Do all dogs instinctually know how to swim?

I get asked this question frequently. ‘Yes and No’ is what I tell people. Dogs instinctually move into the Fight or Flight mode in response to a stressor. When a dog swims for the first time and they reach the point where their feet no longer touch the ground and weightlessness takes over, some dogs will attempt to fight by moving their limbs through protraction and retraction (forward locomotion), attempting to fight the water, while others will use the flight instinct, and either attempt to exit the water or freeze their limbs. I tell people that yes all dogs can swim, but they cannot swim well enough to survive if panic sets in.

One of the many benefits of working in a controlled environment, such as a hydrotherapy pool, is that we can assist the dog to work through the stages of uncertainty and panic quickly and safely and help them to become confident swimmers.

Happy Paddling,

~Carrie