Cool Great Dane Puppy Chills Out In The Pool

Mikey, the adorable Great Dane puppy loves to relax in the pool! He is obviously so chilled out as he lays his head down to rest. He doesn't seem bothered by the unstable surface he finds himself lying upon or being surrounded by this unknown substance. Cuteness overload!Show more

Does your dog swim in a pool? There are a ton of videos such as this online that show dogs on floaties in swimming pools. It seems to be okay for the dogs and owners of this scenario, but there are many things to keep in mind when introducing your canine to water.

You must remember that not all dogs are the same. Not everyone knows how to swim or will enjoy the experience. Some dogs will know what to do instinctively, some will need to be trained, and some will never adapt to water. You don't want to scare your dog or spook them so that every time they are around water they react. Remember, take it slow.

Just as swimming benefits the human body in a multitude of ways, swimming has many benefits for the animal body as well. As it is a low-impact yet total body workout, swimming is also great for the heart and to prevent aging muscles and bones. There are many rehabilitation centers that have walking treadmills in water tanks to create traction in order to strengthen your animal's limbs. Swimming may also be a great form of alternative exercise if your pet has recently had surgery or an operation that limits their mobility. That being said, swimming should never be used as a long-term substitute for land exercise.

As we see in this video, swimmings pools also provide dogs great relief on a hot summer’s day. So would a hose, but this is that much more entertaining and relaxing for the animal. Dogs don't have sweat glands which make them pant in the heat, cool water is a relieving way to lower their overall body temperature.

It is important to make sure your dog is not tempted to drink the pool water, for obvious reasons. Whether you swim in salt or chlorine, you'd never put pool water in your dog's water dish so don't let them drink it! No matter how tempting it may be. If your dog doesn't resist, pool time may not be for them.

The most important thing to mention, as dogs as much like children, they should never be left unattended poolside or in the pool. You never know what could happen. Oh, and protect your pool lining. Insurance doesn't cover your dog's long nails scratching up the sides!

In the end, if you go about it in a safe manner, taking your pup for a dip in the pool isn’t such a bad option. If you live near an open body of water or have a hose, keep in mind though it may not make for a viral video, it may make the experience that much safer for your canine companion!