How long can a dog hold its breath?

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2009-08-16 6:20 PM

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Pro
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Bellingham, WA
Subject: How long can a dog hold its breath?
Well I almost got to find out yesterday. I was on my last trip across the small lake where I swim and was about 200 yards from shore when something grabbed my ankle. It startled me and I thought someone I knew had snuck up on me and grabbed me. I turned around to see a damn dog with my ankle in its mouth. He let go and had only applied enough pressure to hold my ankle without breaking the skin. He paddled off towards shore and I breaststroked in spitting mad as I scanned the shoreline for the idiot that owned the dog.

The dog ran up and down the beach for 15 minutes until his owner came swimming in. I lit into him and his response was that he started the swim with his dog but he bailed on him and figured he'd just finish his swim. At that point I'm wondering how long this idiot can hold his breath but just shook my head and headed out of there. If I swam in the ocean, I'm the type that would always be worrying about sharks now I'm going to be feeling dogs shadow me in the lake. Ughh.



Edited by popsracer 2009-08-16 6:33 PM

2009-08-16 6:22 PM
in reply to: #2351886

Iron Donkey
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, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: How long can a dog hold its breath?

As long as it wants to?

2009-08-16 6:49 PM
in reply to: #2351886

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Expert
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Subject: RE: How long can a dog hold its breath?

I thought you were going to say that the dog was trying to rescue you and pull you to shore! 

And maybe he was!!!

Or maybe he was playing fetch and you were the nearest object in the water.... lol



2009-08-16 7:15 PM
in reply to: #2351886

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Ontario
Subject: RE: How long can a dog hold its breath?
I'm not sure dogs know about holding breath, hence the dog-paddle.  I know mine gets very upset when I go underwater whether it is in the lake or in the tub, and unfortunately, has tried to rescue me both places....Gawd, I need some alone time!
2009-08-16 8:08 PM
in reply to: #2351886

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Veteran
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West Hartford, CT
Subject: RE: How long can a dog hold its breath?
oh my! I would have freaked out. I don't blame you for being mad at the owner. Seems kind of irresponsible to take a dog on a long swim. One thing is to take a dog running - but swimming? hmmmmm  -
<-----------does not own a dog
2009-08-16 8:45 PM
in reply to: #2352066

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the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: How long can a dog hold its breath?
thirdsacharm - 2009-08-16 9:08 PM oh my! I would have freaked out. I don't blame you for being mad at the owner. Seems kind of irresponsible to take a dog on a long swim. One thing is to take a dog running - but swimming? hmmmmm  -
<-----------does not own a dog


The irresponsible part was continuing his own swim after the dog bailed.  But taking the dog swimming?  I wish I had thought of it when my dog Nikki was alive and in her prime.  She used to love to swim.  If she couldn't find the stick I had thrown for any reason, she would keep swimming until she found one.  We tried ONCE to take her out canoeing and kayaking with us - but she kept jumping into the water to swim! She would have easily swum across the lake with me and back.  We used to run together on the trail (til she spotted the water). And once I took her with me on a mtn bike trail ride, but I think it was a bit too much for her.

But leaving the dog while he was swimming is like running off down the trail without the dog.  A recipe for potential disaster.

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