With summer approaching and the vacay season beginning, pet owners simply can’t leave their dogs behind. While some prefer to hide from the boiling temperatures on the cool mountain peaks, others choose golden beaches and crystal-clear seas.
Before you pack your swimwear, are you sure your Bernedoodle loves swimming? Does your Doodle love water at all? Let’s answer these questions here!
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Key Facts
- Bernedoodles are known for their high energy levels and love for outdoor activities. However, their comfort level with water may vary.
- Not all dogs are natural swimmers, and the same can be said about Bernedoodles—while some are afraid to even get wet, others take to swimming as if it were second nature.
- It’s important to introduce your Bernedoodle to water early on so that your puppy can get used to a new sensation.
Do Bernedoodles Swim?
If you already own a Bernedoodle, you must have noticed by now how much they love outdoor activities. Playing fetch, running, and jumping around in the open area surrounded by other dogs and people is pure joy for this designer breed. But what about water? Can your Bernedoodle swim?
Contrary to popular belief, swimming does not come naturally to all dogs. As a matter of fact, dogs that have low body fat struggle the most in water. Older canines may also find it difficult to float and get out of water.
Not all Bernedoodles can swim — either because they don’t like to get wet or because they feel comfortable entering the water up to their knees at most.
Do Bernedoodles Like Water?
The relationship Bernedoodles have with water differs depending on how they were introduced to swimming. Some pet owners prefer to start early and integrate swimming exercises for their Bernedoodle puppies gradually, even at 8 weeks of age.
You can fill your pool or a bathtub and let your Bernedoodle enter the water to see whether your dog feels comfortable with it. If you have other pets in your household, let them socialize with your Bernedoodle, and your Doodle may even be encouraged to enter the water without your interference.
Do Bernedoodles Like to Swim?
If you have noticed that your Bernedoodle likes water, how can you be sure that it likes to swim, too? Again, the answer will depend on your individual canine. Although Bernedoodle can swim, whether they like it may depend.
Some Bernedoodles like to dip their paws into the water, while others only enter the sea or lake by themself without anyone pushing or shoving them there.
Do Mini Bernedoodles Like to Swim?
It’s no secret that most big canines love swimming, splashing, and even paddleboarding, but what about their smaller cousins – Mini Bernedoodles?
Fortunately for Mini Bernedoodle owners, most of these petite canines enjoy swimming as much as humans. Obviously, there may be some exceptions – however, most Minis are natural swimmers.
If you practice water sports and want your Bernedoodle to be by your side, we highly recommend that you expose your puppy to water early on. This way, your puppy will get used to it and won’t be scared of water as an adult.
Bernedoodle Swimming Tips
We’ve mentioned before that to get Bernedoodle used to water, they need to be exposed to it. However, you can’t simply put your puppy into a deep pool and let it figure out what to do. Here are some Bernedoodle swimming tips that will keep your furry friend safe in water:
- Purchase a quality dog life jacket: Even if you glue your attention to your Bernedoodle when it’s learning to swim, you still need to have a reliable life jacket for your canine. Get one with waterproof materials and preferably one that has a handle so that you can pull your dog out any time quickly.
- Stick to shallow waters: Even though you can rely on the life jacket of your Bernedoodle, don’t go deep into the water on the first training. Remember that your puppy may develop a fear of water and never want to approach it again.
- Have a group swimming session: According to the AKC, the best way to teach your Bernedoodle swimming is to have another dog showing it how to do it.
- Get a kiddie pool: If your Bernedoodle is still a puppy or your pool is too deep for the dog, consider purchasing a kiddie pool. It is shallow and perfectly sized for your Bernedoodle puppy.
Final Thoughts
While Bernedoodles, being half Poodle, have the potential to enjoy swimming, their Bernese Mountain Dog heritage might make them less inclined toward water. Individual Bernedoodles’ reactions to swimming can vary widely.
What you can do is expose your Bernedoodle to water at an early age and use positive reinforcement techniques that will help your Doodle develop a love for water activities.
