Have you seen the ads online for dog swimming pools? I mean the in-ground bone-shaped ones that require installation and plumbing. Aren’t those fancy pools cool? But you say you can’t afford such a luxury? Me, either! Don’t worry, dogs don’t care how much you spend, as long as they are able to cool off in the back yard when the weather’s hot and sunny.
Getting Wet
How about an inexpensive alternative—the plastic kiddy wading pool?
They come in several sizes, so the pool can suit the size of dog. I’ve seen inflatable pools that will hold water up to four feet deep, which might allow even big dogs to swim a few strokes. Usually, a solid plastic pool will suffice—if not for swimming, at least for lounging and getting wet all over.
In general, I wouldn’t recommend a kiddy pool with inflatable sections simply because there’s such a good chance that a dog’s nail or tooth could poke it full of holes. It’s true that some dogs will chew at even the solid plastic pools, but (let’s face it) the solid plastic pools are much cheaper to start out with, and therefore much more likely to be replaced. On the other hand, inflatable pools come with patch kits—so the choice is really up to you.
(Solid lightweight plastic pools can be used indoors, as well, although not with water! Dogs, cats, ferrets . . . all enjoy a “ball pit” pool filled with many plastic balls to jump around in. I’ve found great bargains at thrift stores and even yard sales for bags full of plastic balls that cost only a few bucks. Take them home and wash them well, then fill the “pool” with them and let your pet rock out!)
Dogs who like water will usually like running through your sprinklers, so that’s another inexpensive hot-weather activity that you can encourage—if your dog is not destructive of the hose, sprinkler heads, or automatic watering system. (Encouraging dogs who already obsess over sprinklers and watering systems to fixate even further is probably not a good idea.) For the average dog, though, who likes getting wet but who doesn’t mess with the water conveyances, consider one of those wacky sprinkler heads made for kids to play in. There’s no reason your dog can’t join in the fun.
Swimming Pools
Swimming is great exercise for dogs who enjoy it, but please be extremely wary of allowing your dog to jump in a swimming pool that seems safe for humans. It may not be safe for a dog. The toxic chemicals used to keep the pool clean can be a threat, but not all dogs respond the same way to these chemicals. In advance, find out what is in the water and if it’s entirely safe for your dog or dogs. Ask your veterinarian. Do your research online. Be sure you will be able to hose or wash the dog off completely with clean water when she comes out of the pool. Then take it easy on her first exposure to any new pool. Don’t let her stay in the water long, and rinse her off carefully when she gets out.
Observe your dog closely after that first short visit to any new swimming pool.
Immediately take her to your veterinarian or emergency clinic if you see any unusual reaction in the couple of days following her swim. Provide the vet you see with full information on the chemicals used in that particular pool, so the vet will know what he or she might be dealing with.
Pools for humans can also be dangerous to dogs when the dogs have not been taught how to exit the pool. Dogs usually understand quite readily when pools have steps, but remember, even though your dog may understand how to use the steps to get out, she may not be able to see the steps when she is in the water.
When the pool is your own, plant some sort of permanent marker that the dog can see from in the pool. Plastic flags, contrasting paint on the top step, or something you set up there that says to the dog climb out here. Teach your dog how to find her way out by practicing short recalls with you on the steps and the dog in the pool. Repeat those every time you and the dog use the pool, so your dog won’t forget.
Also, make sure your dog can climb out on her own. If she can’t, you must be there to help her. Never leave a dog unsupervised with access to a pool—not even a pool with a pool cover! Take exactly the same precautions you would if there were children present, please.
Pond, River, and Ocean Swimming
Swimming in ponds and rivers or at a beach can also be a wonderful experience for your dog, but be sure to follow all the safety rules to make sure it’s a safe experience, too.
First of all, don’t assume your dog will know to swim back to you from out in the water. I’ll never forget a Labrador retriever I knew many years ago who loved to play fetch with big sticks thrown into the river. Fortunately, he was a great retriever and a strong swimmer. Unfortunately, his instinct told him to keep swimming in the direction he was going instead of turning around and swimming back to shore where his people were.
He did this more than once, I’m sorry to say—headed for the other side of the river. His people had to jump in their car, drive out of their neighborhood, cross the closest bridge to the other side of the river, then drive to where they thought the dog would climb out. All in all, much too risky an adventure for any dog, even a retriever. Had the river been running faster, the dog would have been washed downstream. Who knows what would have happened to him then?
- Recalls from water must be practiced in water!
- Recalls from water must be practiced with a long line.
- Recalls from water must be practiced repeatedly.
Safety First
- Should your dog wear a life jacket? Yes, probably, especially if she’s on a boat with you. Have your dog fitted properly—if possible, in person at a local pet supply store—and allow her the chance to get used to wearing the apparatus in the same slow, positive way you taught her to accept wearing a head collar or a harness. Eventually, when the dog realizes what wearing the life jacket means (“I’m going swimming!”) she will likely be very cooperative about suiting up in it.
- Again, take no chances on waterborne infection. Rinse your dog off thoroughly with clean water as soon as possible after she comes out of the lake or river. Allow her a chance to “air dry” before you crate her for a long ride home. Dampness against her skin can create a welcoming atmosphere for bacteria and other uncomfortable add-ons.
- Check closely for anything that may be stuck in your dog’s fur or ears. Always look for ticks, always look for cheatgrass, always look for anything that might have gotten onto your dog from the ecology you’re visiting.
- Should you observe anything worrisome about your dog’s health over the few days following the water adventure, see your vet!
At home or away, in hot weather, always make sure your dog has an accessible source of fresh, cool drinking water. I always put a bowl outside, rinsing and refilling it as needed, so my dogs can drink whenever they are in the yard. I often offer them ice cubes, too, either in their water bowls or by hand for them to munch and crunch.
Next week, I’ll give you some ideas for hot-weather treats that often start frozen, like ice cubes, to cool off your pets while giving them a nutritious snack!
