Why wait until 6 months for puppy to swim? Pool safety concerns?

I would wait until Chase is fully vaccinated with his Rabies and Distemper combo vaccines. This is usually accomplished by 16 weeks of age, or at the latest, 18 weeks of age if following a normal vaccination schedule. There is no reason that you have to wait any longer than this. With a young puppy like Chase, I would consider putting a life preserver on him just so he can maintain some relative confidence while swimming for the first few times. You can obtain them at most pet stores and on websites like Amazon. Hope this makes sense.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Those dogs are amazing! It should be okay for dogs to swim if they want to, as long as it is sunny and they have access to dry bedding/towels. For the lab with arthritis, swimming is actually great exercise as it is low impact - just be careful with her getting in and out of the pool. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your puppy. It would be safest to bathe him at home until he is fully vaccinated. This would limit his risk of acquiring any infectious diseases. If you really want to take him, then I recommend carrying him into the facility. Place him in the tub, bathe him and then carry him out of the store. Do not allow him to interact with other dogs or go to the bathroom outside the store where other dogs go. Many infectious diseases are spread through the feces. I hope this information helps!

No, it would not be a good idea to put him in the water until he is much older. Since they are not good swimmers at that age is it very easy for them to choke on water. That water can get in the lungs and can also cause pneumonia. His lungs are already compromised from his last bout of pneumonia. Salt water is especially bad. It is best to wait until he is an adult to put him in the water.

You can start now by letting her walk into the water and play in the water. eventually as she gets older and grows up she will be more daring in the water and will voluntarily go for a swim if asked. Do not overdo it, 8 weeks is like a 1 year old human toddler. Play it by ear and only let her play in the water as much as she actually wants. Bring a towel and make sure to dry her well after coming out so she will not get cold and connects the water with something nice as rubbing and drying her body.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! For his own safety and the safety of other dogs, it would be best to wait until he has received his complete first year round of vaccines including the second parvovirus vaccine which usually is given at around 4-5 months of age though that depends on when they received the first set of vaccines. This should be soon anyway so you should be able to take him to the park fairly soon. He is adorable!!! Good luck and have a great day!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, he can go to the Beach. He shouldn't be taken to dog parks or be allowed to play with unvaccinated dogs. Keep him on sidewalks and roads. Be careful on the beach that he doesn't drink the salt water or eat the sand. Have fun!