Hi - can someone please advise?
Our dog [corgi] gets lots of walks but recently I was thinking about taking him for a few short swims at AquaDoggies in Reading or closer if I can find a place. This is mainly for fun and also because in the mornings we walk on a dirt path and his front nails are wearing down a bit. We vary it with grass walking but have to drive to get to proper grassy areas.
Unfortunately, as he is a teenager now he is trying to copy dogs he sees going into dangerous and/or filthy water. We walk along the Thames which not only has really strong high and low tides but the bank side is very much like quicksand. Dogs have been known to be sucked down or carried away. I often despair when I see dogs and kids on the bank and until recently mine has been very good about staying with me. Now he is trying more and more to get down to play with the dogs so I have to keep him on the lead and work on his recall etc. The walks off lead used to be really nice as he would just scamper about on the path but now I worry all the time.
I have a dilemma - if I take him for swims will he then try harder to get to the river because he cannot tell the difference between safe and dangerous water?
thanks very much

My bitch goes swimming regularly, sometimes at Greyfriars pool nr Guildford and sometimes in the lake, relatively clean this time of year and when there has been plenty of rain, but she just loves water (except baths of course!) and will try to get to any if she gets the chance be it the sea, a river or a filthy trench, she has pretty good obedience if I am calling her, but if I am chatting or forget she may double back, have a splash then come and tell me how clever she is!
If your dog is a true water lover (I didn't think Corgis' were in general though) then be prepared for hard work, but he may just be inquisitive as to what the other dogs are doing.
I cannot recommend swimming at a pool enough, wonderful non weight bearing exercise in lovely clean water, with a shower to bath them afterwards, and no mess at home. Both my dogs love it and when I get a pup later this year he/she will be going as soon as they have their jabs!

Good luck

Hayley

Hayley, I take my dog to Greyfriars as well - wonder if we have met in passing? My friend and I go together and my malamute, her poodle pup and Xretriever love playing there. I just wish I could teach my dog to jump in, all he will do is walk down the ramp and swim when the water is deep enough. I can't recomend the place highly enough.
Jean

Jean could you please tell me whereabouts near Guildford Greyfriars is? Also how old does a dog have to be to go swimming as you mentioned that your friend takes her yorkie pup along?

Thanks :-)

Phil

Phil

Greyfriars is on the A31, approx halfway between Farnham and Guildford, although it is very tricky to find first time, and you can get into it from two different drections so best ask for directions for yourself.
A pup can start as soon as it has had its jabs, they put a life jacket on until they are certain the dog is safe - they have some very cute tiny ones! :)
I cannot recommend them highly enough, people come from miles around.

Hayley (and Dylan and Honey too!)

EDIT: Their phone number is 01483 811172 - normally Angela or Dawn

You're so lucky that your dog wears down his nails by himself! Mine do 2 miles a day on tarmac (plus another coule of miles off-lead in the fields) and still need their nails clipped every week to keep them short enough....and I still hear them clicking on the tiles. :(

I have the same problem Jeangenie, and Dylan really really hates having his nails done, although I was filing mine the other night and he showed some interest, so I had a go with an emery board and he didn't seem to mind!! I just need to find industrial strength emery boards now!!! :D

They're not too bad about it, apart from Harry who's scared of having his front feet touched ever since he had his toe amputated - every week the vet would have to squeeze his foot to see if it was still sore :( But I manage to clip the worst off, and then I use a woodworking file to smooth them off. :)

I wouldn't be without my dremel. It's the best thing ever for dealing with overgrown nails :)
Lara x

I'm sure the nail wearing has something to do with uneven weight distribution on those short legs. Much as I want to take him it sounds like I should hold off on the swimming lessons until I get him to lose interest in the river - I think he will be a water baby though judging from his paddling efforts in Wales recently. The filthy [and therefore more attractive] pond near our house is patrolled by swans so thankfully he is put off going in that for the time being but it is only a matter of time before he copies another dog doing it.
regards