Your dog is a smart animal but he still needs you to look after him, particularly when he is in an area where he is unsure of himself. This makes you wonder – how can you keep him safe when you are spending time around water?

Your pet needs you to teach him how to swim and to offer him a floatation device when appropriate so he can handle himself in the water if he were to suddenly find himself in it. He also needs you to be vigilant and keep an eye on him to ensure he doesn’t get into any trouble. Your pet may also need the water to be blocked off at times to ensure his safety, or for him to be placed in an area where he won’t be able to get to it on his own when he isn’t being supervised. For more information, please contact your local Portland, OR veterinarian.