The most likely reason for a dog to pee in the water while they are swimming is simply because they have to go and don’t want to stop swimming.
If it is water that is on your property (like a pool or a pond) They could also be attempting to mark the body of water so that other animals don’t try to swim there.
Tips For Swimming With Dogs
Swimming is a really great exercise for dogs not to mention much more fun for the owner than throwing a ball but can be quite a hassle (particularly when it comes to pool maintenance).
Here are 5 tips to make your next pool day with your fur baby more enjoyable:
Use a life jacket for your dog – Even if your dog is a natural-born swimmer, they can still get tired and end up not being able to hold themselves up. Using a life vest not only prevents accidental drawing but also helps improve your dogs form while swimming, as it holds them up horizontally as opposed to letting their back end sink into the water.
Don’t just ‘throw them in the deep end’ – Introduce your dog slowly to the water and spend a good amount of time helping them learn how to swim properly. A lot of dogs do not start out being a big fan of swimming or water in general because they end up wet and cold afterwards, so it is really important that their first experiences with swimming with you are really positive if you want to have swimming be a continual habit for the both of you.
Trim their nails and groom them before swimming – Dogs can have very sharp claws that are more than capable of poking a hole in your pool lining (if you have one) as well as scratching your arms and legs while you are swimming with them, so it is important to trim them beforehand. It is also important to groom your dog before swimming to get rid of as much hair as possible, an ungroomed dog could absolutely shed enough hair overtime to completely mess up the filter of your pool.
Wash or at least rinse off your dog after their swim – When we go swimming we get absolutely covered in chlorine, and while it is safe for dogs if you leave it on them it can and will lead to dry, matted fur and irritated skin. So after each swim just take a few seconds to rinse off your dog properly with a hose or in the shower, if you are feeling it you can also shampoo and condition their coat while they are wet so they have beautifully soft fur.
Keep an eye out to ensure that your dog isn’t drinking the pool water – Ingesting small amounts of chlorinated water while swimming isn’t dangerous to dogs, but drinking large amounts could absolutely cause some damage. Be sure to always watch your dog when they are in the pool to ensure this doesn’t happen.
Neither of my dogs will go while in the lake. They will, however, hike a leg and let fly on my boat carpet. We’ve tried and tried to get them to pee in the lake, but they won’t. We can tell when they need to ‘go’, and put them in the water, or even on the back (slightly submerged) swim step, but no go. Once, my border collie got desperate and *swam to shore *where he climbed out and peed. Then he swam back to the boat.
Husky FREAKS OUT While Learning to Swim!
There are things you should know about protecting your dog and your pool before you decide to let your best friends in the water.