Assistance Dog Storm in his swimming safety vest

Ronald Wiedbusch | Contributor

With the sudden onset of summer here in south east Michigan, we as pet owners need to be prepared for all the different activities warm weather brings with it.

One that everyone can enjoy, including our pets, is the use of the many lakes and pools we have access to here in our community. Using them is a great way to keep cool, but it also requires you to take a few things into account.

Since there will be so many of us heading on vacations in the coming months, I wanted to go over a few general water safety tips to help keep your dog healthy and happy this summer. While it’s a lot of fun to splash around with your pet, it also brings a number of danger you should be aware of to help keep everyone safe.

The most basic thing to always keep in mind when you're around water with your dog is that supervision is required. A cardinal rule is that you should never allow a dog by a body of water without supervision.

Supervision is the number one way to prevent any sort of mishap that could happen when water is involved. You cannot assume that other people or a lifeguard will be watching you pet; it is your responsibility to keep an eye on them. Just like you children, vigilance is the number one way to keep your dog safe.

When you are by water and you're tired, sick or have been drinking, do not allow your dog to play in the water. It is your responsibility to keep your pet safe, and this should be taken seriously.

Also, not all dogs naturally know how to act when they are presented with water. Some may take to it by nature, but, before you know if they will, you should spend some time to train them to help make a safe and fun experience Never just toss your dog into water for their first time — it can lead to disaster.

Swimming vest such as this one help keep your pet safe

Ronald Wiedbusch | Contributor

Instead of forced learning, take a more relaxed and positive approach to teach you dog about water use. Start just at the shore of a lake and get the dog used to being wet and how the lake feels.

Then, using simple commands, such as "swim" or "come," slowly go out deeper with your dog. This way you are not only teaching the dog to swim in water on your command, but you're also right there if anything should happen. Using voice commands will let your pet know when it is okay to be out in the water, preventing mishaps such as using a hot tub or chemical-filled pool without your permission.

Another thing to be aware of is that while the lakes around our state are a wonderful resource, they can also at times be dangerous to use. Make sure your aware if there are any swimming advisories for the water you are using, and if there are, do not let your dog swim. If the water is not safe for you, it is not safe for your dog.

It is just a sad fact that in today’s world there are a number of waterborne health risks that you should be aware of. These are things such as toxic chemicals, large algae blooms or insecticides. Exposure to any of these things can cause adverse health effects for a long time in your dog, so make sure you are aware of any advisories that may be in effect.

Other water hazards to watch out for are things such as strong currents, high waves, aggressive animals and manmade hazards such as pipe lines and debris.

Finally, just like people, when a dog is in water where he cannot touch or reach shore easily, he should be fitted with a safety vest. This will help a dog who is a weak swimmer keep safe, prevent a dog who gets a cramp or tires from being unable to reach shore safely and make your dog easier to keep track of when he is in the water because of the vest's bright color.

A dog safety vest my look somewhat goofy on your pet, but they are life saving devices that prevent tragedies. It is an investment that is a must if you’re going to be in water with your dog. Erring on the side of caution is never a mistake.

While I've provided a few tips to help have a safe water experience, there are also a innumerable other factors to take into account. Things to consider include keeping your dog hydrated, deciding where they can go to the bathroom, assessing how busy the water spot you go to will be and how hot the weather will be and noting if other dogs will be in the water at the same time your dog will.

While it seems like a lot to keep in mind, being prepared is always better than what can happen if you are not.

For additional considerations for water safety and canines,  click here.

Ron Wiedbusch is a regular contributor to AnnArbor.com's pets section and works in the community to raise awareness about Assistance and Therapy Dogs and the Americans with Disabilities Act with his certified Assistance, Service, Rescue and Therapy Dog, Storm. The pair can be found at various places in the community throughout the week, and each day patrolling the area around Ypsilanti Public Schools as part of the Safe Schools Program.