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Canine Marathon Swimmers
timsroot
Spring, TXCharter Member
I've thought about training my dog to swim a 5k with me some day. Clearly, it's within reason for this one.
timsroot
Spring, TXCharter Member
Comments
Bethany Bosch trains her dog, Guri, to swim!
http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2016/08/guri-dogs-it-across-lake-willoughby.html?m=1
He's done quite a few events with her. :-)
Dog beats most in swim from Alcatraz.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/8787598/ns/health-pet_health/t/dog-beats-most-swim-alcatraz/
I would worry that a dog would have trouble indicating that they want to stop. It seems that people aren't always tuned to anxiety cues in dogs (missing, for example, that most dogs don't like to be hugged). It might be even harder for them to signal anxiety while swimming.
The Data Says "Don't Hug the Dog!"
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201604/the-data-says-dont-hug-the-dog
Some dogs love the water, of course. And who hasn't welcomed their revolving death blades (claws) as they paddle toward you? ;-)
That's what gave me the idea to train Liberty to swim a 5k with me. She's 30 pounds heavier than our other 2 dogs, even though she's shorter, she needs the workout.
Our pit bull puts up with hugs and cuddles, but he certainly doesn't like that as much as my son and i sometimes like to, but he's a good sport about it, thankfully.
I haven't done any of that with her, and I wouldn't just throw her in a 5k without swimming with her a number of times beforehand. But, she does like to swim and be in the water, and she's strong enough to be able to do it.
I think Guri usually swims with a life jacket!
Yeah, we'd do that, too. It's been a thought for a while, but I haven't taken any action on it yet.
Ted Erikson @SdogV 's dog Umbra was one of the most accomplished Lake Michigan swimmers in the early 90s. She famously outswam many human competitors at Chicago's Big Shoulders 5K. Details here:
http://www.sdogv.com/swim.html
Dogs have some pretty impressive swimming feats, but so does this cat....
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/feisty-feline-washed-storms-swims-safely-new-york-harbor-lands-gov-island-article-1.113755
Ted Erikson's Umbra was faster than I am.
I am glad the two, man and dog, found each other.
In her defense, Rylee herself has not made any claims about her 6 mile swim being unassisted...
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/09/01/rylee-dog-lake-michigan/89709156/
It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.
I've been contacted by a number of swimmers who train with their dogs and have invited them to enter an event. Each dog must be qualified. Each dog must be accompanied by a kayak (separate from the swimmer). Guri is a chocolate lab who swims with a small life jacket to keep her hind legs raised. Guri trains and has done the distances before any event. She exits the water with plenty of energy. She has beat many a swimmer during her two 5 miles swims of Lake Willoughby. She starts a little behind the pack to avoid problems with contact at the start. We now have four divisions in most of our swims: skin, wet suit, adaptive, canine.