Basset Hound With the 'Survival Skills of a Potato' Has the Internet in Stitches
Some dogs are born athletes. They have endless stamina, incredible agility, and seem to excel at every physical challenge. Basset Hounds do not fall into that category, and this one named Leroy proves it in this adorable video that his mom shared recently, and it's cracking everybody up.
Leroy was enjoying a day at the lake with his family, sporting a life jacket and checking out the water before deciding to make a leap onto the boat dock. Unfortunately, the slick metal surface and his adorably short legs weren't a winning combination. Watch as he slips and slides and does everything possible to not end up in the water, before ending up in the water!
@caycay0524 "Lake dog" is a debatable title for Leroy @Cole Murphy
original sound - Caitlin
Leroy's mom assured everybody that he was okay, and joked in the caption, "'Lake dog' is a debatable title for Leroy...", but he really did give it his all and tried to hang on. Luckily, Dad was there to save the day!
@Hardee's pointed out, "Glad everybody stayed calm lol!" Another commenter joked, "It was at that moment he knew..." and @Sam Fisher added, "I see why the life jacket was necessary."
By far, everybody's favorite part of the video was when he human started screaming. @kay got more than 133,000 likes when they shouted, "'LEROYY YOURE DYINGGG' LOL!!!!!!"
Related: This Adorable, Clumsy Labrador Retriever Might Be the Least Coordinated Water Dog Ever
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Can Basset Hounds Swim?
According to veterinarian Dr. Maja Platisa, while Basset Hounds can swim, they're not very good at it. Their long bodies, short legs, and heavy bone structure make it much harder for them to stay afloat than many other breeds...they are not water dogs.
Dr. Platisa explains, "Combined with their tendency to tire quickly, swimming can be difficult and even dangerous for them." That's why Basset Hounds should always be closely supervised around pools, lakes, docks, and boats, and why a properly fitted canine life jacket is an important safety precaution.
Thankfully, Leroy was already wearing his life jacket, and Dad was right there to pull him out after his slippery adventure. While Leroy's pride may have taken a hit, he was okay, and he gave the internet a good laugh in the process.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 8:00 AM.