Can Basset Hounds Swim?

DATMAX · 05-08-2010, 10:38 PM

We enjoy taking Hercules (our 3 year old Basset) with us everywhere. On nice weather days we are considering taking him for a ride in the boat at the lake. However, we are not sure if Basset Hounds are able to swim. He has never been in the water. We have a neighbor that has a pool, but we do not want to bring him into the water without first knowing if it's even possible.

hig4s · 05-08-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DATMAX

We enjoy taking Hercules (our 3 year old Basset) with us everywhere. On nice weather days we are considering taking him for a ride in the boat at the lake. However, we are not sure if Basset Hounds are able to swim. He has never been in the water. We have a neighbor that has a pool, but we do not want to bring him into the water without first knowing if it's even possible.

Virtually all dogs can swim, but because of their short legs bassets generally are not very good at it. Just get him a doggie life jacket for the boat rides.

Mikey T · 05-09-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hig4s

Virtually all dogs can swim

There are a relatively few that sink rather than swim because of their bone mass. There are some but as a whole the majority of basset do not like to swim life vest or not.

Rusty Stickers Mom · 05-09-2010, 11:36 AM

Stickers panics and can not find the steps to get out of the pool. Rusty wants to be in but sinks like a bag of rocks! For an entire summer, we put his vest on to keep him afloat and practiced teaching him to swim to the "target" (orange traffic cone) we placed on the steps. His reward was praise and a small soft liver treat. Even with doing this daily for an entire summer, he was disoriented he could never swim to the steps unless we propelled him in that direction. He would swim into the walls repeatedly. Without the vest he would sink . SO we live with the safety fence up around the pool.

Beckadizzle · 05-09-2010, 11:51 AM

Hazel swims great in the pond with those big old webbed feet!!! started her in the pool when she was a few months old

murraysmom · 05-09-2010, 12:20 PM

A few years ago someone posted about their basset walking into a lake, and continuing to walk until the water was over his head and he was literally walking along the bottom of the lake like a hippopotamus. I never got that image out of my head.

Pensfan83 · 05-09-2010, 05:01 PM

My Gracie can swim. She can only go a very short distance and for a little bit of time she can tread some water. lol Just keep a doggie life jacket on ur pup and i think it will be just fine. :0)

hig4s · 05-09-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murraysmom

A few years ago someone posted about their basset walking into a lake, and continuing to walk until the water was over his head and he was literally walking along the bottom of the lake like a hippopotamus. I never got that image out of my head.

I can picture that!

BubbaLeroy · 05-10-2010, 08:59 AM

Bogie will walk out into a lake and go about shoulder deep. He seems to know that he's not a Michael Phelps, and that swimming isn't a good idea. Our vet told us that their body mass and weight is mostly frontward and that makes is more difficult for them to swim. I'm sure they are like people, some being more athletic and the difference in body structure makes it easier to swim. To be safe a dogiie life vest woud be the safest in a boat, just like humans!!!!

Soundtrack · 05-10-2010, 09:44 AM

Many of mine love to swim - but only for short periods. If boating I would use a life vest.

05-08-2010, 10:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
DATMAX Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1	Can Basset Hounds Swim? We enjoy taking Hercules (our 3 year old Basset) with us everywhere. On nice weather days we are considering taking him for a ride in the boat at the lake. However, we are not sure if Basset Hounds are able to swim. He has never been in the water. We have a neighbor that has a pool, but we do not want to bring him into the water without first knowing if it's even possible.

05-09-2010, 11:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
Beckadizzle Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Attica, NY Posts: 37	Hazel swims great in the pond with those big old webbed feet!!! started her in the pool when she was a few months old __________________ Rebecca~Hazel's mama

05-10-2010, 08:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
BubbaLeroy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,288	Bogie will walk out into a lake and go about shoulder deep. He seems to know that he's not a Michael Phelps, and that swimming isn't a good idea. Our vet told us that their body mass and weight is mostly frontward and that makes is more difficult for them to swim. I'm sure they are like people, some being more athletic and the difference in body structure makes it easier to swim. To be safe a dogiie life vest woud be the safest in a boat, just like humans!!!! __________________ You don't own a Basset, a Basset owns you!! Aroooooos from Bogie !! - Trumbull's Who's Teasin Bogart CGC- Born April 21, 2005 ATB: Bubba - (Trumbull's Surley It's Stormin Norman) Sept. 8, 1998 - Dec. 20, 2005

05-10-2010, 09:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
Soundtrack Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,581	Many of mine love to swim - but only for short periods. If boating I would use a life vest. __________________ Rosie-Ch Soundtrack Cracklin' Rose CGN AGN RA Am RN TT Melody-Ch Soundtrack Unchained Melody TT Sailor-Ch Soundtrack Expedition Sailor RN TT Chili-Ch Soundtrack Spice Up Your Life Curry-Ch Soundtrack Canadian Brass Pepper-Ch Pennieslogon Living La Vida Loca CGN Vina-Ch Soundtrack Grand Illusion Leila-Ch Soundtrack Almost Paradise Deela-Ch Soundtrack Wink Of An Eye Hermione - Soundtrack Spellbound Eowyn - Soundtrack Rain Dance

05-09-2010, 11:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
Rusty Stickers Mom Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 251	Stickers panics and can not find the steps to get out of the pool. Rusty wants to be in but sinks like a bag of rocks! For an entire summer, we put his vest on to keep him afloat and practiced teaching him to swim to the "target" (orange traffic cone) we placed on the steps. His reward was praise and a small soft liver treat. Even with doing this daily for an entire summer, he was disoriented he could never swim to the steps unless we propelled him in that direction. He would swim into the walls repeatedly. Without the vest he would sink . SO we live with the safety fence up around the pool.

05-09-2010, 12:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
murraysmom Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: southcentral Pa. Posts: 2,235	A few years ago someone posted about their basset walking into a lake, and continuing to walk until the water was over his head and he was literally walking along the bottom of the lake like a hippopotamus. I never got that image out of my head.

05-09-2010, 05:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pensfan83 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Nazareth, PA Posts: 9	My Gracie can swim. She can only go a very short distance and for a little bit of time she can tread some water. lol Just keep a doggie life jacket on ur pup and i think it will be just fine. :0)

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