Just like humans, some dogs have certain capabilities or activities that they prefer or do not prefer to do! As a pet owner, you’re probably interested to know what activities your breed of dog like to participate in. Today, we’re going to cover swimming in particular. Our question is can Maltipoos swim?. Let’s dive in! (Pun intended!)
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What is a Maltipoo?
If you’re not the owner of a Maltipoo, you may be wondering just exactly what the Maltipoo is. The Maltipoo is a combination of a Maltese and a Poodle. They are characterized as gentle, playful, and highly intelligent. Maltipoos won’t grow to be more than 14 inches tall, putting them in the small dog category. They can range anywhere from 5–20 pounds. Their fur is hypoallergenic, just like that of their parent breed, and you can find them in pretty much any color – although white and cream are the most popular.
This breed’s history is fairly modern – they are a fairly new crossbreed that has just begun somewhere between 20-30 years ago. But, we can take a look at the Poodle and Maltese history to get a gauge on where these adorable little pups come from.
The Maltese come from Malta, which lies 60 miles south of Sicily, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Greeks loved this breed, calling it “perfectly proportioned.” As time continued, aristocrats of the Roman Empire used this dog as a status symbol. Poodles, on the other hand, originated as duck hunters in Germany. The term “Poodle,” comes from “pudelin,” which refers to splashing in the water. With a crisp, curly coat as protection against the elements, superlative swimming ability, and off-the-charts intelligence, the Poodle was, and still is, a magnificent retriever. Poodles love swimming and if your Maltipoo has some Poodle genetics they will love swimming too!
Maltipoos Ability to Swim
Because of their Poodle ancestry, Maltipoos typically can and love to swim! The Maltese, on the other hand, usually do not like to swim. The biggest difference between the Maltese and Maltipoo is their coats. A Maltese has a heavy coat that gets weighed down in the water, while the Maltipoo has a similar coat to their Poodle ancestor, which is light, curly, and lets water roll off. The Poodle demeanor, which is fun, energetic, and playful, also makes them love new athletic adventures such as swimming.
But, it’s important to note that not all dogs like swimming, so although this breed usually has no issues, you may find that your specific puppy differs from the rest. In this case, it is important not to push or force your dog into the water- this might cause them to be afraid of water in the future. The best way to indicate whether or not your Maltipoo wants to swim is to let them ease into it slowly. Take the saying “dip their toes in the water” seriously! If the dog seems happy and energetic, then they’re probably not too concerned about being in the water, meaning that they should be able to swim well enough.
Teaching Your Maltipoo to Swim
If you have noticed that your Maltipoo doesn’t love the water or doesn’t seem completely sure how to navigate it, you may want to embark on teaching them how to swim and be in the water without being afraid. It is important to start this from the time your dog is a puppy; this is because experiences that dogs are exposed to as puppies seem less scary as they grow into dogs.
There are a few steps you can take to ensure the water is a comfortable place for your dog.
First, make sure the water is not too cold. Just like you, dogs are sensitive to cold water and do not enjoy polar plunging!
Second, make sure the water is calm. Do not allow splashing if you are in a pool, and if you are at the beach, make sure the waves and currents are not too strong. Now that you have taken action to ensure your puppy will be comfortable let’s move into the steps of teaching them how to swim.
- Let your dog ease into the water. As mentioned, it’s usually best to let your dog dip their foot into the water. This could mean wading in the shallow end, letting them feel the water on their paws and gain confidence. As they become more comfortable, they may get the courage to venture deeper.
- Encourage your dog to explore. Once you have spent a good amount of time allowing your dog to familiarize himself with the feeling of the water, you may encourage them to go deeper. Your pup may prefer that you enter the water with him; it could make him less fearful! As you flow through the deep end, you may notice your dog starting to kick their legs.
- Hold your dog as he kicks his legs. If during your time in the deep end, you notice your dog starts kicking their legs, let them! This is their natural instinct of swimming kicking in. It is best to hold them at first, so they get the hang of this motion without sinking or going underwater. Let them move around as you hold them throughout the pool or ocean.
- Let go and let him swim! The moment you have been waiting for has arrived! As you continue to hold your dog while he’s kicking, you may notice him start to feel more confident and move away from you. Let him go and let him swim. Stay close in case your pup loses his confidence, but don’t worry! Most dogs take to swimming like a fish to water!
You may have noticed that this process is quite similar to teaching a child how to ride a bike! Making them feel comfortable, holding onto the bike seat, and eventually letting go. Although this may have seemed like a quick process just after reading the steps in our article, it is important to
know that this process can take weeks to train your dog to swim. You might spend one week on step one, just getting them comfortable in the water. Each dog is different in its needs.
Conclusion to “Can Maltipoos Swim?”
Can Maltipoos swim? Well, although their Maltese ancestors do not enjoy swimming, the coat and demeanor they get from their Poodle parents give them the tools to be great swimmers. You may need to teach your Maltipoo to swim, this will include making sure they are comfortable in the water and this process may take time, but it is very worth it in the end to see the joy on your puppy’s face!
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Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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