If your dog loves the water, you may already have strategies in place to ensure their safety while out on the boat or at the shore. For example, a long leash enables them to frolick without the risk of trailing off too far, and that can also apply to the open waters.

Registered Veterinary Technician with Prairie Animal Health Centre, Kristin Caldwell, says most dogs are careful enough when it comes to their own swimming skills and limitations.

"Most dogs will respect their own boundaries," she explained. "Not all breeds are efficient swimmers. Great Dane does not do well at swimming, their legs are really long, and they're really awkward in the water, and most of them will tend not to wade out that far. A pug, for example, is also not usually the greatest swimmer, so they'll tend not to be swimmers. They come in all shapes and sizes, so some are good swimmers and some are not."

While dog owners generally know if their dog loves or hates the water, instinct can kick in anywhere, and that includes on a lake, especially in a boat.

"Where you have to be careful is in like canoes and boats and things like that, where a dog can jump out and has no way to get back onto the shore," Caldwell cautioned.

"When they're coming in off the shore, the dog typically will respect their own boundaries and come back in, but if they're in the process of wanting to chase, like a bird, a duck, things like that, you can run the risk where a dog will swim out beyond their abilities and get to the point where they get exhausted."

"So that's wehre the risk comes in, is they're chasing after something, but for the most part, they'll jump in, go get their stick or ball, and come back out again."

Learn more about how to keep your pets cool in summer HERE.