Canine Marathon Swimmers

timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

Dog finds his way back home

I've thought about training my dog to swim a 5k with me some day. Clearly, it's within reason for this one.

tortuga

Comments

  • ssthomasssthomas DenverCharter Mem​ber
    edited September 2016

    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. :-)

    Jaimie
  • JenAJenA Charter Member

    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? ;-)

    Jaimie
  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    ssthomas said:
    Bethany Bosch trains her dog, Guri, to swim!

    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.

  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    JenA said:

    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.

    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.

  • ssthomasssthomas DenverCharter Mem​ber

    I think Guri usually swims with a life jacket!

    timsroot
  • timsroottimsroot Spring, TXCharter Member

    ssthomas said:
    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.

  • evmoevmo SydneyAdmin

    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

    malinakaViveBene
  • dpm50dpm50 PA, U.S.Senior Member
  • Ted Erikson's Umbra was faster than I am.
    I am glad the two, man and dog, found each other.

    timsroot
  • wendyv34wendyv34 Vashon, WASenior Member

    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/

    evmoFlowSwimmerstimsroot

    It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.

  • FilFil Derby, VTCharter Member

    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.

    evmotimsrootssthomas
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