Do you have a pool and a high energy dog you want to start tackling new adventures with? You’re going to want to look over this quick short article before you do.
Having a pool is great. Having a dog that you allow to enjoy that pool is also great. In place of a pool, you may have a large tub you keep filled with water so your dog can jump into anytime they get hot. These can all be catalysts for your dog to dehydrate, over heat, and have a heat stroke if you are looking at increasing your dog’s current energy output. To put it simply, letting your dog exercise harder than what they are used to can have life threatening consequences if your dog regularly enjoys a pool or water tub source.
Swimmers actively doing laps and water polo players burn the second highest amounts of calories after runners. They also sweat a little less than someone who likes to run because the water helps to keep their core temperature lower while they are working out. If you are a swimmer or if you have ever gotten out of a pool to go do something else or even after a hot shower, you noticed a large increase amount of sweat!
Your elevated body temperature after a hot shower or swimming is the main reason for excessive sweating. You are not used to it. The same applies for your dog! You would think your dog would be panting more and it would be more noticeable. Wrong…
Swimming has given your dog the benefits of increased endurance, stamina, and more physical performance. Your dog is experiencing the same work output and performance that a dog who actively runs can do. The difference is they didn’t learn how to regulate their body temperature and make adjustments the way a dog who runs does for longer durations. Or during hotter temperature environments. They will literally hit a wall burning themselves out because they are feeling great, until they are not.
There are very few dog professionals who are swimmers in the dog industry compared to those who actively train running for long durations or doing HITT exercises. So look to those who have served to protect this country. Find the ones whose primary skill were water borne roles and had to cross train into the physical aspect of cross training in jungle or hot terrain environments. Swimmers needed to take in more water in the beginning before becoming acclimated and they seemed to be super human compared to those who only trained on land. Until they didn’t.
Fortunately for us, our military have cross conditioning down to a science.
High drive dogs want to work. High energy dogs want to do things. They are like kids chasing candy. It won’t usually be noticeable until it’s very obvious.
If your dog enjoys a pool or has their own water source to cool down. Take things slow before taking them on your next adventure hike or going for a walk during the hotter season of the year. Your dog may seem over prepared in normal play functions but if you have a large work stamina, chances are your dog won’t be able to keep up with you, even if you are giving them water frequently. They are heating up at a faster rate because they have conditioned their body to self regulate in the pool or cool down quickly in their water source before jumping out and starting all over.
Your over-performing water skilled dog is not ready to go from 0 to 100 on hikes or runs if they are not conditioned for it. Acclimate your dogs. Let your dog trainer know. Dog trainers, if you’re not a swimmer, proceed with caution when training a dog that gets a lot of their exercise in their dog owner’s pool. More people are owning pools with dogs who have access to them. It’s a new territory for everyone. Slow down and be safe.
Keep on taking your dogs out, They love it!
