Yes, Huskies like water, they usually love playing and swimming in the water. They are natural swimmers with a thick double coat that helps them stay warm.
A dog’s preference for swimming depends on the individual dog, but some breeds like water more than others.
Do Huskies Like Water?
Yes!
Many owners bring their husky to the beach or lake for a fun day of swimming and play.
Huskies also enjoy taking baths and often will try to jump in the tub when it’s time for a bath!
Huskies have been known to dig out mud puddles and splash around in them, so make sure you keep an eye out if you’re letting your husky play outdoors.
He may appreciate some water fun more than you think.
A Little Husky History
The Chukchi people of Northeast Asia perfected the Siberian Husky breed over three thousand years with the intent of creating a companion dog capable of pulling their sleds across the tundra.
The husky’s thick double-layered coat is perfect for the tundra’s single-digit temperatures and freezing winds.
Their sociability made them ideal for teamwork. Their stamina allowed them to trek over long journeys.
Huskies became a lifesaving opportunity for the Chukchi people to expand their hunting grounds.
The breed’s popularity then skyrocketed after the infamous sled dog, Balto, and his team ran 658 miles in five and a half days to get urgently needed diphtheria medication to the residents of Nome, Alaska.
Although the husky now lives as a companion in most homes in the U.S., there are still sled dog teams worldwide that depend on the stamina, strength, and determination of the Siberian Husky!
Some Huskies Don’t Like Water – Why?
It seems peculiar for a dog bred in a snowy, wet climate to dislike water, but there is a good reason behind the avoidance.
Dogs like Labrador Retrievers were bred to work in water; they are strong swimmers and often have a natural affinity for water.
However, the Siberian husky was born to be a land dog in a climate where spending time in the water meant sure death.
Even in warmer climates where sled dog teams run regularly, dogs and sled masters have been known to fall through weakened ice, develop hypothermia, and drown.
With sea temperatures in Siberia averaging a chilly twenty-eight degrees Fahrenheit, any bodily contact with the water means a significant risk of moderate to severe hypothermia.
The Chukchi people kept their dogs away from the water, but this lifesaving move also meant that huskies never became strong swimmers.
This weakness seems to have stuck with the breed over the generations.
Can Huskies Swim?
Some huskies can swim, but their swimming ability depends strongly on their previous experience.
If a puppy learns to swim at a young age, it can become a strong swimmer, but if they do not see water and don’t swim regularly, they often have trouble finding its “sea legs.”
Do Huskies Dislike All Water?
Most husky owners find out that their dogs like to paddle in smaller wading pools and even sit in the sea tide!
But they will also tell you that their dogs have no interest in deeper waters or swimming.
Teaching Your Husky to Swim
You must start to work with your husky on water training as soon as possible if you want them to be a strong swimmer.
Let’s take a quick look at some tips that can help you to do this…
Get a Life Jacket
Always put your husky in a life jacket before you start teaching them how to swim.
People assume that all dogs naturally know how to swim, but this is not always the case.
Some dogs even sink as soon as they start to panic! A life jacket will stop this from happening.
Be sure to measure your husky correctly so their life jacket fits well and won’t dislodge and bob up around your dog’s head as they try to swim!
Make Sure Safety Equipment Is In Place
Before you let your dog get into the pool, make sure that you have:
- A removable ramp in the pool so that if your dog gets too tired, it can get out safely.
- A fence around the pool to ensure your dog doesn’t fall in.
Get In The Water Too!
When teaching your husky to swim, ensure you get in the water too! You can’t teach anyone to swim without getting in the water with them, let alone your dog.
As you enter the water, you are letting your husky know that the pool is safe and that they will be safe because you are there too.
Don’t Force Them In!
Call your husky over to you and invite them into the shallow end with you if they come in. Your dog may begin by standing on the stairs and watching you in the water.
Please do not force them to get into the water with you; let them take their time.
Your husky may decide they don’t want to get in the water, which is fine. Give your dog as much time as they need.
Stay in the Shallow End
If your husky gets into the water with you, stay in the pool’s shallow end. You can encourage them to swim towards you by slowly walking backward in the shallow end.
Praise your pup as they start to come towards you and begin to swim.
Take Things Slowly
As your dog gets used to swimming, you can begin giving them more freedom to swim in the pool.
You may want to take off your dog’s life jacket once they swim more confidently. Be sure you are in the water with your dog so that if they have trouble staying afloat, you can help.
Conclusion / Summary
Although huskies are athletic and can traverse the tundra in sub-zero temperatures, they are not strong swimmers.
This quality likely comes from thousands of years of Chukchi sled masters trying to preserve their sled dog teams by keeping them away from icy waters!
