I am a Golden Retriever that enjoys swimming. When I lived in HI last year I swam in the ocean 2-4 times a week. I Golden LOVEd it and if you’ve followed my blog you’ve seen photos and read many of my HI beach blog posts. Click Here to read my HI beach adventures.
Swimming is an excellent total body conditioning activity. For an active senior dog like ME, swimming will always be on my list of activity. Now that I am back home, swimming in the lake is not an option. I swam in the lake when I was young but my Golden skin did not do well with the quality of the lake water. An indoor pool is the only option. It is certainly not free but mom says it’s well worth it. In our area, most of the indoor pool are built for Canine Hydrotherapy. The pool tends to be smaller than a human swimming pool. The water is safely treated and heated in certain degree like 88-92 degrees which helps relaxes the muscles. The warm water allows for a decrease in pain, muscle spasms and stiffness.
Typically canine hydrotherapy is used as treatments for injuries and rehabilitation. Nowadays, lots of dogs use canine hydrotherapy as a form of exercise to help maintain a fitness level.
We found out that a 20-25 minute swim is equivalent to about a 4-5 mile walk. WOW!
Exercising in warm water and a controlled environment provides many benefits, such as:
- Non weight baring exercise
- Builds Muscles
- Reduces stiffness in the joints
- Lessens stress on joints and muscles
- Improves circulation
- Provides anti inflammatory relief
- Improves overall well being
I went to Splash Dog (about 30 minutes from my home). I went for a Canine Hydrotherapy fun swim. Even though I am a good swimmer, I had to wear a safety vest. The harness on the vest was used to guide me on the pool (stay in the pool). There’s a bench on the edge of the pool which serves as a resting place. ME resting … I only rested for seconds and I Woof Woof and more Woofs ready to go again again again …
I brought my beach buddy Chuck It. Definitely, A Golden SPLASH Joyful Swim.
Golden Thanks to Splash Dog for their superb service and
making my first canine hydrotherapy fun swim enjoyable.
I am joining this post to FitDog Friday Hop,
hosted by SlimDoggy and Peggy’s Pet Place.
Click Here to read our review of SlimDoggy App.
Read our previous posts on my Dog’s Health page.
Lots of Golden L♥VE n Woofs
SUGAR
And besides being healthy, it’s FUN! Wish we had one near us, though we do use the river.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
Hi! You are SO fit!!!!!
You look good in your safety jacket!
i am so happy you found a place to swim. i need to find a vest like that and see if we can get Jake and Baby to swim. Jake sinks like a rock, so is terrified of water. baby just hates water, bath water, rain water, pool water.
Mom keeps threatening us with swimming. I think my Lily would like it but I don’t like wet feets. You go Sugar!
You know we loved your Hawaii adventures
Benny & Lily
Sugar you are such a swimmer. LOVE your Hawaiian adventures and thanks for sharing them.
Sugar that is why you look so healthy….You are such an active senior dog.
Woof Woof to you Sugar. I love reading your blogs. This canine hydrotherapy sounds wonderful. Anything that is healthy and fun at the same time is super-duper in my book.
So, you mention that you are a senior, pooch. May I be so bold as to ask you how young you are??? – My Rudy, another Golden, is approaching 7. (We adopted him when he was approx. 1.5 from a rescue, so we don’t know his exact age)
Thanks for being you, Miss Sugar… Woofs galore to you my Golden friend. Marni
You are brave to swim in open water. It makes me nervous 🙂
Looking good, Sugar! Chester loves to swim too, but since his back surgery he’s a little hesitant to try again. We’ll keep working on that because it is very important for senior dogs to stay active. Keep up the good work!
Sugar, you look so beautiful swimming in the pool! That place sounds great! I know you enjoyed it!
Sugar, you are gorgeous in and out of the water! That really sounds like a great way to exercise!
Swimming is not my thing Sugar, too much like hardwork BOL!
[trying this again…]
Sugar, you are a regular Ester Williams! (Showing my age…)
Swimming is great exercise for people and dogs. You look beautiful in the blue water!
Hi Sugar
So glad you’re able to swim in Chicago! Woody loves to swim but can’t go in the lakes here due to GATORS!! We take him to the pool whenever we can. Have fun! Golden love right back to you!
Leslie & Woody
We’ve heard wonderful things about water therapy!
That looks like a lot of fun Sugar and a whole lot less messy without sand!
You’re brave swimming in open water
You know Boomer loves to swim and Dottie will jump in for a swim as long as there is something for her to fetch. Maybe I should look into a place like this in Wichita!
Wow, you are a FABulous swimmer Sugar! That pool looks amazin’. I wish there was something like that around here. I would love it, thou ~ I don’t know if I can swim!!! BOL
Kisses,
Ruby
Oh gosh, our golden retriever Sheba LOVES to swim, and wouldn’t she love a place like that! But can you believe, Sugar, that her brother Moses does not like to swim? A place like that might be a way to get him gradually used to it. It would be great low impact exercise for him, because sometimes he gets a little sore when he plays too much ball. I love the photos, you are so pretty, Sugar!
Sugar, this is great news! I’m so glad you’re swimming again. 🙂
You look so happy, Sugar! I’m glad you won’t have to miss out on your swimming fun now that you’re back in Illinois.
You are probably the healthiest senior dog I know. I bet that was very enjoyable
Sugar, great story, swimming is such good exercise for doggies as well as our parents. I’m not crazy about the water, but I bet if you we’re my swim teacher, I would learn to love it!
We have been to a doggy pool a few times (not with Luna) and enjoyed it very much. So glad you are enjoying your swim!
That is great that you have a place to swim! It’s unfortunate that the natural waters are poor quality, we have that problem in places here too. Keep swimmin’!
Sugar, I’m glad you’ve found such a good way to keep exercised! You keep going girl!
Swimming is great…mostly I just wade around…but it’s still great!!
Wyatt
Aw, Sugar you look so cute in your little safety vest swmming….I want to know if you are wearing purple flipppers too 🙂
That’s awesome Sugar! Did your mom sign you up for therapy or did you buy a pool pass?
Wow, what a cool place and thing to do. Nothing like that for woofies around here. We know all the great exercise you are getting is going to really help to keep you healthy. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette
Sugar, we want to come swimming with you!
I know this has to be one of your favorite things, Sugar. Water & Sugar seems like the perfect pairing.