Something unusual must be afoot with alligators, based on the numerous queries I have received lately.
Some examples follow.
I have a very nice Labrador retriever that I train in south Louisiana, and I'm concerned about gators. Water temperatures that inhibit feeding in reptiles vary among species and among individuals within a species, depending on such factors as cloud cover, availability of basking sites, air temperature, and size of the animal. Some turtles will feed at water temperatures as low as 50 degrees F, and I have seen adult alligators feed on cold, sunny days. Some alligator experts may think this is unnecessarily cold, and they are welcome to let their own dogs swim at higher temperatures. I could be wrong, but I think that by setting a lower temperature threshold I would be more likely to still have my dogs.