Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[mollyripkim]

What about contacting someone who offers hydrotherapy for dogs, at least you could check his swimming ability in a safe way. You hear so many sad stories of people who have drowned going after their dogs. I understand how you feel as my little dachs will go in water but her little legs wouldn't be enough to swim her way out of trouble so I have stopped going to the river area for walking.

[Space Chick]

As someone who jumped in a lake after my now departed terrier once, I'd say test your staffies swimming! My poor terrier couldn't swim for love nor money, and whilst I know you shouldn't jump in after, you do what you have to do

 

Note: terrier died aged 16 of old age, he didn't drown

[The Dogmother]

You can get dog harnesses with flotation aids on them; a friend who lives on a canal boat has one for their dog after it tried the 'suicide by water' route once too often.

[Chucky Mama]

You can get flotation devices/lifejackets for dogs. They are not the greatest thing to walk a dog longer distances in however, particularly if you have a dog that likes to crash through undergrowth. I think the best thing to do is to get your dog swimming in a controlled way to build confidence and swimming strength. A hydrotherapy pool is a good idea - you will have to pay for sessions, or you could find a pond or lake where your dog can get in and out easily. Your dog may go in and out to retrieve a ball or floating toy. I have thrown most of my dogs in to get them going. Many dogs get into trouble when they can't get out easily and panic. They key is to plan a swimming session and plan somewhere suitable to train. Walking your dog in a harness might give you more to grab hold of to haul them out if they struggle to get out when there are steep sides. I know first hand of both dogs dog breaking through ice on lakes and becoming trapped and owners dying trying to rescue dogs in water. Usually if a dog can't cope, neither can their owner dogs are hard wired to swim and I can't remember the last time I didn't hear 'and the dog survived' attached to the end of a story on the news re an owner drowning rescuing a dog.

[LolaLayla]

We have a life jacket for our dog. However I was told by a sailor that it is not so much for keeping them afloat as they can swim but is useful if they happen to fall in the water as it has a handle on top that you can get to easily with a boathook.

[quickcluck]

Finley has been to hydrotherapy, where I learned that not all dogs can swim! He wears a life jacket with a handle on, they come in different levels of floatation also. But since he been going he now make a bee line for any large body of water! Not quite what I had in mind.....

 

I wonder if you can get a foldable one that you can keep in a bag and whisk it out when he's near enticing water features!