Dachshunds can swim but they dont like it naturally, dachshund dosent prefer to swimming for various reason, they were bred to hunting badgers and other burrowing animal, during hunting time they mostly need to stay undergrond, they don’t spend much time in water are which made them a dog who dosent like water, as we know they are also feel irritated in rainy season.
Can a dachshund swim well?
Dachshunds can swim well, but they generally do not prefer it, as they were bred to hunt burrowing animals. Their primary jobs involve hunting badgers and other burrowing animals underground. This underground nature makes them dislike being wet.
Dachshunds can be good swimmers, but this varies from dog to dog. Our dog swims well after a few practice sessions. This skill is very helpful and time-saving for me. It’s important to provide Dachshunds with plenty of activity; without enough exercise and mental stimulation, they may become bored and could display aggressive behavior or excessive barking.
In summer, I take my dachshund swimming 3 to 4 times a month, which helps to regulate my dachshund’s body temperature.
But with consistent training, we can teach them good swimming skills. Many dachshund owner train their dachshund to swim. A research of
Do dachshunds like to swim
They naturally don’t like to swim, because their characteristics were developed for as a underground hunter.
But if you’re interested in swimming your dachshund, the good news is you can definitely do this with consistent practice. Swimming is also good for their health, allowing them to swim from time to time.
Dachshunds often don’t like swimming at first. They can learn to swim well, but they can be frightened when we take them swimming for the first time. With time, they can learn how to swim.
How swimming helps the dachshund
Providing swimming to your dachshund offers many benefits, including protecting their spine, physical and mental stimulation, improving joint health, and many others. Here are the benefits of swimming in a dachshund.
Back-friendly exercise
Dachshunds have a long body and short legs. They are naturally prone to IVDD. So they only provided back-friendly and low-impact exercises that don’t harm their fragile back. Swimming is one of the best and low-impact exercises for dachshunds.
Allowing your dachshund a high-intensity exercise like running, jumping can negatively impact their back can cause severe injury, which can further lead to idvv.
Good for joint health
Swimming is a low-impact activity that improves joint health and is helpful in reducing the chance of having an Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD).
Dachshunds are also prone to Patellar Luxation, which is a condition where the dog’s knee slips out due to a shallow knee groove.
Research Gate research found that swimming improves joint health in dachshund.
Improved muscle tone
Swimming is a workout that engages a major muscle group in the dog’s body. Unlike leash walks and running, which mostly use minimal muscle groups, swimming builds a balanced muscle tone throughout the body.
Swimming trains maximum muscle groups in the body, which can also be helpful in managing their muscle mass.
Weight management
Dachshunds are inclined to obesity when they aren’t provided enough exercise throughout the day. Swimming helps to maintain a healthy weight by burning maximum calories compared to any other type of exercise.
Cardiovascular benefits
Swimming is excellent for dachshunds, which can significantly improve their cardiovascular health. Swimming is an aerobic exercise means it gets the heart pumping and increases oxygen supply. Over time, this strengthens the heart muscle and improves lung capacity and helps your dog supply oxygen more efficiently throughout the body.
Regular swimming improves cardiovascular endurance and makes your dog less fatigued even after high activity. It is helpful for working breeds, athletic dogs, or overweight dogs.
Mental stimulation
Dachshunds need frequent stimulation; when they don’t get enough stimulation, they may feel bored and potentially show behavioral issues like excessive barking, howling, and even separation anxiety.
Swimming gives them a new sensory experience, they feel water, feel different smells from land, feel witness to, and are resistant to the water body.
Dachshunds are naturally afraid of water at first, but with time, they can become familiar with this experience, which also helps to increase confidence in learning new things in the future.
Swimming provides both physical and mental stimulation, also helps keep them engaged and avoid boredom. Dachshunds are inclined to boredom; if they are not sufficiently mentally stimulated, they may feel bored and show destructive behaviour.
Precautions before allowing them to swim
Protect Their Back
Dachshunds have fragile backs, and rough handling during swimming activity can strain their back, so careful handling is most important to protect their back.
Swimming is a low-impact activity for dogs, and they don’t have a chance of injuring themselves. If you are stressed about your dachshund’s back problem, then you can try swimming for them.
Always Use a Life Jacket
Dachshunds are not swimmer dogs; they need practice, so letting them go without a life jacket for the first time can be risky, which can be associated with fearful activity, which can be problematic in future swimming activities. Using a life jacket that floats your dog in water and helps it learn to swim fast.
Using a life jacket gives peace of mind, which is crucial for learning new things fast.
Avoid Cold Water
Dachshunds are sensitive to cold; swimming in cold water can cause shivering muscles and stiffness. Always check the water temperature before swimming.
Dachshunds are also sensitive to outer bacterial and viral infections. If they are swimming in cold water, they can have an infection and cause a cough and other issues.
Here are some risks of swimming in cold water
Hypothermia
Dachshunds have a thin coat compared to other big dog breeds, which can cause their body temperature to drop quickly in cold water. This can cause hypothermia, a condition that occurs when the body temperature drops below the normal range.
Muscle cramps and stiffness
Cold water can cause a dog’s muscles to contract or cramp, which makes swimming risky and harder for a dachshund, especially a dog who already has a back issue.
Worsen the IDDV conditions
If your dog already has IDV-related conditions, it can worsen these conditions by increasing stiffness in joints and the spine.
Here are some tips to train your dachshund to swim
Keep Swimming Sessions Short
Dachshunds have low endurance in swimming, so they get tired quickly in water. Keep swimming sessions short, like 5 to 10 minutes, and you can increase the time once your dog gets used to it.
Reward
Reward them with a treat after completing a swimming session; this helps your dog to associate swimming with getting a treat.
Never Leave Them Unattended
Always stay within arm’s reach, even if your dog is a strong swimmer, they can also sink when they are tired and frightened.
Conclusion
Dachshunds are not natural swimmers, but they often enjoy the experience. With proper training, they can learn to swim well. Swimming provides various physical and mental benefits, making it a great activity for keeping your dog healthy. However, it’s important to remember that dachshunds have a fragile spine due to their long backs and short-legged body structure. As a dachshund owner, we need to protect their backs’ health while providing them with exercise.
