking treats in the oven, poke each one several times with a toothpick to make tiny holes that will keep the treats from bubbling.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes.
- Let cool and serve!
Conclusion
Making homemade carob treats for your favorite furry pal is easier than you think! Many carob dog treat recipes simply incorporate carob and peanut butter, but you can find others that expand upon this basic combination. No matter what type of carob dog treats you make, though, your pup is sure to love them!
See Also:
- Christmas Dog Treat Recipes: 6 Great Options (Vet Approved)
- 10 Frozen Dog Treat Recipes: Great Summer Options for Your Pup
Featured Image Credit: Lika Lee, Shutterstock
The post 5 Vet-Approved Carob Dog Treat Recipes to Make at Home by Misty Layne appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.
How Old Is 10 in Dog Years? Vet-Approved Guide to Each Size of Dog
The post How Old Is 10 in Dog Years? Vet-Approved Guide to Each Size of Dog by Misty Layne appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.
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If you have a dog, you’ve likely pondered their age in human years. You’ve probably also tried to determine your dog’s age in human years using the age-old “one year of a dog’s life equals seven years of a human’s life” equation. However, that 7-to-1 equation is more of an urban legend than a fact, so using that method won’t accurately get your pup’s age.
Why do people believe that one year of a dog’s life is equal to seven human years? Well, back in the day, a lot of dogs tended to live to be about 10 years old, and a lot of people lived to be about 70 years old. So, it was determined that 10 dog years was equal to 70 human years; thus, one year must equal seven years.
We know a lot more about figuring out a dog’s “human” age these days, though, and part of why the 7:1 equation doesn’t work is because various factors, like breed and size, affect this age. Dogs also age more quickly in the first few years of life than humans do. So, how can you figure it out?
Take a canine who is 10 years old; how old would they be in human years? Well, they could be anywhere from 56 to 79 years in human years! Here’s how it works.
| Size: | Age in Human Years: |
| Small breed (<20 lbs or less) | 56 years |
| Medium breed (21 to 50 lbs) | 60 years |
| Large breed (51 to 100 lbs) | 66 years |
| Giant breed (100+ lbs) | 79 years |
Source: AKC
How to Calculate Dog Years to Human Years
Calculating your dog’s age to human years involves a bit of math these days. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the first year of a dog’s life equals somewhere between 12 and 15 human years. The second year equals around 9 to 10 years, and from the third year on, each year of a dog’s life is equal to around 4 to 5 human years. However, these numbers have variations because they are dependent upon your dog’s size.
Small Breeds
Though no one is entirely sure why, smaller dog breeds live longer than larger ones. One possible reason for this is that bigger dogs have a faster growth rate, which can increase the chances of them developing cancer, leading to earlier deaths. Regardless, this makes the way to calculate a small dog’s age in human years slightly different than a larger pup. For small dogs, the first year of their life is equivalent to about 15 human years. After their second year of life, they’ll be approximately 24 human years, and after the third, about 28 human years. So, a 10-year-old small breed would be about 56 human years old (or nicely middle-aged!).
Medium Breeds
Calculating the age of a medium breed is quite similar to that of a small breed, as the first three years of a medium-sized dog’s life are also 15, 24, and 28 in human years. But by the time a medium-sized breed reaches the age of six in dog years, they begin to age just a smidge faster than smaller breeds. So by the time a medium breed reaches age ten, they’d be approximately 60 human years old.
Large Breeds
As mentioned, large-breed dogs age more quickly than small and medium-breeds. However, until the age of six, their age is the same in human years as smaller dogs. At age six, these breeds began to grow older fast, though, so by the time a large breed canine is ten years old, they’d be around 66 in human years.
Giant Breeds
Of course, giant breeds age the fastest of all. However, they begin life a bit younger in human years than other canines, as the first year of their life only equals about 12 people years. Their second year of life gets them to 22 human years, but age three is when they start aging more quickly, as by this time, they’re around 31 human years of age. So, by the time they reach the age of ten, a giant breed would be 79 in human years!
What’s the Science Behind Dog Years vs. Human Years?
The science behind canine aging and dog years versus human years still isn’t quite clear. Determining how dogs age isn’t a perfect science because it varies from dog to dog. However, canine gerontology is a growing field of science, and researchers are trying to better determine how our pups age to help promote longevity in canine lives.
A study done in 2019 came up with a newer and more accurate way of determining a dog’s age based on changes to canine and human DNA over time. The process involved studying DNA methylation patterns. As humans and dogs get older, methyl groups are added to their DNA which changes the DNA activity but not the DNA sequence itself. This study was only done on Labrador Retrievers, though, so it’s unclear how the formula the researchers developed might be applied to other canine breeds.1
The Life Stages of a Dog
Canines have four main life stages—puppy, young adult, mature adult, and senior (though the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) includes end-of-life as a fifth stage of a dog’s life). The age ranges for these different stages will again vary depending on your dog’s breed and size but the following gives a general idea of when they are likely to hit different life stages.
Puppy: 0–1 years
The puppy stage age range can vary by dog, as it sometimes takes certain breeds longer to fully mature, but generally, this stage encompasses from birth to the end of rapid growth which in a medium sized dog is around 9 months of age, but for larger dogs can continue until over a year. It is also the most crucial time of a canine’s life as they are learning about the world around them, getting vaccinations, and being trained and socialized.
Young Adult: 1 year –3 years
This stage is from the end of rapid growth to the completion of both physical and social maturity. Training and socialization continues to be very important.
Mature Adult: 3 years–8 years
Once a dog has reached their full size and social maturity they are officially a mature adult! It’s essential to keep your dog healthy during this stage of life with proper home and vet care to ensure they live their longest.
Senior: 8+ years
The senior years of a dog’s life are when you want to ensure you’re keeping a close eye on your pup’s health.
Life Span by Breed Size
| Size: | Average life span: |
| Small breed (<20 lbs or less): | 10–15 years |
| Medium breed (21 to 50 lbs): | 10–13 years |
| Large breed (51 to 100 lbs): | 10–12 years |
| Giant breed (100+ lbs): | 8–10 years |
Source: American Kennel Club
Key Factors That Affect a Dog’s Aging Process
Genetics, such as a dog’s size, is usually the most significant factor in how a dog ages, but some key factors in their life can also affect how they age.
The first is diet. Like humans, dogs who constantly consume unhealthy foods with too much fat or sugar can become overweight or develop health problems, which can make them age faster. The best approach is to stick with high-quality balanced dog food designed to meet your pup’s specific nutritional needs.
Environmental factors may also affect how quickly a dog ages. If a dog is in an environment that doesn’t meet their physical and mental needs, they could age faster. Likewise, if they’re surrounded by an environment that is unhealthy for them, it could affect the aging process.
Conclusion
Though many believe that one year of a dog’s life equals seven of a human’s life, this isn’t actually accurate. How canines age is still a bit of a mystery, but we do know that dogs of different sizes age differently, so how old a dog is in human years at the age of ten can vary somewhat. But if you have a small breed who is ten years old, they are approximately 56 in human years. A medium-sized breed would be about 60 in human years at this age, while a large breed would be 66. And giant breeds would be 79 in human years once they reach age ten.
Featured Image Credit: Kelly Magnuson, Shutterstock
The post How Old Is 10 in Dog Years? Vet-Approved Guide to Each Size of Dog by Misty Layne appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.
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90 Tough Dog Names for Boy Dogs (Incluing Pitbull)
When it comes to naming a new dog, owners often seek a name that embodies strength, resilience, and power—qualities that…
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Why Does My Dog Lick My Legs? 5 Vet-Verified Reasons
The post Why Does My Dog Lick My Legs? 5 Vet-Verified Reasons by Misty Layne appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.
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Our canine companions are the absolute cutest, but they can also be kind of slobbery. While some pups just drool a little here or there, others love licking their humans constantly. Sometimes, those canines who love to lick people lick in the oddest places, too, particularly on the legs and feet.
But why do they do that? Why lick your legs? If your pup is a constant leg licker, there are reasons for them to engage in this behavior. What are the reasons for your many leg baths? Below are the main reasons dogs lick your legs!
The 5 Possible Reasons That Dogs Lick Your Legs
1. Your legs are delicious.
Does your dog tend to lick you after you’ve been working out in the yard or just finished a good workout? If so, they could be licking you because of the sweat on your body. Sweat is salty, and salt is delicious; ergo, your leg is also delicious. Even if you haven’t just finished an activity that’s made you sweat, you might’ve sweated earlier in the day, and your dog is just now picking up on it and having a taste.
A dog’s sense of smell is phenomenal, so they can smell the salt on you even if the sweat is long-dried. This is one of the more common reasons for a dog to lick a person’s legs, so chances are good this is why your dog is licking you.
2. They’re showing affection.
Dogs love to show affection, and one of the main ways they do this is through licking. Sometimes, this involves licking your legs (especially if your legs are the easiest part of you to reach). So, if your dog licks your legs often while you’re cuddling on the sofa or they’re laying at your feet, it could just be them sharing some love with you.
3. They want your attention.
Much in the same way a child might say, “Hey! Hey, look at me!” when they want attention, a dog might lick your legs to get your attention. This is particularly true if you tend to have a reaction when your pup does this. If you giggle or flinch when your pet licks you, you’re reacting to them, and they get your attention, which encourages them to engage in the behavior again.
Even if you negatively react to a dog licking your legs, like saying, “Eww!” your pup could still see it as positive. After all, attention is attention. So, if you aren’t down with having your legs licked, don’t react, but redirect them to something else like a favored toy.
4. They’re grooming you.
Dogs like to groom themselves, groom other canines, and groom you, too, on occasion. So, if you find yourself having your legs licked by your pup, they may have decided you needed a bath and were willing to help out. Grooming is a social activity for canines, as well, so a dog grooming you is something they enjoy because they get to interact with a loved one. It’s part of the whole pack mentality, so consider yourself lucky to be considered part of the pack!
5. They’re anxious.
On a more serious note, sometimes dogs engage in licking parts of your body, including the legs, when they become anxious. When they lick you in these instances, they’re trying to give you a heads-up about how they feel. However, it’s difficult to tell just from being licked how your pup is feeling, so watch them for other behaviors that would indicate anxiety, such as excessive grooming or licking a lot of unusual things, like blankets. If your pet is feeling anxious, you’ll need to determine what is making them feel this way so you can help remedy the situation and curb the behavior.
Should I Be Concerned About My Dog Licking My Legs?
So, should you be worried that your dog is licking your legs? Nope! At least, not unless your pup licking your legs disrupts your daily activities in some way or they appear to be demonstrating signs of anxiety outside of the licking behavior. If either of those things occur, it’s fine to be concerned.
Say your pup is licking your legs constantly while you’re on Zoom calls, and you find it distracting; in that case, you can try to train them out of doing this. Licking is a natural behavior for canines, though, so you’ll have to be extremely patient to manage this.
If your pet is exhibiting signs of anxiety or unease, then you should try to determine what’s making them feel this way. If you cannot locate anything that could be the root cause of the problem, speak with your dog’s vet about what steps to take next.
Otherwise, though, some leg licking here and there is no cause for concern!
Conclusion
Your dog licking your legs isn’t a reason to be concerned, as they could be engaging in this behavior for several reasons. Most of these reasons are benign; your pup may think you taste delicious or simply want to groom you. However, if your pup’s leg licking is getting a bit out of control, take a step back and see if they’re demonstrating any signs of anxiety. Something could be bothering them, and they could be trying to tell you about it.
Featured Image Credit: guys_who_shoot, Shutterstock
The post Why Does My Dog Lick My Legs? 5 Vet-Verified Reasons by Misty Layne appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.
Tips For Teaching Your Dog How To Swim
Not all dogs are born knowing how to swim. Even if you have a breed that’s know for loving the water, you might still might be teaching your dog to swim! And helping him learn now will not only strengthen your bond, but will set you up for a lifetime of fun together.
Why Spend Time Teaching A Dog To Swim?
Every year, an estimated 10,000 dogs drown in the United States. Most of these tragedies occur when dogs get into a pool and can’t get out. Just like people, once an animal is in the water, they quickly tire splashing about. So, teaching your dog to swim is one of the most crucial skills he can learn.
Teaching your dog to love the water while he’s young has additional benefits besides safety. Swimming can be a safe aerobic exercise for dogs with arthritis, those with joint or spinal issues, or dogs that are overweight. In these situations, water supports the body, which reduces pain while allowing them to burn calories.
Swimming is also and excellent way for dogs to burn off excess energy. In fact, it is such great exercise that owners of performance dogs (those competing in agility, flyball, herding, frisbee, tracking and obedience) often use swimming to keep their dogs in top physical condition.
Does Your Dog Want To Swim?
Swimming is fun for a lot of dogs, but others are afraid of or don’t like the water. And some breeds are not naturally built for water sports.
The short-necked, large-chested breeds like Bulldogs can have trouble keeping their heads above water. And even some Retrievers and Spaniels need a little practice to perfect their “doggie paddle.”
GoPetFriendly fans will know that Myles is not a fan of being wet under any circumstances. He even walks around puddles! So, he’s happier admiring the water from a distance.
But Buster loved to swim! Amy and Rod spent many years locating pet friendly beaches where Buster could enjoy playing in the waves.
DO MORE ⇒ Best Pet Friendly Beaches In Florida
Assessing Your Dog’s Swimming Skills
So how will you know where your dog falls on the scale from “might melt if splashed” to “natural born swimmer?” One telltale sign is if the only way he’ll get in the water is on a raft!
Actually, there’s an easy way to tell if swimming is one of your dog’s intrinsic skills. Just hold your pup, or walk with him on leash, in the water. If he struggles to return to dry land, your biggest challenge will likely be helping him overcome his fear. Use toys, treats, and a lot of patience to teach your dog swimming is fun. Or resign yourself (like Amy and Rod did with Myles) that swimming is not going to be one of your dog’s favorite activities.
If your dog starts paddling in the water, but only uses his front legs and slaps the surface with his back paws, he has the skills but will need some help from you to learn to swim. With a little time and support, your pup will learn to incorporate his hind legs and tail to stay afloat.
Finally, if your dog starts kicking his front and back legs in a coordinated motion, he’s got this! You lucked out with a dog who was born with the ability to swim.
Teaching Your Dog To Swim – Safety First
When teaching your dog to swim, a few simple rules can make for a lifetime of fun.
- NEVER EVER leave your dog unsupervised around the water! Install a pool fence or safety alarm, and make sure your dog knows where the steps or ramp are located. You can even place a large vertical marker, like a plant or a flag, by the steps or ramp to help your dog orient himself.
- Teach your dog to find the steps by gently placing him in the water with his feet on the top step and saying “steps” while he gains his footing. Then, take him a short distance away and let him swim to the steps, gradually increasing the distance.
- Dogs need to get used to wearing a life vest. Give your pup plenty of time to figure out how his life vest works so he’s comfortable wearing it in the water.
- During your lessons, maintain control of your dog by using a leash or long line attached to his dog life jacket. Stay in the shallow end, and keep the lessons short – no more than ten minutes. Dogs can’t tread water like humans and will tire quickly, unable to rest with their feet on the bottom.
- If you swim in lakes or other natural bodies of water, vaccinate your dog against Giardia, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea and can be passed along to you.
- Avoid water with a strong current, and stay away from boating and fishing areas where underwater hazards are more likely. Also look for stumps or rocks hidden in the water that your dog could land on when jumping.
- Avoid swimming in water over your own head. A panicked pooch might try to “climb aboard” and push you under.
- Food stays in your dog’s stomach longer than in yours. To prevent bloat, a potentially deadly condition, wait 1 ½ to 2 hours after eating before taking a swim.
- Know pet first aid and brush up on your skills regularly.
- Keep the directions to the nearest emergency veterinarian on hand – just in case!
READ MORE ⇒ What You Should Know About Emergency Vets Before You Need One
Start Slowly
When you’re teaching your dog to swim, you want to avoid bad experiences. Make sure the water isn’t too cold, and never throw or push your dog into the water. Instead, lure him in with a water toy or treat. Many dogs will be happy to wade in as long as they can feel the bottom.
Take Frequent Breaks
Some dogs love the water and won’t want to stop. If your dog starts breathing heavily or if his back end begins to sag in the water, it’s time to get out and take a rest.
Rinse Off To Keep Your Dog Healthy
Chlorine can irritate skin and eyes, and bacteria from lakes or rivers can make your pet sick. After swimming, rinse or shampoo your dog’s coat, and take special care to dry out his ears well.
Have Fun Teaching Your Dog to Swim
Although dogs generally want to please us, you’ll know if your dog is truly enjoying the water. Every sport is not for every person or every dog! Wading in the kiddie pool might be more his speed. Or maybe he’s just a land-lover at heart. But if your dog is having fun, you will too!
More Water Sports
Once he knows how to say afloat and how to get in and out of the water, there are many other fun activities you can do with your canine buddy! Canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, dock diving, retrieving contests, and even team swims await you and your four-legged Michael Phelps or Amanda Beard.
READ MORE ⇒ Tips for Canoeing or Kayaking With Dogs
Just remember to be patient and keep your lessons short. Before you know it you and your dog will be having a great time splashing together!
About the Author: Pet safety crusader, Denise Fleck is an award-winning author & radio show host and animal care instructor who developed the curriculum for her Pet First-Aid & CPCR Classes after training with dozens of schools and organizations, practicing, attending seminars and practicing some more.
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