Our Shorkies can swim

 The answer is YES !!!! Our Shorkies Can Swim!! Shorkie puppies can swim and Shorkie Puppies are good water dogs. Shorkie Puppies need supervision around pools

Swimming can be great fun and exercise for your Shorkie  I think all dogs should learn how to swim. Dogs need to learn so that you have an alternate way of exercising them, especially if you live in a hot climate, and in case your dog falls in water your dog won’t drown.

Yes Shorkies can learn to swim.

But as with all swimming events , even for use humans come safety concerns.

Your dog will know nothing about water safety, so it is our job to train and supervise them around water. It is also mandatory to construct a safe environment if you have a backyard pool like a pool cover or gate around the pool.  None of this comes naturally. It is your job to make sure all this comes together just as you would for children. Remember...Puppies are just KIDS WITH FUR!

Believe it or not there are classes you can go to with your dog and are DOG swimming classes. REALLY!  But truthfully I believe supervision is the key just as with children. Introducing your Shorkie to the water immediately so they get used to it and are not fearful. You must get in the water with them and hold them and help build up their security. Soon they feel comfortable and wont FREAK OUT when they are in the water.

Basically it all boils down to the same pool safety rules that apply to children apply to dogs. Just like you hear that kids will silently drown in a pool, even when surrounded by a group of people, a dog will silently slip under water and drown if you aren’t being vigilant. So, someone needs to be assigned to be a dog’s supervisor when the dog is allowed into the pool area. And if the supervisor leaves the pool area, the dog needs to be out of the water and out of the pool area, too.

ALARMS

They have great  pool alarms and even collar alarms for dogs which will notify you if your dog falls in the water or is submerged. I think this is a great idea!!! Consider installing a a dog safety pool ramp so your dog has an easier time exiting. Often times, the steps are just too high for the dog to navigate, especially if a smaller dog accidentally falls into the water and can’t jump out.

This ramp is called SKAMMPER PET! you can Google it

It allows a safe way for your dog to exit the pool

Life Jackets for dogs. Swimming Vets/life Jackets for dogs are available too

Here is a link where you can see what they look like http://www.dogsupplies.com/categories/Aqua-Dog-Supplies/b