These sessions are for those dogs that just love to swim.

Specifically, for the fit and healthy confident canine to come and enjoy the benefits of an indoor heated pool all to themselves!

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.

Why Wellbeing Swims?

When we think of ‘wellbeing’ or the state of our dogs ‘feeling well’ what does that mean? If we look at the welfare triangle it will give us a good idea of the bases we need to consider.

Now, depending on who you talk to, you may get a different answer when asked which is the most important. Ask yourself, what do you think? Physical wellbeing, Mental wellbeing or Purpose of Life (doing what you were created to do) Which is the most important?

At Aqua Canis we very much believe all three are equally important to redress if we are going to achieve an optimum sense of our dogs ‘feeling well’.

A dog’s Talos (purpose of life) is predominantly activating one of their 7 core emotions, ‘SEEKING’. They are driven and motivated to seek an end reward goal. Their seeking system is activated when training for example “What do I need to do to get the reward, what works? what doesn’t work?

When we walk them, it’s full of sensory stimuli, and they feed on their return.

(preferably at dusk and dawn when they would naturally travel to seek food)

Dogs are scavengers so would much prefer to seek their food rather than have it presented to them in a bowl. Although some are still very prey driven hunters and would quite happily seek their food that way too! They are geared up with copious amounts of dopamine to motivate and drive them towards their end goal. The anticipation of that end goal is akin to a child waiting for Christmas, the lead up (seeking) can be more exciting than the big day!

‘Seeking’ play, food, procreation, safety, companionship, stimulus, novelty……. all purpose of life and natural ethology to a dog. The more that is taken away from their purpose of life the more it can impact their mental health. No different to us or any other mammal.

Mental health issues can manifest and present in many, many different ways from subtle changes to daily routine activities, disinterest, onset of fearfulness, pacing, obsessive or ritualistic behaviours, overactivity to stimuli, staring, to disturbing behavioural changes of aggression, self-harm or complete shutdown.

Of course, mental health can be affected considerably by abuse, neglect and frustration but that’s a whole different subject matter!

If our dog’s physical health is compromised, this will of course cause an imbalance to the welfare triangle. Physical changes can overtly present themselves where we can see the changes in gait pattern or functional mobility. However, our dogs are stoic little beings so often by the time we notice changes they have lived with these imbalances for quite some time or we have accepted it as ‘normal’ for them.

It goes without saying, pain will affect mood. If our dogs’ pain related mood is sustained, and unmanaged their mental health will suffer.

So, you can see how physical health, mental health and Talos are all related to the sense of wellbeing. Just like the fire triangle, you need all the ingredients to make a flame.

How can Wellbeing Swims help to redress the balance?

Physically

• Provides a full body work out in a supported non weight bearing environment
• Maintains fitness and mobility after veterinary referred rehabilitation
• Pain relieving endorphin release

You can read the specific benefits of hydrotherapy on our website

Mentally

• Provides novel stimulation
• Creates confidence
• Bonding experience in the pool for dog and care giver
• Releases the ‘happy hormones’ Oxytocin, Dopamine, Serotonin and Endorphins

Talos

• It enables a functional purposeful activity
• Activates their seeking system for fun and reward
• Enables joyful anticipation

All our wellbeing swims are assessed individually and subject to veterinary consent with fear of water counter conditioning our priority.

Canine mental health is a huge subject and one Aqua Canis is passionate to educate and provide support on.