Why Some Dogs Love Water and Swim Better Than Others

Some dogs are just born loving the water — and sometimes it seems like they can be even better swimmers than you.

While whether or not a dog likes the water is due in large part to his individual personality, part of it can actually be tied to his genetics! Some dogs that love water do so because they were bred specifically to be comfortable with swimming (even though every dog is different).

So just for fun, we reached out to some experts — Emily Brown, a veterinary technician with HelloRalphie; Dr. Sabrina Kong, a veterinarian at Lathrop Veterinary Center and veterinary writer; and Dr. Jennifer Coates, part of the advisory board for Pet News Daily — to find out which types of dogs are most likely to love the water and why they’re so good at swimming.

Why do some dog breeds love water?

In most cases, certain breeds of dogs love water because they were originally bred to be used for water activities, like retrieving waterfowl during hunting.

“Dogs that have historically been bred to work in and around water usually love to swim,” Dr. Coates told The Dodo. “Some of these breeds have developed physical characteristics that serve them well in the water. For example, Labrador retrievers have more webbing between their toes to help them swim, and Chesapeake Bay retrievers have oily coats to help them repel water.”

16 breeds of dogs that love water

While these breeds are typically more fond of water and swimming than others, you should keep in mind that each individual dog is different, and your pup might not love the water even though he’s a water-loving breed — or he might love water even if he’s not one of the breeds on this list!

1. Labrador retriever

The first dog who might come to mind when you think of dogs that love water is a Labrador retriever.

“Labs are notoriously fond of swimming, and their bodies are made for it,” Brown told The Dodo. “Labs have a thick coat with a water-resistant outer layer that keeps their skin dry and staves off the cold, plus it dries quickly. They also have webbing on their paw pads that helps them propel through the water.”

“Equally happy on land or sea, Labrador retrievers were bred with waterfowl hunting in mind,
which is why they have no problem with getting wet,” Dr. Kong told The Dodo.

2. Golden retriever

Golden retrievers probably come in a close second behind Labs when it comes to dogs that love water.

“Quite possibly, the first image that comes to your head when you think of a dog playing in the water is a golden retriever,” Dr. Kong said. “These proactive dogs have water-repellent coats, which is what makes them great for this kind of activity.”

3. Chesapeake Bay retriever

Chesapeake Bay retrievers are super strong and energetic. Like Labs, Chesapeake Bay retrievers were bred to retrieve ducks (hence the name) in the Chesapeake Bay.

“They have an even more oily, waterproof coat than Labs, and the fur is wiry and has a wavy pattern that helps them both move through the water and prevent getting too cold,” Brown said. “They also have webbed feet and a powerfully built body that can even break through ice in winter.”

4. Standard poodle