How to keep your pets safe around water during as summer approaches
PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Summer is on its way, which means many of us will be enjoying some pool time with our four-legged friends not too far away.
But it's important to keep in mind that not all dogs know how to swim.
Backyard pools and other bodies of water can be dangerous for pets, and in this viral video, you can see when a dog jumps into the pool to rescue another dog.
Many people might believe that all dogs are natural swimmers, however, experts say that's simply not the case.
"Even dogs that have swam in creeks, lakes, the oceans... they hit a pool, there's a sudden drop-off, it causes them to panic," Greg Winters said.
Winters says 90 percent of dogs are capable of learning how to swim.
"When you bring your dog into the pool, the first thing you'll see is them panic, try to get to an edge and get out," he said. "Another thing you'll see is their paws out of the water and their butts sinking. If they're getting vertical in anyway, they're going to sink immediately."
The key is teaching them in a relaxed setting.
"If you wouldn't leave your baby out around that pool, then you shouldn't leave your dog out around the pool," Winters said.