From 16 weeks old, your puppy is ready to join us at Aqua Canis and learn how to swim like a professional.

The advantages of signing up to our Puppy Package:

• A safe way to release all that puppy energy, particularly in large breeds, while they are developing
• Gain confidence
• Fun and stimulating
• Habituate and desensitise to the environment should they ever need hydrotherapy in the future

With all swims we do need your vet's consent. Please download the consent form and return a completed signed copy to us for the first appointment.

Puppy Swimming

Contrary to popular belief not all dogs can swim. They all have the ability to swim but for some, it doesn’t come naturally or easily.

If a dogs first experience with water is an unpleasant one its very likely they will remain fearful of it for a long time and never get to experience all the benefits that can be utilised through the medium of water.

The primary benefit for puppies is non weight bearing exercise. While your puppy is growing, they will have growth plates in the centre and each end of their long bones which will slowly turn into hard bone (ossify) as they grow. The growth plates are the weakest area of your puppies’ skeleton and are vulnerable to injury.

You are very likely to notice if your puppy has suffered an acute injury to their growth plates caused from jumping, falling or other high impact followed by pain and lameness. However, chronic injury is damage sustained over a longer period of time. If the growth plates have been stressed this can lead to malformation which may ultimately affect the load bearing and balance of your dog for the rest of their life.

Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of premature death in our dogs, most of which can be completely preventable if we look after our puppy’s bones when they are forming and reduce repetitive strain during their lifetime.

So why not just chuck a stick in a lake or pond and let your puppy learn that way?

Breaking the surface tension of the water can in itself cause trauma to the growth plates if your puppy is using its fore limbs to paddle through it. Often you will see dogs splashing frantically with their fore limbs and their hind end down, this is not swimming, this is a dog struggling to stay afloat because they can’t swim.

Its cold! Puppies lose heat quicker than adult dogs making it an unpleasant experience.

There are all sorts of weird nasties in the water that can affect a puppy’s health.

They may get into serious trouble in open water putting their life at risk.

Why have puppy lessons in a hydrotherapy pool?

Your puppy will be positively introduced to the environment by a qualified member of staff working only at the pace of your puppy.

When ready, they will be introduced to a floatation jacket which will predict treats and fun.

Using positive reinforcement, they will gain confidence standing on the ramp and getting their feet wet.

Some are brave enough to take the next step and walk into the warm water, some like to be carried and supported while they orientate themselves around the pool.

Over four, 1 to 1 sessions, your puppy will learn to swim correctly and safely without a floatation jacket.

Now your puppy can swim what are the benefits to making it a regular activity?

• Non weight bearing exercise to expel all that puppy energy!
• Practice and perfect their new life skill
• Novelty
• Confidence
• Bonding. Join them in the water!
• Pre/post op hydrotherapy habituation if they should ever need it for therapy in the future
• Safe stimulation
• Fun!

Call or Email for More Details

07470 578084

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