Doggie paddle

[KSchwagg86]

Dogs don't use toilet paper when they go #2!

 

[JuneChickie]

Dogs don't use toilet paper when they go #2!

I thinks it's ok to have dogs swim in the pool and it probably
doesn't do any damage to their skin. Might give them dry/frizzy hair.

 

[ckay87]

We always put our doggies in the pool. They don't love it while they are in, but they sure appreciate it once they get out on a really hot day.

What grosses me out is certain people in the pool. I've had kids go under, swallow some water, come up and puke a little. How's that for gross? I would sit there, shaking my head, thinking "how am I gonna get rid of THAT??"

I'll swim among a little doggie hair anyday!

 

[hereyago]

Last summer, exdh put up a seasonal pool and the last day before he took it down,he had a cookout.
I was in the pool with our DD11 and he decides why not put in his St Bernard. So he picks her up-this way funny watching this-and puts her in the pool-her first time swimming, she loved it.

I have 2 GS, one is 5 this year and a puppy who is 13 weeks. I am pondering on getting them a kiddie pool for the summer, ok it would have to be a big kiddie pool.

Pea-n-Me: love your GS, seems as if to say: "Get in, the water is just fine."

 

[KandD]

I bought a kiddie pool for my dogs last summer. It was hotter than heck out, I went to three different stores and finally got one. Brought it home, filled it up, and they were TERRIFIED of it!!! You would have thought I was trying to murder my Husky the way he yelped and cried (and the water didn't even cover his legs!!!)

So I guess if we had a real pool we wouldn't have to worry about the dogs swimming in it!!!

 

[horseshowmom]

Pea-n-Me, I love your picture!

I don't have a pool, but if I did, my dogs could swim in it if they wanted to. My cousin's dog swam all the time and loved it.

As far as the hair goes, people shed too. Fortunately, the pool cleaner handles that issue.

 

[winnapooh]

I LOVE this picture! I have to ask, how did you get your dog in and out of the pool, and keep him from puncturing the sides? I have a pool like this, and a very large lab who absolutely loves swimming; but I'm afraid he'd rip the pool to shreds!

 

[alexandria674]

Hey, dogs get hot too! (I think) why not? Besides issues with chlorine and the dog coats, if there is any, there really is no problem with it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Well if she had knuckles, they'd be white.

She's not especially fond of the water, but she *needs* to see where the kids are. So she's happy to come in for the view, but basically just hangs onto the boogie board for dear life while she's there. LOL (My husband lifts her over the side to me and I get her set up on the board, though I have managed to do it myself before, too.) It's funny watching her when she gets out, she just runs around like she's laughing at herself. (I think she does enjoy cooling off and being pulled around in there, and if left alone, she'll swim, but she does thrash a bit and I don't want her to rip the sides or scratch anyone.)

We originally started doing this with this dog (now passed). She loved being in the water, but her feet didn't *quite* touch the bottom, so we added the noodles for buoyancy. Originally we tried to wrap her feet but that didn't work too well, the wrapping just fell off. But this worked great and everyone was happy. She could stay in there all day.

 

[winnapooh]

Well if she had knuckles, they'd be white.

She's not especially fond of the water, but she *needs* to see where the kids are. So she's happy to come in for the view, but basically just hangs onto the boogie board for dear life while she's there. LOL (My husband lifts her over the side to me and I get her set up on the board, though I have managed to do it myself before, too.) It's funny watching her when she gets out, she just runs around like she's laughing at herself. (I think she does enjoy cooling off and being pulled around in there, and if left alone, she'll swim, but she does thrash a bit and I don't want her to rip the sides or scratch anyone.)

We originally started doing this with this dog (now passed). She loved being in the water, but her feet didn't *quite* touch the bottom, so we added the noodles for buoyancy. Originally we tried to wrap her feet but that didn't work too well, the wrapping just fell off. But this worked great and everyone was happy. She could stay in there all day.

That is too cute! My dog is too big to lift into the pool...I so wish I had an inground pool for him!

 

[BCV513]

Pea-n-me, those are the cutest pictures!! This is our first summer with our dog fully grown and with a full coat. Last summer she was just a few months old and just fuzzy. We had a couple of 90+ degree days in April and she really struggled with the heat. I'm thinking about getting a kiddie pool for her. She loves taking baths. We do it right in our bath tub and she runs up the stairs and hops in. So I'd think she'd like it.

 

[JessicaR]

That is a beautiful picture! Really cute dog!

I wish my dogs would go in our pool but they don't. We have very large Mastiffs and I think they are just scared to get in. Years ago my husband bought them a kiddie pool that they LOVE but they sure look silly so huge in a kiddie pool.

 

[tazgirl1981]

I love having Harley (My dog) in the pool and I don't see it as gross or disgusting at all...too bad that he doesn't see the excitement the same way. Hey I was told that German Shepherds rank up there with Labs on loving water....guess they forgot to mention that some are less sure of the pool

This was our first attempt to putting Harley in the pool...he is 7 months old and he loved it once he was in (as long as I was in there with him) but was none the happier to get out.

But water hoses or sprinklers or water fountains are a totally different story...he could spend all day in either of those...

Sorry to change topics...but does anyone know how to teach an overgrown shepherd puppy how to swim in a pool without getting all scratched up and pawed to death??? He isn't doing because he is scared but he is trying to learn to swim and just thrashes around like a goofball...all the meantime sinking like a rock So I refuse to leave his side for fear of him drowning

 

[zumbergc]

why not try the pool noodle like a previous poster uses. Put the noodle under the dog, it may make him feel more comfortable, and less thrashing. Pool noodles are cheap possibility.

 

[JessicaR]

tazgirl,

My dogs would love those fountains! Looks like so much fun, wish they had something similar around here! Great pictures!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Love this

...does anyone know how to teach an overgrown shepherd puppy how to swim in a pool without getting all scratched up and pawed to death??? He isn't doing because he is scared but he is trying to learn to swim and just thrashes around like a goofball...all the meantime sinking like a rock

I agree, try a boogie board for leverage. Don't force the issue, just see if he wants to come in the pool (I'm sure he does if you're in there) and show him he can lean on that if he wants. He'll get the idea, and later, when he's more sure of himself, he may just swim around by himself. He may or may not end up liking the pool water, some do and some don't, it just depends on the personality.

One of my Shepherds loved going in my in laws' inground pool, he'd jump in and tool around quite happily. Another of mine was a little unsure of himself, but would go in, then jump out (that same dog was very nervous in our little blue pool). Same with ocean water - some love it and some don't. Our second female pictured adored the ocean, she's plop down in freezing cold water in the middle of January and just sit there. My current dog likes still water, but not waves. Some dogs enjoy the hose, some don't. They're all different, but most Shepherds do enjoy a good swim, especially somewhere like a lake. (Tossing balls in is another way to get them to go in.)

 

[Disney Doll]

Wouldn't bother me. Our friends let Ted swim in their pool once but he didn't really care for it...surprising since he was a Springer Spaniel and a hunting dog by breed.

He did like to leap up and bite the water flying out of the hose though. Loved sitting in the little kiddie pool we bought him. Hated a bath...silly little dog...

 

[PghLybrt]

We have many customers who let their dogs swim. There is entire pool gear aimed at that market (vest, emergency ladders). I think it is great! Just remember 1 dog = 50 humans in a pool when it comes to sanitation.

 

[winnapooh]

Sorry to change topics...but does anyone know how to teach an overgrown shepherd puppy how to swim in a pool without getting all scratched up and pawed to death??? He isn't doing because he is scared but he is trying to learn to swim and just thrashes around like a goofball...all the meantime sinking like a rock So I refuse to leave his side for fear of him drowning

What about a lifejacket? They have them at most pet stores. We got one for our lab because he will swim and swim til he finds whatever it is he's looking for (like a stick that got pushed out into the middle of the lake...). So we got him a bright orange lifejacket. He doesn't always trust it, and will swim harder to stay higher in the water, but it does keep him afloat just fine. It also has a handle on the top that you can use to lift him out of the water if necessary.

 

[daisax]

Just remember 1 dog = 50 humans in a pool when it comes to sanitation.

I don't buy that for one second. Not if you keep your dogs clean, anyway.

I think people forget how filthy children can be.