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.
[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.