Hello Everyone,
My Weenie is obsessed with water!!! He jumps into the bathtub while you are taking a bath, he drinks running water, he attacks the water hose like you wouldn't believe! Sometimes this can be a pain when you are trying to water the plants. :BangHead: He lives for water!! Does anyone else have a doxie like this? I am having an inground pull built and worry about him around it. Do Doxies swim well?
Thanks all,
Weenie's mom Cathy
Cathy....I'm not sure about the water thing. Have you checked with your vet? Excessive thirst, if that's what it is, could be caused by some sort of underlying problem.
In terms of swimming...it depends on the dachsie. I have three. My Buelah LOVES to swim, Toby likes it sometimes and Oscy not so much! There are life jackets available (someone here on the board actually recommended them to me). I use them for the three if there are a bunch of people around the pool area. I have also trained all three of them to swim to the steps in the pool. With the short legs it is difficult if not impossible for them to get out over the edge. The steps work best. Should they fall in without a jacket they stand a good chance of getting themselves out. I put treats on the outside of the pool in front of the step, took them into the water and trained them to swim to the treat. Start with just a short distance...one or two feet and work your way from there.
I never allow them in the pool area when we are not around. It is fenced and locked. Much like a child the curiosity could get the best of them.
Good luck! Some dachsies SWEAR that they will melt if they get wet! :wink:
My Rudy is the same way with the water hose. He barks like a fool until I squirt him and then he nips at the water like he is trying to catch it. Bath time - I have to hunt him down. When I am soaking in the tub - NO way is he even going to come in there and give me a kiss !!!!
We have a swimming pool. When we just had Rudy, I didn't worry about him so much - I taught him to swim to the steps - but he is not interested in swimming at all. When we got Brandy is when I worried. She would just stand at the edge and gaze (not that she wanted in !) - and I was scared to death that Rudy would come whizzing by and knock her in.
So we got a Kiddy Guard. It is the nylon type mesh fencing that people get when they have small kids. Holes are drilled in the ground for the poles to go into. The fence can be taken out when there are lots of people swimming - and they provide plugs for the holes (although I usually don't put them in-the holes aren't that big). We have a doggie door - so having this fence gives me peace of mind during the day that they are safe. When we first put it up, I squirted all over with Bitter Apple - but neither one have showed interest in trying to get through the fence.
When we are out swimming and are home, I open one of the four gates and the puppers go in an sniff around.
This is Rudy lounging on his cushion that is outside the fence - you can see the fence about a foot away from the pool - there is a gate that opens up by the steps.
(http://static.flickr.com/2/1504178_95079bc657.jpg)
This is inside the fence - when it is just us hanging around the pool - I leave the fence up - it doesn't inhibite swimming at all or hanging around the pool. (Note - the cushions underneath the loungers are for the puppers :thumb: )
(http://static.flickr.com/1/1152280_8e29b7a596.jpg)
Yes i would get him checked by vet. But swimming wise I had one who was in water anytime he could, I can say he was the only one the others melt.
They actually swim quite well, those that want to. But as terry said I'd never leave them alone near water, plus the bath he would not be able to get out of.
Roberta
Hello There,
My Ninya loves to swim and will take a dip when and wherever possible. BUT if it is raining...forget it :scratch:
My other baby Ochoco does not like swimming and will avoid water if at all possible.
Never heard of a doxie obsessed by water......must have been a fish in another life.
Adela