Dog Swimming by Breed

Cockapoo

capable • Owner In Pool

Poodle side loves water, Cocker side chases anything that moves — combined result is a keen swimmer.

Labradoodle

natural • Owner In Pool

Lab + Poodle = strong, willing swimmers with a coat that needs thorough drying.

Goldendoodle

natural • Owner In Pool

Golden + Poodle — reliably keen swimmers; sessions rarely need warming-up.

Labrador Retriever

natural • Owner In Pool

Bred for water retrieval — most Labradors swim from their first session with no coaxing.

Golden Retriever

natural • Owner In Pool

Take to water instinctively; the double coat drips dry within 20 minutes in our drying area.

Cocker Spaniel

natural • Owner In Pool

Bred to work water — most Cockers swim confidently from the ramp on session one.

Springer Spaniel

natural • Swim Coach

Genuinely need water work — 30 min in the pool takes the edge off a Springer better than any walk.

Weimaraner

capable • Swim Coach

Athletic, lean, cold-sensitive — the heated pool is one of the few winter cardio options for a Weim.

Vizsla

capable • Swim Coach

Warm-blooded Hungarian gundog — Vizslas love the heated pool but tire fast the first few sessions.

Dachshund

high support • Swim Coach

Long back, short legs, and high IVDD risk — swimming is one of the safest exercises available for a Doxie.

Miniature Dachshund

high support • Swim Coach

Everything true of standards is doubly true for miniatures — jacket, coach, warmth are non-negotiable.

Whippet

cautious • Swim Coach

Whippets get cold fast in water — our 28–32°C pool is a rare fit; most outdoor swimming is unsafe for them.

Greyhound

cautious • Swim Coach

Big, lean and cold-averse — our heated indoor pool is one of the few safe swimming environments for a Greyhound.

Beagle

capable • Owner In Pool

Nose says 'follow that scent', pool says 'no scents here' — Beagles need engagement to swim well.

Basset Hound

high support • Swim Coach

Long back, short legs, heavy front — Bassets need firm support in water; sinking risk is real.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

capable • Swim Coach

Big, athletic, and warm-blooded — Ridgebacks take to the heated pool well after one calm intro.

Border Collie

capable • Swim Coach

Not natural water dogs but learn quickly; swimming gives Collies the intensity land walks can't.

Corgi (Pembroke)

capable • Owner In Pool

Long-backed, short-legged herding dog — swimming is safer than jump-heavy land games.

Old English Sheepdog

capable • Owner In Pool

That famous coat holds serious water — Old English are willing swimmers but need proper drying time.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

high support • Swim Coach

Staffies are dense, muscular and heavy-fronted — most need a jacket and calm coaching to enjoy the pool.

Jack Russell Terrier

capable • Owner In Pool

Small but game — most JRTs swim confidently once they've decided the pool is theirs.

Border Terrier

capable • Owner In Pool

Wire coats shake dry surprisingly well — Border Terriers make solid, low-fuss swimmers.

West Highland White Terrier

capable • Fun Swim or Swim Coach

Westies are gutsy little swimmers with plenty of stamina — short bursts suit their terrier temperament.

Yorkshire Terrier

high support • Swim Coach

Tiny frame — Yorkies need a warm pool (ours is 28–32°C) and expert handling every second.

Pug

high support • Swim Coach

Short nose, dense body, easily overheated on land — the warm pool is often the safest cardio a Pug gets.

Shih Tzu

high support • Swim Coach

Small, brachycephalic and long-coated — Shih Tzus need warmth, support and thorough drying.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

capable • Swim Coach

Willing swimmers with feathered coats — Cavaliers usually enjoy the pool once introduced gently.

Bichon Frise

capable • Swim Coach

Willing swimmers, but coats absorb water — thorough towel + drying area is essential.

Chihuahua

high support • Swim Coach

Tiny, cold-averse, easily fatigued — Chihuahuas need our 28–32°C pool, a jacket, and a coach in-water.

French Bulldog

high support • Swim Coach

Frenchies are heavy-fronted, short-nosed and cannot swim unaided — life jackets are mandatory in our pool.

Bulldog

high support • Swim Coach

Front-heavy, short-nosed, and cannot swim unaided — Bulldogs need constant support in water.

Poodle (Standard)

natural • Owner In Pool

Originally water retrievers — Standard Poodles are among the strongest swimmers you'll meet.

Miniature Poodle

natural • Owner In Pool

Miniature but keen — most Miniature Poodles hit the water and go.

Shar Pei

cautious • Swim Coach

Skin folds and heavy fronts make swimming a supported exercise for Shar Pei — coach-led every session.

Dalmatian

capable • Owner In Pool

High-mileage breed that struggles for outlets — the pool matches their endurance.

Miniature Schnauzer

capable • Owner In Pool

Compact, energetic, and dries fairly well — Mini Schnauzers are reliable low-fuss swimmers.

Akita

cautious • Swim Coach

Independent thinker — most Akitas need patience to accept the pool but become steady swimmers.

Chow Chow

cautious • Swim Coach

Dense coat and independent temperament — Chows need calm coaching but the pool is genuinely good for them.

Shiba Inu

cautious • Swim Coach

Independent, fox-like breed — Shibas often protest the pool then decide it's fine, actually.

German Shepherd

capable • Swim Coach

Strong swimmers when introduced properly, but many GSDs need 1–2 calm sessions to trust the water.

Boxer

capable • Owner In Pool

Athletic but heavy-fronted; most Boxers swim well once they've learned the ramp.

Rottweiler

capable • Swim Coach

Big, dense and powerful — Rotties tire faster in water than they expect; sessions build gradually.

Doberman

capable • Swim Coach

Athletic but low body fat and cold-averse — our heated pool is ideally warm for a Dobie.

Bernese Mountain Dog

capable • Swim Coach

Big-boned mountain breed — swimming is one of the safest exercises Bernese can get for their joints.

Great Dane

capable • Swim Coach

Enormous but surprisingly buoyant — Danes need our purpose-built ramp and a coach guiding depth.

Newfoundland

natural • Owner In Pool

Water rescue breed — Newfies are the strongest swimmers on the planet; the pool is their happy place.

St Bernard

capable • Swim Coach

Enormous alpine breed — swimming is one of the few land-free exercises safe for a St Bernard's joints.

Husky

cautious • Swim Coach

Bred for snow, not water — most Huskies need calm coaching to accept the pool; they usually get there.

Alaskan Malamute

cautious • Swim Coach

Big, dense and heat-averse — swimming is a summer godsend for Mals but takes calm introduction.

Bullmastiff

high support • Swim Coach

Heavy, front-loaded, brachycephalic-lite — Bullmastiffs need supported swimming; sinking risk is real.