When is it safe to let my new 10-week-old puppy swim?

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.

That's a very good question. Honestly, I might ask your vet why they recommended that. I can't think of any reason that a puppy can't swim except for safety reasons. I used a lifevest for my puppy when he was young to be safe and NEVER allowed him unsupervised or with any other dogs. But I think it's a great idea for puppies to be exposed to swimming and is a great way for them to burn off some extra energy. Congrats on your new baby! I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

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.

With a name like Prince Sidon, it sounds like you are really gearing up for the water! It really is going to depend on your dog's breed, and if he even likes the water (hopefully he will like it as much as the Zora he's named after!). I would wait until Sidon is a few months old before going too crazy on playing in the water, and make sure he is up to date on all his vaccines before exploring any public places. A shallow kid's pool can be used with a small amount of water to help encourage him to play in it, and offering treats and praise when he explores the water can help. Tossing a favorite toy into the water can also encourage playing and exploration. Most dogs are natural swimmers on their own, and spending time going to places with water can help encourage this behavior. Just make sure you are practicing water safety like you would with a child or adult human - including using a life jacket if you are on a boat, etc, as even the strongest swimmer can still get exhausted or swept up by currents.

If your dog is healthy and fit you can take him for a swim even in colder days. If Spot is suffering from arthritis he may get a flare-up of painful joint(s), so it would be better to avoid getting wet. Finally, if he is Labrador or Golden Retriever he may get a condition called 'swimmers tail' which is a very painful condition of the tail. In general, I would recommdend to dry-towel Spot if you do take him for a swim in cold days.

You can bathe him in baby shampoo now. You can try water when he starts to eat puppy food and gets weaned from formula. Often times they drink last since their puppy food is soft and watered down to help them chew it at that age. They get the water in that mixture instead of drinking. Once they transition more to dry food you will notice the water consumption increase