Swimming is a great exercise for dogs as it allows them to burn off excess energy and cool down on a hot day. However, not all dogs are natural-born swimmers.
Depending on the breed, your dog might be a natural in the water or it might need some swimming lessons. In this post, we’ll be focusing on one particular breed of dog which is the Kangal Shepherd dog.
So, can Kangals swim? Kangal dogs can swim. They were originally bred for herding sheep in the water so they have some natural swimming abilities. They can also be easily taught how to swim as they’re a highly intelligent breed and they enjoy being active. Make sure to take all necessary safety measures when taking your Kangal dog swimming.
In this article, we are going to discuss everything you need to know about teaching your Kangal to swim and how to keep it safe in the water.
Contents
What You Need to Know About Kangal Dogs
The Kangal dog, also known as the Kangal Shepherd dog, is a large, muscular breed that originated in Turkey.
They were bred to be working dogs and to herd sheep in water, so they’re used to being outdoors and have some natural swimming abilities. They also have a thick coat of fur that helps them withstand cold temperatures.
They can be ideal as family pets as they are one of the smartest dog breeds which makes them very easy to train. They are calm, obedient, and have a friendly nature that makes them especially good with children. They also tend to be alert when it comes to strangers and can be very protective of their family and home.
They are one of the best guard dogs around, and Kangals are very effective in protecting against wolves, coyotes, bears, and even Cheetahs in Africa. Kangals are perfectly legal in the US but can be expensive to get since Turkey has laws that protect the dog.
If you decide to keep a Kangal as a pet, make sure you have enough space for them to roam as they are very active and will need to exercise often. Keeping them cooped in a small apartment might cause them to become depressed.
How to Teach a Kangal Dog to Swim?
Now that you know a little bit more about the Kangal dog, let’s take a look at how to teach it to swim.
- Get your dog a PFD – a Personal Flotation device. Find one that fits your Kangal’s body well so they can be comfortable wearing it and moving in it.
- Get your dog to be comfortable with their PFD for long periods of times on land and before you get into the water. You want to walk them, play with them, and let them move around wearing their PFD as much as possible.
- Get your dog to be comfortable around water before they get into it. Some dogs are naturally more comfortable in water than others. Teach your dog to be comfortable around pools before they ever step into one.
- Get your dog into the water. Entice them to step into the shallow end of the water using treats or even a dorito. Do NOT throw your dog into the pool.
- As your dog gets comfortable in the shallow parts of the pool, encourage it, slowly, to move into the deeper part.
- If, at any point and for any reason, your dog starts getting overwhelmed, stressed, or even panicky about being in the water, get out and let them calm down. Do not try getting back into the water before they are completely calm and back to their normal self.
- Similar to how you should train your dog to do anything, use lots of praise and reinforcement at every step of the way to tell them they are doing a good job and that you are happy with what they are doing.
- After a few practice runs in the pool, you can take them to the beach or to any other normal body of water. It’s recommended for the first swim in a natural body of water to get them wearing their PFD again, just for extra safety.
Here is a good video on the basics of teaching your dog how to swim:
Safety Tips
Here are some water safety tips and measures you need to take when going swimming with your dog:
- Never let your dog get into the water without wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) and never leave it unsupervised.
- Make sure the temperature of the water is warm enough for the dog. If the water is cold for you, it’s also cold for the dog. The recommended is for the water temperature to be higher than 100 F.
- Keep the swimming sessions short, 15 minutes maximum, especially if your dog is only just starting to swim to avoid overwhelming it or tiring it out.
- Try to avoid your dog swallowing water too much while swimming because the water may not be very clean and can contain harmful bacteria or toxins even.
- It’s recommended to feed your dog dehydrated or freeze-dried foods after a swim, that’s because these dehydrated foods will absorb the excess water in their stomach.
- If you’re taking your dog swimming in natural waters (ie, seas, oceans, lakes, or rivers), avoid strong currents and areas with lots of fishing boats. Also, be mindful of other creatures in the water as some might harm your dog or cause it to get scared.
- If you’re taking your dog swimming in a pool, make sure to rinse and dry its coat after swimming as the chlorine from pool water might irritate the dog’s skin and eyes.
Related Questions
What Dog Breeds Are Natural Swimmers?
Some dog breeds are natural swimmers such as the Newfoundland, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog, Poddle, and Irish Setter. On the other hand, breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Shih Tzus are not naturally good at swimming and should avoid swimming altogether.
Most dogs that like the water, like Goldens and Labs, will naturally be good swimmers. Dogs that have not been bred in areas with water surfaces around are not going to love the water so much.
Can You Kayak with a Dog?
You Can Kayak with a dog but first you need to choose the right kayak design that will fit both you and the dog comfortably. The best kind of kayak for dogs is a sit-on-top kayak. You also need to train your dog to get used to sitting inside the kayak and wearing a life jacket.
I hear a lot of my friends that want to get into kayaking either for fishing or just for fun that decide to not do it because they think it’s too expensive, but it really isn’t. I have a $400 Kayak that is more than enough for me and my dogs to go kayaking every other week. You can find plenty of good kayaks for under $500 that will still be more than good enough.
Helpful Resources
Can All Dogs Swim? How to Teach a Dog to Swim
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