Hello everybody. I am looking for advice in regards Hydrotherapy for dogs. Im thinking of swimming for fitness and building up muscle mass. There is licenced venue near me.
How old puppy has to be to swim safely and how long to start with (5-15min) ? Would two sessions per week be enough for building up muscles? Would that affect coat condition (swimming and drying twice a week, it's medium but thick coat)?
Does anybody has any experience in that subject? Would appreciate your replies.
Thank you.

It is not natural for a puppy to have a great deal of muscle mass.  Their nutrition is more directed to growing and developing bone structure and excessive exercising could compromise this leaving them weaker in other areas I would say.
Muscle development comes with maturity.  Not sure why you would want to rush it, it would not be expected in the show ring.

If the centre is with the CHA then they will tell you and won't allow your dog to swim longer than that. I'd be going to a pool where it's one on one for a youngster, once a week to get them started and take advice from the hydrotherapist, they are the ones in the know!

Over the years i've had a couple of dogs who used hydrotherapy to build or strengthen muscle following injury/illness.

Initially, they weren't allowed to do more than 2 minutes, once a week, gradually building up the length of time in the water very slowly and in a controlled manner.

Five - 15 minute sessions twice a week sound like far too much to me and if a centre allowed that I would worry about the effects on my dog.

I have known puppies do hydrotherapy but again not to build muslce mass for the sake of it but to build strength following accident/ injury/illness. 

Our youngest went to hydrotherapy for many months after surgery, as advised by his orthopaedic specialist.

He must have been about a year. Started with a weekly visit of two minutes at most, a one minute secession, then rested  - checked for pulse, recovery, gum colour & other signs - when recovered back in the pool for another minute. This was built up over many weeks.

5/15 mins sounds dangerously long for a young dog or one that is unfit. Have always been advised, that one minuet equals around one mile of running.

Swimming is great exercise for dogs but they need to be fit, & would not subject a pup to that level of exercise until they were fully mature
 

Thanks for the input folks. I was just curious. I would never put my dog in jeopardy, let alone puppy.