Top 5 Water Dog Breeds – Dogster

Many dogs enjoy spending time in water, but some dog breeds were developed specifically to hunt, help, and work in water alongside people.

The best water dog breeds tend to have these characteristics:

• strong and agile swimmers
• water-repellent coats to keep them warm while diving in freezing waters
• some breeds have webbed feet.

If you enjoy spending time near water and are considering adding a new dog to your family, a water-loving breed is for you. Keep in mind that each of these dog breeds are active and also need regular training, exercise, and enrichment outside of the water.

Here are the most gifted swimmers in the canine world:

1. Labrador Retrievers

One of the most popular dogs in the United States, the Labrador Retriever was first developed as a duck hunting dog. they collected the birds after they were shot. The labs maintain a love of water to this day. Labradors have a short, dense coat, a strong natural instinct for retrieval and an attraction to water. These dogs are active, playful and naturally outgoing, making them very popular family dogs.

2. Newfoundland

This giant breed was developed specifically to work in the freezing waters of Canada. Natural swimmers, Newfoundlands have partially webbed feet and were bred to pull fishing nets in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic. These dogs have always been used for water rescue. An adult Newfoundland can pull people and even boats out of the water. This large, strong dog has a thick coat to keep him warm in freezing waters and maintains a strong working instinct.

3. Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Bred as a duck dog to aid hunters, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog breed has a waterproof, oily coat to glide through water and keep it warm. The unique oily coat repels water in the same way as duck feathers. These dogs have webbed feet and can swim powerfully in cold water, while maintaining a strong fetching drive, making them popular hunting dogs.

4. standard poodle

Don’t let this breed’s whimsical appearance fool you: the Standard Poodle is a born and bred water dog. Developed as a duck hunting dog in Germany, Standard Poodles were bred as strong swimmers. The poodle haircut we see today was developed to reference the job these dogs were originally bred for: poofs, or pom poms, give these dogs a full range of motion, but offer warmth and protection to their joints and organs.

5. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

This little retriever is built to move powerfully through the water. Developed to look like foxes, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers were bred to bring game birds into the range without arousing suspicion. Then these nimble retrievers go into the water and retrieve the birds. These dogs are strong swimmers, full of energy, known for their unique vocalizations sometimes referred to as a “toller cry”, and thrive when they have a job to do.

How to introduce a dog to water:

It doesn’t matter if you have a dog that is bred to be in the water or a breed that takes water less naturally, be slow and intentional about how you introduce your dog or puppy to the water. Choose calm water that is not too overwhelming, with minimal waves and a gentle slope. Here are more tips for teaching your dog to swim. Once he’s comfortable in the water, you can spend time swimming together, or even get him involved in Dock Diving.