Earlier this summer, we shared with you a photo gallery of 10 dog breeds who tend to love the water. We wondered, too, about the other side of the coin — which dog breeds typically prefer to stay on dry land?
So, we polled 249 veterinary professionals (such as veterinarians, veterinary technicians and office managers) with this question: "Which dog breeds do you consider to be ‘water shy’ — never wanting to get wet?" The results are in, and you can check them out in the gallery below!
10. Papillon
If you're looking for a swim partner for weekend getaways to the lake, a Papillon might not be the right dog for you. That doesn't mean you should count him out for other activities, though — many of these active canines can excel in dog sports like agility, flyball and rally.
9. Chinese Crested
Our veterinary professionals agreed that most Chinese Cresteds don't love to get wet. That's probably for the best, since the hairless variety of this breed tends to get cold easily.
8. Pekingese
By now you've probably detected a trend here: Many toy breeds (like the Pekingese and aforementioned Papillon and Chinese Crested) aren't known for having an affinity for water.
7. Greyhound
Can a Greyhound move through water just as fast as he can run on land? We may never know! Our experts ranked these "40 mph couch potatoes" as a breed that typically doesn't enjoy swimming.
Shih Tzu owners who don't take their dogs swimming may feel a little relieved that they're not depriving their Shih Tzu of a beloved hobby. Rinsing out all that fur after a beach trip would take forever!
4. Maltese
We weren't surprised to find the Maltese on our experts' list. Unlike Labrador Retrievers and Newfoundlands, who were developed partially for water work, this affectionate, little companion dog was bred simply to love and be loved.
3. Bichon Frise
Instead of paddling in the pool, the Bichon Frise tends to have other hobbies: playing in the yard, learning new tricks or even just cuddling with you on the sofa. Anything that happens on dry land is much preferred, we would think!
2. Yorkshire Terrier
You probably haven't thought to go swimming with your Yorkshire Terrier — and that may be a good thing, since he'd probably prefer to stay on shore. His lack of love for swimming clearly hasn't sunk his reputation, though, since the Yorkie is the No. 6 most popular dog breed in America!
1. Chihuahua
Which breed did you think our veterinary professionals would choose as the most water shy? It's the Chihuahua. These pint-sized pups are known and often beloved for their big attitudes — but clearly not their love for water!
