When your family is enjoying time around the swimming pool, do your dogs want to join you? The swimming pool contractors from SwimRight Pool Service and Repair offer tips for swimming with your dogs. Some dogs enjoy swimming, while others don’t. You need to know what your dog likes when it comes to swimming and know your dog’s strengths, weaknesses and fears when it comes to the swimming pool.
Tips for swimming with your dogs
- Your dog should be groomed before he swims with you.
- Keep his nails trimmed so he doesn’t ruin the pool if he scratches it.
- Don’t keep dog toys in the pool because it will be a chipped tooth hazard if your dog lunges at it and accidentally chip a tooth.
- Put your dog in a life jacket if you’re not sure how well he can swim. Dogs can get easily tired and you don’t want to worry about him or her drowning.
- If your dog hasn’t ever been in a swimming pool, introduce him to it slowly. Let him get slowly used to it. Don’t just drop him in and hope he can swim.
- Have a way for your dog to get easily out of the swimming pool. If your dog is going to spend time in the pool with the family, invest in a ramp that he can use to get into and out of the pool and teach him where it is and how to use it. This could be a lifesaver in case he ever gets into the pool when you’re not home. Put a large object, such as a potted plant next to the area in which your dog will get out of the pool. He will be able to spot the plant and swim toward it.
- Rinse your dog off after she’s been in the swimming pool. You want to get the chlorine and chemicals out of her fur so her skin doesn’t get irritated or dry.
- Keep fresh water close to the pool for your dog to drink. Don’t let them drink pool water.
Contrary to popular belief, not all dogs can swim and not all dogs want to swim — even those breeds that are considered “water dogs.” Pay attention to your dog and his comfort level with the pool and let him join the family if he wants to and if you want to have him in there.
