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When I was young, we had a dog named Sam. Sam hated baths. Loathed them, fought them, the whole nine yards. But Sam loved the water! You couldn't keep him out of a lake or river! When we were fishing the call was DOG IN THE WATER! Sam had to be given his own stretch of the river.......and I bet that's where most of the fish hid!

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Should most dogs be ok to swimming though. Dukes really large for a min pin. He's tall as well, but is pretty chubby. I'm just worried he's to dense to swim. In the summer when it warms up, where would a good place to take him to try and swim be? Our family doesn't go fishing or camping much. Maybe in the summer I'll try to see if we can get a few friends together and go to a lake. But other than a lake, where would a good local place to try and see if he'll swim be? I'm in Vancouver by the way.

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<snip> He's the rust coloured one. You were just missing a bit of the address line for your pics, I think?

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thanks for fixing the link. I still have some questions though, Should most dogs be ok to swimming though. Dukes really large for a min pin. He's tall as well, but is pretty chubby. I'm just worried he's to dense to swim. In the summer when it warms up, where would a good place to take him to try and swim be? Also since you're from Vancouver where are some good local places to take your dog to learn to swim? Some beaches don't let dogs there so other than beaches.

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Hate to break it to you, but I'm actually from Prince Rupert! Vancouver is just the closest coastal city to where I live....

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Twister HATES baths...so much so that good luck getting him even CLOSE to the bathroom door, and if you should get him in the bathroom, becareful of your feet, cause his butt will hit the floor the SECOND his feet enter the bathroom and he'll fight with all his being to NOT get in the tub. yet....walk outside, and if there's a deep puddle....watchout, or he'll lay in it and roll around like he's part duck. ..when driving BY the beach, make sure the windows are UP, or you may have to pull him BACK in the moving car, he really LOVES the beach! He also has NO idea what toys are, throw a ball and he'll look at you like..."are you nuts, now you're gonna have to go pick that up, so why throw it???" I've tried every toy there is, and nope...not interested, thanks for nothing honey! HOWEVER, he loves to roll around on his blanket and will do so for 30 or 40 minutes at a time as long as someone is telling him how funny he is the whole time (and laughing at him). It use to worry, or bother me that he didn't play, but I've just decided to accept him for who he is, and every once in awhile...I throw a squeeky toy at him...and he looks at me in disgust and walks away...which just makes me laugh at him...he can be such a toy snob! haha It sounds like your minpin is board if he's searching the cupboards, does he have toys that make crinkle noises? As for swimming..it's really up to the dog...he may like it, he may not.. liking baths or not liking them is no indication though.. I believe dogs may be able to swim at Trout Lake in East Van? not sure though.. There are a few places along the fraser too that dogs can play in the water, as well as in richmond. If he wants to swim, he'll be able to, but it's a personal choice he'll need to make when the oppertunity present's itself.

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I just took Duke for a walk around the Fraserview Golf Course and they have a small creek around there and i tried to get Duke in the water or atleast walk in the water, it was about 5 inches high. He didn't seem to care much for it...

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I love swimming myself, but I can tell you, if anyone tried to get me in a creek with the current weather/temp, I'd have a few issues with it myself... Please wait until it's warmer outside before trying to get him into swimming... remember that if he does go in, and has any problems once he's in the water...you'll need to go in after him...if you're not ready to jump in that creek, I wouldn't advise letting Duke go in there either... If you push him now when it's cold etc, he may always associate water with that and may never want to go in again.... Duke's gonna be around a long long time, there's no reason to rush into this and possibly have him fear the water.. Take baby steps with him(when it's warmed up -Spring at the earliest), and he just may surprize you!

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yeah... that makes sense, i feel like an idiot now

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Yeah, can you imagine...it would be like those kids cartoons...*sploosh...!!!* and then the water starts to freeze in mid air...lol...leaving you to take home a 'Dogsicle'. Too funny. Your pup will soon get the idea when Spring and Summer come round. I'll tell you how cold it is...our big male Cat Kramer who you could not get back into the house for love nor money a few months ago...he's out for 2 minutes in the morning, does his business (neighbour's must love him..."How come our plants are dying...??? ) and then, he literally batters down the door to be let back in. The best bit is when he jumps on your lap and cuddles down to get warm...leaving you scrambling to stay warm. Pet's...ya gotta love 'em.

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there is a place in north vancouver that is GREAT for dogs to swim...it is seymour creek, but do wait until spring as it is too cold now. But no traffic around,and the water comes from the mountains into the burrard inlet. My boyfriend drives us there, and I dont have the directions, but anyone who is interested,email me, and I will get the directions for you.It is a river remember but it is good in the "bend". Bring a stick!!

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there is also a dog off leash swimming area at cresent beach...its called blackie spit. there is also another one in the mountains i think its a lake or something...havent been there yet, but im hoping that phoenix will swim because memphis doesnt like swimming, memphis doesnt mind bathes and phoenixs fights it all the way so im hoping phoenix is a "dog in the water". she is more fiesty and out going so i cant wait till spring.summer

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which beaches actually allow dogs there? Kits beach doesn't do they?

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Here's a link that lists all the dog parks/swim areas in the city of Vancouver, similar ones can be found for out lying cities, just enter dogpark and the city name in google Vancouver Dog Parks The ones with little blue wavy lines beside them have water access within the park

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There is a large off leash area for dogs in Ambleside Park in North Vancouver, have not been there myself,will try it this spring! It also borders along the water too.