}. Here are 10 owner responses from the popular Bulldogs Subreddit and other forums. Funny English Bulldog Swims. In other words, Bulldogs weren’t built to be good swimmers. Some breeds were born to swim – quite literally because of their breeding as retrievers and hunting dogs. If you’ve read the article, you already know that the odds are genetically stacked against them. Many dog owners will tell you that bulldogs can’t swim. It’s probably still too early to bring them in yet. Take another look at those videos of bulldogs swimming. Fence off the pool They don't bark excessively, make wonderful babysitters, and are practically perfect pups to own if you live in... We love English Bulldogs and enjoy sharing everything we learn about them. If you see an English bulldog puppy priced below $1,500, beware. When our Bulldog was a puppy, we took him to a lake where he was swimming. Most likely the compact rock. In the dog world, we call these type of canines, brachycephalic dogs. I personally have seen one or two instances of “Bulldogs” swimming, but I assure you in most cases the Bulldog you see swimming is … Fat is made up of saturated oils, which are likely to float on water. Go into the water with them and keep an eye on the time. Give them the “come” command and constantly give positive praises as they venture deeper. All dogs adjust to being in water at different paces. Just remember that you should never force your Bulldog into the water. Unlike the English bulldog, Olde English Bulldogges don’t have a real slobbering problem. link to How Long Will Your French Bulldog Live? keeping your dogs contained to a smaller area of the home. Reward your dog for getting into the bath tub without water. Never throw them in to the deep end to shock them into swimming, Remove distractions, such as other people and animals, Let them swim a short distance to someone they trust in the water, Repeat this at increasing lengths and depths until they are confident, Make sure that it’s a good fit with enough room for them to move their legs with ease, Make sure that it is padded for extra comfort, Choose one with a chin strap for extra support in the water, Pick a bright color that is clearly visible when your dog in is the water, It also needs to have secure straps and clasps so it will stay in place, Reflective stripes provide extra security in the dark, Choose a product with carry handles on the top to help you lift the dog in and out the water, Keep them away from the water, especially if they are not supervised. Here’s what the owners had to say: 1. Though, plenty of them have practiced and use safety precautions. English bulldogs are far too heavy to stay afloat in the water. There are things to know before you send your Bulldog into the pool. At this point, your Bulldog needs to have the life jacket on. English Bulldogs might play well with kids most of the time, but it can cost an entire year’s worth of groceries to bring your pup home. So how can we teach bulldogs to swim? Depending on where you live and your local environment, you might be required to leash your dog when... You won't find many dog breeds as loyal, loving, and adaptable as the French bulldog. Learn how to best train a Bulldog with these tips. If you are patient and careful, you can enjoy time swimming with your English bulldogs. They will need to work hard to keep themselves above the surface. Most Olde English Bulldogges cannot swim and are averse to hot weather. Have you heard of someone who has a Bulldog that swims or seen a video of a Bulldog swimming in the family pool? On the bright side, there are things that you can do to reduce any risk and keep your pup happy. Please always consult with a licensed veterinarian for pet medical advice. According to viral videos out there, there are two things that we want to teach to our bulldogs: how to swim and how to ride a skateboard. Even though there are plenty of non-water dog breeds that are excellent swimmers, the Bulldog is not one of them. The sad reality is that it doesn’t take long for dogs to drown and canine CPR is difficult to master. No, bulldogs are one of the few breeds of dogs that cannot swim. Big heads, round and heavy torso, and short legs – Bulldogs just aren’t made for swimming. They are heavily built dogs who just can't keep themselves afloat. In no time, they’ll likely be swimming with joy. They are not as undershot as the English Bulldog and therefore don’t have as much “drainage.” Although, if you’re dressed up to go out for your anniversary dinner, you might not want to … Owners of this rare breed all agree that they make an outstanding family dog. But does that mean that English bulldogs cannot swim at all? Internetdogmom says No: “Every time we let our Bulldog swim (supervised of course), he looks like he’s always having a difficult time. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'thebulldogblog_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',112,'0','0']));The term brachycephalic refers to any dog with a deformity to their airways. The best human swimmers know how to control their breath too. The longer they stay, the more confidence they’ll build. Rather they’re often seen as stocky and muscular dogs with short legs – and that’s exactly what they are. For example, Dr. Rowena Packer (DVM) claims that this facial structure restricts airflow and can make it difficult to breath. The first step is to introduce your Bulldog to water. If you can get your Bulldog to stand in the shallow end of the lake by the end of week, then that’s perfect – you and your dog are making good progress. Many English bulldog owners ask the same question: can my English bulldog swim? Try not to become anxious or freak out! That being said, the main reason why Bulldogs shouldn’t swim is because of Brachycephaly. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Chances are, there are a ton of parasites and bacteria in the water that can cause some harm to your Bulldog, such as intestinal problems. There will be some English bulldogs that can swim with relative ease for short periods. In many cases, our pet dogs just want to be part of the fun when we go swimming. So as you can imagine, having a short legs make it a lot more difficult for dwarf dogs to paddle. Positive reinforcement is key for this step. Though they’re relatively large dogs, they still have the characteristics of a dwarf dog (short stature). More likely than not, your Bulldog will start heading towards you. Just because your dog is a Bulldog doesn’t automatically mean that he’s terrible at swimming. Which is more likely to sink, and sink quicker. My Bully is a great swimmer, but it really tires him out fast.”, 6. Although English bulldogs are not natural born swimmers, it is possible to train them to learn how to swim with the assistance of a life vest. I want to note that not all dogs with short legs are bad swimmers. Before anything else, I strongly suggest you get your Bulldog a life jacket prior to swimming and training sessions. Therefore If you have friends with dogs that already know and love to swim, then it’s probably a good idea to bring them along. Unlike the English Bulldog, this is an American breed that was bred to recreate the healthy working bulldogs of yore which are now fast being replaced by sluggish and lazy dogs who hate getting up and about even if you reward them with treats. After, he’s comfortable, get him into the bath tub with water in it. As a result, swimming is much more difficult for them than other breeds. This provides extra protection in case they get into trouble. So, try not to venture out too far yet. Seems like a great day for a swim with your Bulldog, right? A dwarf dog breed is characterized as a breed with abnormally short legs compared to the rest of the body (or to standard dogs). Bulldogs have trouble keeping their head above water to take in air. This simply means that you can’t treat your bulldog like other more active dogs when it comes to water. They, in addition to Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, Pugs, Corgis, and Maltese are some of the breeds best left out of the water. display: none !important; Have the dog sniff the water and maybe even get his feet wet. Well one, it is better to be safe than sorry. Short-legged breeds often have difficulty swimming, and the Maltese are highly prone to chills, arthritis, and rheumatism, which can be exacerbated by swimming in cold water. 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