Dog paddle

The dog paddle or doggy paddle is a simple swimming style. It is characterized by the swimmer lying on their chest and moving their hands and legs alternately in a manner reminiscent of how dogs and other quadrupedal mammals swim.[1] It is effectively a "trot" in water, instead of land.[2]

It was the first swimming stroke used by ancient humans, believed to have been learned by observing animals swim.[3] Prehistoric cave paintings in Egypt show figures doing what appears to be the dog paddle.[4]

It is often the first swimming stroke used by young children when they are learning to swim.[5]

The dog paddle has also been taught as a military swimming stroke when a silent stroke is needed - since neither arms or legs break the surface.[6]

See also

References
  1. William Clarke (1881). Boys' Own Book: A Complete Encyclopedia of Athletic, Scientific, Outdoor and Indoor Sports. J Miller.
  2. Carl Zimmer (1999). At the Water's Edge: Fish with Fingers, Whales with Legs, and How Life Came Ashore But Then Went Back to Sea. Simon & Schuster. p. 183. ISBN 0-684-85623-9.
  3. Cecil Colwin (2002). Breakthrough Swimming: Stroke Mechanics, Training Methods, Racing Techniques. Human Kinetics. p. 12. ISBN 0-7360-3777-2.
  4. Greg Kehm (2007). Olympic Swimming and Diving. Rosen. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-4042-0970-1.
  5. H. Manners, M. E. Carroll (1995). A Framework for Physical Education in the Early Years. Routledge. p. 110. ISBN 0-7507-0417-9.
  6. U.S. Departments of the Army and Air Force (1950). Survival at Sea. United States Government Printing Office. p. 58.
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