Swimming Dogs

[SamSpade]

For those of you who have a pool....

It finally happened, the dogs have decided that swimming actually IS kind of fun. I bought them a baby pool to splash in, but they like the REAL pool a lot better. Granted, the girl (Jingle) prefers to sit on the steps and either lie down, or just take her paw and splash water (and then try to bite the splashes). She never tires of this silly game. We've seen her do this for at least an hour.

But her brother (Jangle) swims - a lot. He will go all over the pool. This is just a little weird, because their predominant breed - German Shepherd - is not particularly know for being attracted to water. Jangle not only loves to swim, but he can dog-paddle VERY fast. He's gotten a LOT better over the last week or two, and now simply swimming backwards away from him no longer suffices to keep him off of me in the water. I actually have to swim HARD to keep ahead of him, because he's at least as fast as I am if I'm just casually gliding above the water.

My main worry is this, and I hope those who have pools and dogs can tell me - should I be worried? They can both swim, now. They no longer have any problem going into the water without us nearby, and that scares me a lot. I cannot keep the pool away from them, but neither can I lock them up away from it. As good as they both swim - and one of the first things we did once they wanted to go into the water was to teach them how to go OUT safely - I'm just worried that one day when we're not looking, they will fight in the pool and one of them will panic.

What do you guys do? So far, it's been about two weeks, with them trotting in soaking wet every day. I just can't bear the idea of not watching them for a few hours and finding one of them floating in the pool. Some days, that fear just kills me.

[baileydog]

Originally Posted by SamSpade

For those of you who have a pool....

It finally happened, the dogs have decided that swimming actually IS kind of fun. I bought them a baby pool to splash in, but they like the REAL pool a lot better. Granted, the girl (Jingle) prefers to sit on the steps and either lie down, or just take her paw and splash water (and then try to bite the splashes). She never tires of this silly game. We've seen her do this for at least an hour.

But her brother (Jangle) swims - a lot. He will go all over the pool. This is just a little weird, because their predominant breed - German Shepherd - is not particularly know for being attracted to water. Jangle not only loves to swim, but he can dog-paddle VERY fast. He's gotten a LOT better over the last week or two, and now simply swimming backwards away from him no longer suffices to keep him off of me in the water. I actually have to swim HARD to keep ahead of him, because he's at least as fast as I am if I'm just casually gliding above the water.

My main worry is this, and I hope those who have pools and dogs can tell me - should I be worried? They can both swim, now. They no longer have any problem going into the water without us nearby, and that scares me a lot. I cannot keep the pool away from them, but neither can I lock them up away from it. As good as they both swim - and one of the first things we did once they wanted to go into the water was to teach them how to go OUT safely - I'm just worried that one day when we're not looking, they will fight in the pool and one of them will panic.

What do you guys do? So far, it's been about two weeks, with them trotting in soaking wet every day. I just can't bear the idea of not watching them for a few hours and finding one of them floating in the pool. Some days, that fear just kills me.

I had that same fear actually happen to me. I was babysitting my friends small dog(weiner dog) a couple years ago. I had been watching him for 2 weeks and he never went near the top deck to the pool. We had the solar cover laying on top of the pool. On the very day he was suppose to go home, I let him out to pee in the am and about 10 min later I called for him and no answer. So I go looking for him, figured he was on the other side of the pool area getting into something, and as I pass the pool, for some reason I lift the cover and there he is. OMG, I got him out tried everything but he died. I felt so bad. So yes keep an eye on them, get a pool alarm or something and dont use a solar cover.

[Nickel]

Originally Posted by SamSpade

I'm just worried that one day when we're not looking, they will fight in the pool and one of them will panic.

If you're worried, I wouldn't let them near the pool unsupervised.

[cattitude]

Originally Posted by Nickel

If you're worried, I wouldn't let them near the pool unsupervised.

My GSD got in and couldn't get out. Thank God my neighbor was home. AND my pool was fenced...my dog dug under the fence.

[Lilypad]

I personally have never heard of a dog drowning in a wading pool BUT-you might want to learn how to do CPR on a dog-just in case...OR get a lifeguard!
Take some pix's we'd loved to see em!

[Ponytail]

Definitely keep them away from it if you can't supervise. Dogs aren't smart enough to climb out before they are too exhausted to do so.

[oldman]

One of the best investments I ever made was an electric cover for my inground pool. A little expensive perhaps but well worth every penny. I slept well knowing nothing/noone could accidently fall in. A turn of a key and it was covered/uncovered, kept leaves, etc. out, acted as a solar cover and saved a lot on chemicals and evaporation. Strong enough to hold people and felt like a giant water bed to lay on. Worth looking into.

[Lilypad]

Originally Posted by Ponytail

Definitely keep them away from it if you can't supervise. Dogs aren't smart enough to climb out before they are too exhausted to do so.

LMAO-most dogs I know are smarter than humans!!

[Nickel]

Originally Posted by Lilypad

LMAO-most dogs I know are smarter than humans!!

There are some exceptions...mine nearly peed his pants (if he had pants he would have surely peed in them) because a plastic bag flew into our yard. He also barks animatedly at inanimate motorcycle helmets.

[Lilypad]

1 of my 5 dogs notices anything that is out of it's "normal" place..she'll stop-lean forward-look-and back up...A quarter fell on the kitchen floor, I left it there out of curiosity-damnn if she didn't come to a halt, back out and leave the room!