Canine Water Safety

Practicing canine water safety is crucial all year round but it becomes even more important during the spring and summer months. If you live in a place that gets really hot, like here in Arizona, you probably plan to spend as much time in or near the water as possible. Anytime you or your loved ones (including pets) are near water of any kind you should always act responsibly and consider safety first.

Swimming Pools. Chances are you or someone you know owns a pool. If you're going to let your dog near one please keep these few things in mind:

1. Not all dogs are natural swimmers.
2. Until shown how to get out of a pool several times, most dogs will have difficulty finding their way out and may panic.
3. Even the best swimmers can fall into a pool and become disoriented.

There are ways to minimize the occurrence of a life-threatening incident. Follow these four steps if you or your neighbors have a pool:

1. Install a fence around your pool. Not only can this save your dog's life, it may also save the life of a child who comes into your yard after a poorly kicked ball!
2. Don't allow your dog near the pool unless you are there to supervise.
3. Teach your pup to swim and show him all the ways to exit the pool. Repeat this several times until you are sure he totally understands how to get out.
4. Avoid leaving toys in the pool or anything else that might encourage your dog to jump in the water when you are not present.

Marine Areas. It's a wonderful idea to take your four-legged best friend with you for a day on the lake or a sail in the ocean but don't forget to protect him. All bodies of water have the potential to be hazardous to pets. Take the following precautions if you're taking your pooch to and aquatic area:

1. Make sure he knows how to swim BEFORE you go.
2. Have our dog wear a properly fitting canine life jacket at all times. They're not very expensive and can be found through pet catalogs, on the internet or in many pet-supply stores.
3. If you're going to be on a boat, teach him how to get from the water onto the vessel incase he falls or jumps off.
4. Never leave your pooch unattended on the shore or aboard any water-craft.
5. Find out where the nearest animal hospital is to your recreation location and have the phone number and directions handy. Time will be crucial if an emergency should arise.

Finally, use common sense when near any body of water. It can be just as dangerous for pets as it is for children. Also, if you don't know it already, learn canine CPR and First-Aid. Here in Arizona the local Red Cross and the Human Society offer Pet CPR and First-aid courses on a regular basis. Drowning is a real and terrible way to loose a loved one but with a little effort and proper safety it can easily be avoided.

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