Awesome Playdate

[Lovemycorgi]

Great pictures from John!

[Michael Romanos]

Debbie - your assessment of Bassets re their swimming abilities, is incorrect. That lovely shot which included a Basset PADDLING is probably all the dog can do. Mind you, in the dog world there is always an exception or two. The question was asked what is the only breed of dog that cannot swim. And the answer was the Basset Hound.

[Michael Romanos]

Debbie - your assessment of Bassets re their swimming abilities, is incorrect. That lovely shot which included a Basset PADDLING is probably all the dog can do. Mind you, in the dog world there is always an exception or two. The question was asked what is the only breed of dog that cannot swim. And the answer was the Basset Hound. Taylor and I had an extensive walk with a pack of three Basets and their owner early last year, and that person had also told me that Bassets don't swim and boy, do they move slowly on land.

[glencorgi]

Michael,

It wasn't *my* assesment of Basset's and their ability or inability to swim. The information came from Breeders of Basset Hounds who were gracious enough to answer my questions and are involved in a variety of breed appropriate activities with their dogs. I'll be happy to pass along to them you said they are wrong.

Debbie

[glencorgi]

Looks like AKC CH Windsock's Pretty Boy Floyd didn't get the Basset's aren't able to swim memo.

Per his Breeder: "As a norm, most basset hounds don't like to swim, but will cross a river if necessary to hunt the rabbit. Floyd will swim in a river or the ocean that he can walk into. He does not like to jump into a swimming pool straight on but will go down steps to swim. Unlike my crazy bloodhound who will cannonball from the deep end!"

Debbie

[glencorgi]

They a say picture is worth a thousand words.

[Michael Romanos]

There is always a glorious exception - or two, or three, or four or or............

A thoisand words, may not equate to a thousand Bassets.

[glencorgi]

Let's see, on the one hand we have Breeders who have spent years learning their breed, participating in all kinds of events with them, trialing them, living with them day in and day out. On the other hand there's a trivia question that is posted as gospel fact. Which to believe?

Debbie

PS: Apologies to Jane for the hijacking of the thread, although I believe Floyd would have had a wonderful time along with Woody at the playdate.

[Chip's Mom]

Debbie:

Those pics are hilarious. I love bassett hounds. Thanks for the smile today. Sorry Jane

[Jane Austen]

Don't apologize, I am happy to have anyone continue or add to my thread. Better than being ignored! I loved the pictures of a "swimming basett hound too.

[Lovemycorgi]

I love the pictures of the Basset Hound swimming....looks to graceful too!

[Michael Romanos]

While the item I had found on the internet under the heading of 20 facts about dogs ( or similar) which stated that 'Bassets are the only dog breed in the world which can't swim', may not be quite true. The statement is 'true enough' or true to a point. Most Bassets cant swim and those that can may attempt to swim but usually can't swim too successfully which makes their swimming ability almost zilch.
Here are two quotes:
Can Bassets swim? Only with a great deal of difficulty with 2/3rds of the Basset's weight in the front and with such short legs, they can swim only very short distances and with geat difficulty. If you must go boating with a Basset, be certain to provide a life preserver or similar. Extra care must be taken around swimming pools and the Basset should never be left unsupervised in a pool area.

Swimmimg pools must be fenced if you own a Basset.

Of course all animals will atempt to swim to at least preserve themselves. We have a cow in New Zealand who a couple of years ago, got swept away in a flood and survived after several hours of swimming in a raging river.

[llanfey]

Those just seem like common sense, responsible precautions any owner should take with any dog they have regardless of breed. Corgis have the same basic proportions with the bulk of their weight in the front don't they?

I know there have been some tragic and near tragic swimming pool accidents on several of the corgi lists I am on. Corgis will jump into a pool and not be able to get out because they can't climb out. Conscientious owners are careful to teach them where the stairs are in addition to not letting them near the pool without human supervision.

Swimming pool covers are another hazard and a very famous show Poodle lost its life after getting entangled in one.

HR

[Michael Romanos]

I don't like the idea of any dogs in proper swimming pools because of pool chemicals. Of all the Corgis I have had who enjoyed swimming. I trusted them to swim for some time in wide rivers which are moderately fast flowing, and in seas with light choppy waves. The WWCWC has quite a few Corgis who just love swimming - but with three of them who are considerably overweight, I would not want them to be way out in the middle of a wide river without a handler with them as well.