When we were looking for our house, we were in no hurry to move. It was a want, not a need, so we made a list of house wishes that were super specific. One of those wishes was a swimming pool. Our fabulous real estate agent pointed out that there were many neighborhoods that had a pool within walking distance. “No,” we said. “It’s not for us. It’s for our dogs.”
We knew she was the agent for us when she smiled and said, “Totally get it. I’m an animal lover, too!”
So, we found our house with a pool.
The goal for this summer was to get Emmett swimming! He’s about to turn 13 (next week!!), and he’s dealing with something a lot of seniors deal with: loss of muscle mass. That, combined with some shaking in his legs and a droopy old man belly, walking has become increasingly difficult for him. With the heat this summer, it’s been even worse. But, it won’t keep him healthy to skip exercise, so swimming seemed like the perfect fit.
Note I said seemed.
Emmett knows how to swim. He’s been swimming in the Chesapeake Bay and at the indoor swimming pool at his old doggy daycare. He’s been swimming in my aunt’s outdoor pool, and he’s paddled around in various blow-up and kiddie pools.
Perfect, right?
Emmett appears to have decided that swimming is just too much work. It’s too tiring. He just doesn’t wanna.
We’ll take him outside. He trots along next to us. We open the gate to the pool, and he belly flops… Right into the grass just outside the gate, back to the pool. He turns his head and averts his eyes. “If I don’t look at them, they can’t see me!”
We have, on occasion, put him in the pool. He paddled along, straight to the steps, and right out. Then he shakes off and stands in front of the gate, asking to be let back into the yard. Or, John’s held onto him so that he couldn’t immediately depart but got a short workout in with a few paddles, but again, the second John let go, straight to the steps, out, shake, gate.
So, what do we do?
He can swim. It’s good for him. It’s a way to build strength and endurance without putting more strain on his already weak, trembling legs. It’s not like he has to even spend hours paddling around. A few laps a day would do the trick.
But, he just doesn’t want to.
So, do we force him for his own good, strength-wise, but make him unhappy? Or do we stick with short walks to the end of the block and back, at which point his legs are shaking so badly that he can barely lift one to pee?
I love my old dog with my entire being. He is my light, my angel, my love. But, man, it’s a lot of stress figuring out what’s right…
Cooper, by the way, is a whole other story (of course) that deserves its own post because he’s just flipping hilarious and adorable. More on that to come.
In the meantime, what would you do? If you love a senior, what decisions have caused you angst? Or if you have a pool, how does your dog feel about swimming?
Hmmm…I might try to make it worth his while with treats thrown in or something else he loves. Otherwise, hey, he’s old. I’d probably just let him decide. But I don’t know – you know him best! Maybe you can guilt him into it by telling him you bought that house with the pool especially for him. Hehehehe.
HAHA! I’ve definitely tried that last tactic (“you know this is for you, right?”) but it doesn’t seem to sway him! 😀
Aw. I think you have to let the wise old guy choose what he wants to do.
That may end up happening regardless… he is a stubborn blockhead. 🙂
I’m torn between “aw, let him do what he wants he’s 82 (dog) years old,” and “let’s keep him healthy and strong for as long as possible.” I guess though I’d lean toward the second. Maybe have him swim a few times a week, and slowly up the times he’s in the pool? According to the dog food bags Hershey is going to be a senior this October so I guess I’d best start thinking about things like this!
Yeah, it’s tough. Balancing the “it’s for his own good” against what he wants is a struggle. I honestly think he’s in this good of shape at 13 because he’s had such an active life, so I’m tempted to force it at least a smidge…
I think its one of those moments that he is in charge. There is something that he doesn’t like about swimming now. It would be nice, you’re right, but hey, he’s old and he wants to be in charge! And really, how can you deny that face????? Kisses to Emmett and Cooper
I can’t deny that face!!!! Ever! He definitely gets his way… usually no matter what I want because I’m a softie and he’s stubborn! 🙂
Oh my gosh! Your boy sounds like mine! D’Art does the same ‘if I don’t look at them they won’t see me’ thing! And he can be stubborn! That’s a real tricky one though. We’re dealing with muscle loss and shaky back legs too. I’m learning that walks are still good, but not long ones. I don’t know what to advise, but i think as their guardians we have to keep best interests in mind, even if the stubborn old guys feel otherwise! Good luck! I know I’d want to swim in that pool!
It’s hard, isn’t it? I want him to be happy, but being healthy is a big part of that… which he doesn’t understand, of course! And then!!! Today we took them to this park that has a nice little path along a creek…. and the bugger just jumped right in, waded around, then paddled out, like “that was fun.” Goober. 🙂
Dealing with exactly the same things with Jack – age related, bridging spondylosis, sagging legs, no muscle mass etc. We’re making him do more exercise – have taken him to ‘exercise’ class and to water treadmill. We don’t have a pool, wish we did, but he would probably be like Emmett. It’s one of those things…you know it’s better for him and he will benefit…
I feed him treats in the treadmill – he’ll do most anything for treats. so instead of a chore it becomes food time.
I love those treadmills! I know it’s probably make such a huge difference for Jack! I think you’re onto something, though… swimming needs to become food time. That’ll sway him! 😉
As a senior myself I think at a certain point we should be allowed to make our own life decisions. But have you tried filling the pool with Cheeseburgers?
A pool filled with cheeseburgers is what Emmett dreams of every night. I’m sure of it. He says, “Thanks for the brilliant idea, Jan!!!”
I’m so happy for you with the pool! I would love to have one and I’m sure Haley would love it too. Maybe one day, The video of Cooper’s awesome!
Thank you!!! We were so determined to find a house in our price range that had one, so we were sooo thrilled to find this place! (Just ignore the rotting siding… ha!) Now if only we could get Emmett to enjoy it! 😉
Google “cesar millan dog pool” there is some good videos that might help. My main takeaway is to make it fun for them, and they must be the ones to get into the pool.
Definitely the fun thing is where we’re struggling with Emmett!! Cooper is having so much fun… except he can’t figure out how to get in. Sort of the opposite of that advice, unfortunately!!! I’ll write a post about his “issue” later on, but the gist is that he enjoys paddling around and chasing squeaky balls, but he’s too afraid to jump in. We have to put him in!
As a dog owner I want to spoil my dog, as a nurse I know how good exercise is for everything!! I would probably have him swim a little, if he like the walks and is willing to walk I would continue with just walking, but if the walks are too much I would have him swim a bit.
I LOVE THAT! Dog owner vs nurse! 🙂 You made the perfect parallel to how I’m feeling… thank you so much for that! I’m still waffling a bit, but he’s had the week “off” from my indecision because it’s been raining too much to swim anyway! Ha!
I’m with DashLily…but on the other hand, the pool would be good for him too. Decisions, decisions.
One of those times I wish I could just have a dang conversation with my guy…
You are so lucky to have a pool, and at least Cooper is enjoying it – yay! That’s so tough…they can be so stubborn, can’t they?
Heck, I’m pretty sure every decision causes angst when you have a senior! Having a senior, or a dog that is ill and you know their time is limited, is so tough. But for me it means making them happy for every day they have left, and I guess that would mean not pushing them to do things they don’t want to; even if we know it would be good for them.
But I wouldn’t give up trying either, at least for a bit. I would just keep bringing him and letting him leave if that’s what he wants to do.
Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts, Jan. You know so much about seniors, and I love and value your perspective. I think I will keep at it for a bit but let him decide in or out. Thank you so much.
I have a pond and a creek, and Neeko and Faolan both love to swim! Bruce will barely get his paws wet.
I understand your angst. I can’t stand to force my dogs to do things they don’t want to, even if I know it’s good for them.
It’s weighing their happiness against their health… which, ultimately, affects a lot of their happiness. Yep. Angst. Perfect word.
Aw, the poor thing! I can understand the conflict though- you want your dog to be healthy, but if he just doesn’t want to, it doesn’t quite feel right to force him. Best of luck! At least your other dog is loving the pool.
Yes, so true!! I’ll take what I can get! 😀
One of my biggest regrets with my senior Doberman who is no longer with us is that I forced her into our swimming pool when we moved into our house with a pool. I knew we had to do it once to train her where the steps were so she knew she could get out in the event she ever fell in. However, I did not know at the time that second summer of owning our house that when I made her go in one more time (to refresh her memory on the steps) that she had a heart condition. When she got out on the other side after swimming to the steps she was breathing so heavily and I assumed it was panic. 🙁 I could cry just thinking about it. She died in her sleep a few months later.
If your dog doesn’t want to swim, I wouldn’t force the issue.
That’s a tough one! My gut says the best thing would be to get him swimming – trying treats and toy, maybe, and my heart tells me that he has earned his curmudgeoness.
I wish I could help you out!
Monty, Harlow and Ramble
I wonder if it’s the temperature of the water. Is your pool heated?
I have a mutt that does the same thing, it’s gotta be he just doesn’t wan to swim in the backyard, he wants to go! It’s about the event for us, not the availability. I tell you what, read Terry Kay’s book Dog Only Knows. She writes the book which is written by her dog Belle, she just narrates it for her. It’s brilliant, knowing what your dog is thinking or communication can be humorous which it is, but also endearing. dogonlyknows.com is her site for it. It’s a short read, but it’s awesome. It was in reading this that the swimming issue came to light for me! Good luck!
I Have an old dog also and she just sleeps all day. but if your dog is still active enough to swim thats great!
That is awesome that your decided to get a house and pool for your pup 🙂 Something I have always wished to have is a pool for our dog so that our neighbors don’t complain about our dogs in the pool. Oh well, one day! And maybe getting in with him would help him feel more comfortable?