Dogs and swimming pools???

[daannzzz]

I have wanted a dog for a long time and finally started looking in to adopting one from a rescue or Humane Society. I wanted a miniature Greyhound or regular Greyhound but the rescue would not allow me as I have a pool. They said they could easily drown. I had not heard of this and had not thought of it as everyone had dogs and pools when I was growing up. I ended up with two Boxers from the Humane Society. When I brought them into the back yard the first thing one of them did was run and dive into the pool. It wasn't like her fell, it looked like he knew exactly what it was...but he went under and didn't come up, was squirming around under the water so I dove in and rescued him. Now I put up a fence on the side yard so they can not get into the back but I really wanted them to have the yard to run around in. Can you teach dogs to swim? I wonder if it would happen again. I would feel so heartbroken and guilty if a came home and found him floating in the pool.

 

[Angelhalo]

some dogs can be taught. Some can't or won't. My FIL's scottish Terrier jumped in the pool and drowned last year. Our Scotty HATES the pool. I don't think that she could ever become a good swimmer even if she liked it because her legs are too short. We never leave her in the backyard alone for that reason. Its probably best to put a saftey fence around the pool. Something like this: http://www.inyopools.com/Products/00100001005376.htm?CS_010=5376&CS_001=1013946&CS_002=1016676

The new doggies ar adorable btw!

 

[DawnCt1]

Dogs can be taught to swim but the problem isn't just staying afloat if they fall in, it is getting out. Annie jumped in the pool years ago, sunk and started walking across the bottom. I had to dive down and pull her up. Once on top of the water she was able to swim to the side and go up the steps. After that she never went in the pool. She loved the hose, hated the pool.

 

[a1tinkfans]

OP: Great dogs!

Geez, who would have thought.....I have a cockapoo...I PUT him in the pool sometimes in the summer only when I am in it, to cool him off, he is not a huge fan but swims along and it sure does cool him off a bit. Our pool is completely gated off though I never even thought about a dog drowning, I always thought they just swam...
It just so happens that last weekend my sister came by with my nieces dog, some really small thing, like 10 pounder, lo and behold, she scoots between the deck rails and up onto the top deck and then proceeds to WALK on the pools edge which is about 4' off the ground and 6" wide......(the pool is still covered but thats a LONG way down for that pup)
SO after realizing where she was, I tiptoe over and grab her and my sister says, whats funny is the dog loves ledges and stuff and sister thinks she follows what the CATS do in their house all the time....well, we got lucky and she was safe, but since I will be watching her this summer for a bit, atleast now I know A) she is a BRAT and can fit between the rails and B) loves to walk the "edge!"

SO I have a feeling she will not be spending time outside in my yard alone any time soon. I'd be HORRIFIED if she was hurt or worse at my home..GEEZ, something else to worry me!!!! WHo knew??????
**just wanted to clarify that the pool has HUGE set of steps in/out so my own dog goes right to the steps but the gate for entrance is always closed and he cannot fit thru the rails thankfully, I truly never thought about that before.....

 

[daannzzz]

MY pool has a set of steps they could get out of but that would require them to float to the top and swim over to them. I may go for the fence thing as that doesn't seem overly expensive.
Thanks for all the advice. I just was so shocked when it happened.

 

[mckryan]

I'd seriously invest in one of these so your dogs can be out by the pool, even in the pool, without worrying about them drowning.

 

[MinnieMe87]

I'd seriously invest in one of these so your dogs can be out by the pool, even in the pool, without worrying about them drowning.

My dog would never wear one of those, she would destroy it! LOL

When we had a pool, our dogs never got in it. When we had a decorative pond in our yard, that was another story! Our lab would lay down in the stream in the summer to cool off, but never tried to jump in. Our other dog hated water and never went close to the pond or the pool. My friend's dog jumped in their pool last year while they were cooking out, and went under. After that, he would jump in the pool every chance he got and learned to swim. It was kind of crazy. I hope you can find a solution, OP. Your new dogs are adorable!

 

[arminnie]

Dogs can be taught to swim but the problem isn't just staying afloat if they fall in, it is getting out.

Yes - even if the dog can swim well it may not be able to keep swimming for hours on end.

My next door neighbors' standard poodle drowned while they were both at work (Tulsa). The dog was very smart and was an excellent swimmer - but just finally gave out before they got home. It was SO tragic.

I lived right on the water when I lived in California. The water was not deep at al,l but there was a concrete wall with no steps. More than one cat didn't make it back out.

I know of a couple of dogs (one being mine) who fell in - but the dog owners were always with them and were able to drag them back out. My 87 year old neighbor jumped in the water (which was only about waist high there) to save her blind poodle (small).

 

[nephthys43]

some dogs can swim, some can't. mine loves the pool. i can't keep her out of it. ours in inground with steps so she can get in and out. i have to be careful cause she has a doggie door and if i'm not paying attention, she'll go for a swim and run through the house soaking wet.

on the other hand. my sister has 3 dogs. two pugs who can't swim and a spastic spaniel that sort of swims. we have to watch him when he's outside.

 

[minkydog]

I never knew that dogs didn't naturally know how to swim. I grew up with a huge ol' Saint Bernard who would jump into any body of water including your bath tub. I have a Standard Poodle who is smart, loyal, and completely devoted to me...until I get into the lake or pool. Then he becomes this hysterical barking whining maniac. He hates being in the water; he will absolutely NOT go in. We tried *once* to help him get over his fear. No dice. That dog cried and thrashed and nearly drowned us trying to get back up to the shoreline. Even then he cried and whined until we also got out. Sheesh.

 

[ms.yt]

I had a friend who had a weiner dog who loved to swim. She would jump in the pool, swim around for awhile and then climb up the ladder. I was amazed when I saw it. I couldn't imagine that those little legs could do that!

 

[DawnCt1]

Yes - even if the dog can swim well it may not be able to keep swimming for hours on end.

My next door neighbors' standard poodle drowned while they were both at work (Tulsa). The dog was very smart and was an excellent swimmer - but just finally gave out before they got home. It was SO tragic.

I lived right on the water when I lived in California. The water was not deep at al,l but there was a concrete wall with no steps. More than one cat didn't make it back out.

I know of a couple of dogs (one being mine) who fell in - but the dog owners were always with them and were able to drag them back out. My 87 year old neighbor jumped in the water (which was only about waist high there) to save her blind poodle (small).

How awful!

 

[Lanshark]

My cousin brought her Italian Greyhound over and while we were visiting in the backyard he fell into the pool twice. Each time we had to get him out or he would have drowned. We finally took him in. She said they don't have enough body fat to float. I have no idea but I have no doubt that he couldn't swim.

My two dogs have been taught to stay out of the pool. I never wanted to risk them getting in and not being able to get out. We have ladders and no stairs. They can swim but any dog will exhaust themselves after awhile .They sit on the edge and watch us when we're in it.

 

[aprilgail2]

I just had to get a new pool ladder because of my dog! We have an above ground pool but we had a bridge system ladder (a set of steps not like a ladder) and he would go right up and in the pool since there was no gate on it. So now I picked up one with steps like that down into the pool but with a ladder that flips up on the outside so he can't get it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sad to read about all these animals drowning.

My dogs have always been able to swim even if some of them weren't big fans of being in a pool.

If I had a dog and a pool and that was a possiblity, I'd put a fence around the pool. We did it when our kids were little (DH out it up himself) and I'd do it for a dog, too.

Have done CPR on a drowned child before, and hope I never have to do it again - on any living being.

PS daannzzz, love your Boxers!

 

[Jacoby 46]

We have a Golden Retriever and she loves the water!! We have an above ground pool with a deck all around it, but our pool has wedding cake stairs, so our Golden can get in and out very easily! She is always in the pool, swims around for a minute and then gets out and shakes everywhere! LOL She only ever goes in though when someone is out there, otherwise she couldn't be bothered!