Show a Lab a lake, and the leash becomes a formality. Labs trace back to the St. John's water dogs of Newfoundland, which worked alongside fishermen in icy Atlantic water, and nearly everything about them is built for swimming: a dense, water-resistant double coat, webbed toes, and that thick "otter tail" they use like a rudder.
All that water time is great exercise, but it does come with a few care habits worth building.
After-swim ear care
Floppy ears and lots of water make it easy for moisture to linger in the ear.
- Dry the outer ear with a soft towel after every swim.
- Use a dog ear rinse made for drying, if your Lab swims often.
- Take a quick sniff and look each week. Healthy ears look clean and don't smell.
Coat and skin care
- Rinse off chlorine, salt, or lake water with fresh water after swimming.
- Towel-dry, then let them air-dry fully, especially in the thick undercoat near the skin.
- Check paws and the spaces between toes, where moisture and debris can hide.
- Brush weekly to keep the undercoat from trapping moisture.
What is "swimmer's tail"?
After a long swim, especially in cold water, some Labs end up with a tail that hangs limp or droops from the base. It's often called limber tail or swimmer's tail. Building swim time up gradually, avoiding very cold water, and giving them rest after big swim days can help. If it doesn't bounce back within a few days, check in with your vet.
Support their skin from the inside out
Water, sun, and seasonal changes can all be tough on skin. Every Canine Keeps formula supports skin and coat from the inside with omega-3 fatty acids for a healthy skin barrier and glossy coat, antioxidant-rich superfoods, and multiple strains of probiotics that support the gut-immune connection behind seasonal comfort.
The bottom line
A few minutes of drying, rinsing, and checking after each swim keeps your water dog comfortable all season long.
Take the quiz to see how we'd personalize your Lab's formula, or read more on our Labrador Retriever page.
