Chiweenies are energetic little dogs. As the owner of 2 chiweenies, I can attest to that. Because of this energy, these crossbreeds often spark the curiosity of many pet lovers. Can chiweenies handle strenuous activities like swimming? I have scoured the internet for answers, and these are the things that I have found out.
So, can chiweenies swim? Chiweenies can indeed swim, but this doesn’t mean that they are great in the water. They have different physical and temperament traits that can make them good or bad swimmers. Some of these traits may even persist even if you train them to swim.
I will expand on this answer below. Continue reading to find out more about my personal experience and research about chiweenies, their swimming abilities, and their temperament around water.
How chiweenies can be bad swimmers
When you combine dachshunds and chihuahuas, you will get chiweenies. The unique thing about chiweenies is that most of them don’t look alike. You can never know what physical and temperament traits you will get. But as a general rule, most chiweenies inherit most of their physical traits from their dachshund side of the family and their temperament traits from their chihuahua side.
This means that, physically, most chiweenies have elongated bodies and small legs – just like their dachshund parents. These physical traits can make chiweenies bad swimmers. Their top-heavy build is not efficient in the water and their short legs prevent them from paddling. No matter how much you train your chiweenies to be good swimmers, these traits will always be an impediment to them.
Temperamentally, most chiweenies are not particularly excited around water. In fact, many of them even hate it. They get this temperament trait from their chihuahua parents. Chihuahuas have strong personalities, but they tend to tremble in water. Their natural fear, neutrality, or hatred of water may make chiweenies bad swimmers. And as stubborn crossbreeds, chiweenies may even be stubborn enough to refuse training, especially when it comes to swimming, since it’s not particularly fun for them.
In short, chiweenies can be bad swimmers because their elongated bodies and small legs are not great in the water. They are not particularly excited around water either.
How chiweenies can be good swimmers
It’s summertime and you want to go to the beach. You want your chiweenies to relax and enjoy in the water. That’s great. There are a lot of reasons why chiweenies can be bad swimmers, but there are actually a lot of reasons why these dogs can be good swimmers too.
Chiweenies are small dogs. Most of them are only a few inches tall and wide. This can be very advantageous when it comes to swimming. Being lightweight dogs, chiweenies will require less effort to stay afloat in water. There is even a chance that they will not completely sink, even if they panic and struggle. This is particularly true for chiweenies that don’t have the elongated bodies and small legs from their dachshund parents.
But don’t be too confident. This doesn’t guarantee that your chiweenies will be safe in the water. Their smallness makes them very easy to intimidate. It’s easy to see how chiweenies can find water intimidating. And this intimidation can cause anxiety, fear, and stress. These feelings may make your chiweenies desperate and overexert themselves to climb to “safety.” These may also tire them out really quickly.
Another advantage for chiweenies is the fact that they are very energetic dogs. They get this trait from their chihuahua parents. Generally speaking, the best dog swimmers are those who are very active and outgoing. And thankfully chiweenies are exactly that – active and outgoing. They will enjoy physically straining activities such as long walks, play sessions, and of course, swimming.
Chiweenies require exercise. If you don’t fulfill their exercise needs, they may find other ways to burn their excess energy, such as excessive barking. Swimming will be a great exercise for these crossbreeds to keep them happy and healthy.
How to train your chiweenies to swim
Yes, chiweenies can be good or bad swimmers. But it’s still up to you whether you would train them to swim or not. If you decide to train your chiweenies to swim, I have one piece of advice: start young.
I have 2 chiweenies at home, and I can tell you that these dogs can be very stubborn. It’s best to train them while they are still puppies, so they don’t develop bad habits.
Let’s divide this training into 3 parts: before swimming, during swimming, and after swimming.
Before swimming
Safety is your number one priority. If your chiweenies end up getting hurt while swimming, their stubbornness may show up. They may be uncooperative in swimming sessions and just don’t see the point of all the hardships.
It’s best to get life vests. It will keep the peace of mind of not just your dogs, but also your own. Just make sure you are using one with the proper fit. After all, chiweenies are small dogs, so you may need small or extra small sizes for their life vests.
Another great thing about life vests is their bright and strong color, usually orange. This will make your chiweenies easier to spot, especially when you are in open water.
Speaking of open water, you probably don’t want to start there. It can intimidate and scare your chiweenies. Start slowly. Introduce your chiweenies to swimming using an inflatable pool in your yard. Maybe even your bathtub will work.
Also, don’t just throw them into the water immediately. Many dog owners do that, just because they are confident with the life vests. Let your chiweenies be familiar with the water first. Let them sniff and walk around the area. Get their feet wet in the body of water. It may take a while to get chiweenies comfortable, but your effort will not go to waste.
During swimming
First, make sure that they are wearing their life vests properly. They may feel uncomfortable, but you can reassure them with treats.
Again, don’t put them into the water immediately, especially when they are still not used to swimming. Slowly introduce them to the water. If they are no longer showing signs of suspicion, you can put them into the water and let them swim.
You can swim with them too. Chiweenies are clingy and loyal animals. They want to be with their owners as much as possible. Having you there with them in the water reassures them that everything is safe and that water is not something to be afraid of.
Also don’t show signs of panic. Chiweenies will be able to pick them up and think that something is wrong. Just relax and act like you are enjoying the water. Your chiweenies will do their best to enjoy themselves too.
Let them enjoy more by bringing their favorite toys and treats with them in the water. You can also bring in other people and dogs into the water. Your chiweenies will start thinking that swimming is just another fun physical activity.
After swimming
Chiweenies have sensitive skin. Those with short coats are more likely to get skin issues. Keep this in mind when you are swimming in a pool. There may be harsh chemicals that don’t sit well with your dogs. Don’t ignore natural bodies of water either. Salt can also have a negative effect on your dogs’ coats and skin.
After swimming, wash your chiweenies properly with clean and fresh water. Dry them with a towel and apply some conditioner if you think it’s necessary.
Swimming should be a great bonding session between you and your chiweenies. You don’t want to endanger your dogs just because you want them to go swimming. Keep the sessions fun and safe. And don’t forget to give food and water to your dogs after a tiring session. These can serve as their treats for being good dogs and as their replenishments from all the calories they have burned.
Final Thoughts
Chiweenies can be good or bad swimmers, and this will depend on their physical and temperament traits and how you train them.
You don’t have to force your chiweenies to swim. There are other physical activities where they can excel. But if you do want your chiweenies to swim, make sure that swimming sessions are fun and safe.