rilee&rambo<3

i was at a dock dog event today... and after seeing how much fun these people were having in the hot summer heat i decided i want to teach one of my boxers how to do this... so i just took my female to the local lake to see if she could swim... well lets just say its like having a rock on a leash. hahaha i realize boxers are bull dogs and dont swim well but with boxers agility level i really want to attempt to teach her to swim.. any tips???

marki.s70

I don't have any advice on teaching them how. Max figured out how to swim on his own just by tossing a stick out to fetch. Mind you it was shallow enough that he was only swimming to keep his head out of the water. (you have to walk out approx 200 ft b4 it drops off) We have not put him in the middle of the lake so I don't know what he would do. He seems most comfortable when he is in control...meaning able to walk himself out until he needs to swim.

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DUELLYBOY

I found with duelly just familiarize them with the water and swimming. Sometimes duelly will go out to the point where he is swimming by himself in about 5-6 feet of water and then after a while he realizes how deep he is and starts struggling but I think if we keep familiarizing him with the water he will be fine eventually.

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Dallas, April and Duelly

Gypsiemouse

Mine won't even step in a puddle- they hate getting wet.

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Lynne- Owned by and Slave to Maggie and Mongo

ReekosMom

I have to say that Reeko HATED the water! Hes 4, Ive never seen him go in it unless we carried him in! He definetly could not swim the greatest and you could see this with all the splashing he didnt. We started taking him into a pool and walking out to the middle and kind of blocking off the step area (this was probably the wrong way to do it but it worked) and he freaked for a few times, we didnt make him stay in long at all, probably less then a minute at a time. And the more we took him to the pool the more comfortable he was. He got to a point where he would walk down the steps with less coaxing as usual, and gradually the splashes became less and there was def less freaking out. A couple of weeks ago we all decided to go swimming in the pond behind my moms...he stayed on shore for awhile when all of a sudden my bf said "turn around and look at Reeko" so I did and there he was standing chest deep in water, he never went in past his ankles lol, pawing at the water. After a couple minutes of that he jumped in and swam around....like circles around us lol then he climbed into the little fishing boat my brother had out there and was literally jumping off of the boat into the water with my brother! I was amazed...he went from sinker to swimmer!

I would suggest maybe getting a lifejacket. Its a good confidence booster and gives them that extra security until they get a hang of it. We intended on getting one for Reeko but he ended up getting out there and swimming before we got it lol But there are def some boxers out there that cannot swim at all. My female (she lives with the ex hubby) is definetly a sinker lol

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~*Cindi*~ Mom to Reeko, CGC, Remi and numerous farm animals

Fraserbw

I have a vid on here somewhere of me teaching Lilly to swim...

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Remember; white boxers need love too!

2manydogs

I also recommend a life jacket, especially for dogs 2 and under. My reasoning behind this is when they are young they are usually long and lanky with most of their weight in the front of thier bodies (deep chests, no bums, lol). A life jacket will help them level out and will give them more confidence until they are able to do it on their own

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Kari ~ Keeper, servant and mommy to the following crew



**Proudly Raw fed since 2010**

Mom2Jax&Bay

Both of my babies swim. Jaxon jumps in by himself and swims and swims and Baylee needs a little help going in. She isn't as confident as Jax but they both do well. When Jax gets tried and begins to sink I put his jacket on. Baylee does better with hers on she feels more confident. Persistance and gentle encouragement. Don't just toss them in.

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Owned by Jaxon- Flashy Fawn docked and natural 11/21/09 and Baylee- Fawn docked and cropped (kind of) 4/07/09 Rescue

Lone Star Boxer Rescue volunteer since 2010

Mom2Rocky

Rocky has to wear a life jacket... otherwise he sinks LOL..

We are going swimming next Friday in one of the local pools. It's a fundraiser event to help an area shelter raise money. We have 1.5 hours of swim time... I bet Rocky will be the only dog wearing a life jacket

It took him awhile to get comfortable going out even with the life jacket on.. I agree with Mom2Jax&Bay "Persistance and gentle encouragement. Don't just toss them in."

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Rocky NA, NAP, NJP, NCC, OJC, O-NJC, O-NAC, TG-N, TN-N, CGC - 11/07/09

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talivstouwe

It took Gus quite awhile to go in past paw-deep. I'd say our 4th trip to the lake was the turning point for him. He was sick and tired of seeing my hubby and the kids having a blast in the lake while Gus and I sat on shore, so, he started moving out deeper. My husband carried him out a little further and held him, and Gus started paddling himself. He isn't an amazing swimmer yet by any means and he won't swim out on his own, but, if we are with him he will paddle around a little. I'm hoping to get him a lifejacket soon.

A friend of my hubby's said, "just take him out there and let go, he'll swim!" I said to him, "Would you do that to your 2-year old??" Moron.

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**Tali**



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