The classic doggy paddle. It might be reserved for beginner human swimmers and small kids, yet is a stroke of genius in a dog. They glide effortlessly through the water, with their paws pumping robotically like pistons, head held clear – and often a ball safely in their mouth.
But some dogs are better swimmers than others. While a little bit of swimming prowess is down to confidence, good experiences, and practice, it has a whole lot more to do with a dog’s physical attributes. Some dogs are built to swim, with a streamlined body shape, strong muscles, and – like ducks – webbed feet to propel them through the waves. These breeds tend to have innate swimming instincts as can be seen when they are splashing around in one of the best swimming pools for dogs.
