An Unexpected Problem
When we moved to a house with a pool, we knew the risks. Our last house was on a lake. We have strict rules. If you can’t swim proficiently, you can’t be outside by the water (in this case, the backyard) alone, period. All the kids own life vests and we use them whenever the kids kayak (probably not a likelihood in our backyard pool - haha) or when the littles are in the water. I don’t take risks when it comes to water safety.
So we have some experience here. There wasn’t a big adjustment in parenting when we moved here. No sweat, I thought.
Here’s what I wasn’t prepared for: the dogs! My stupid dog fell into the pool yesterday. I have no idea how or when but on a whim I went outside to try to camera-stalk this skink that I’ve had my eye on when I noticed the dog was missing, heard splashing and turned around to see my little dog hysterically trying to paw his way out of the pool to no avail. We fished him out but my dogs aren’t water dogs. They can barely swim and hate the water. It is a very lucky thing he did not drown - he was panicky and in the ‘deep end’ without an easy way to get out.
I thought it would be an isolated incident but he just did it again now. He was out there playing around and his back paws both fell into the pool. I can’t even tell you how this happens but it happened. He saved himself *this time* but there are times when the dogs are outside for prolonged periods of time. One of the big benefits of moving to this house was the big fenced yard for the dogs to play in.
So what does one do when their dog keeps falling in the pool? Do I have to not let him out without supervision? Do I teach him to swim proficiently? Do I get a doggy life vest and make him wear it while outside? Seriously? WHAT?! This is a problem that I just don’t have experience with or solutions to.
March 25th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
No advice on the dogs but I’d highly recommend a pool fence for peace of mind. Here in AZ, it’s a legal requirement to fence your pool if you have small kids. Our fence is a mesh, removable fence that we will take down when Sarah is 6 or so. It’s a BabyGuard fence and has a self closing locking gate.
March 25th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I don’t have a pool or dogs (anymore, so sad!) but my friend used to use an invisable fence around her pool. There’s a special colar that the dogs wear. Once the dogs got the hang of the boundry there was no need for the colar. It does seem a little mean that the dog gets a little ‘zap’ when they go past the fence, but they learn quickly then they don’t need the zap colar any more. I’d rather have a dog that got zapped a couple times than a dead dog floating in the pool It wouldn’t be good for your kids to come home and find that! I’d look into the fence.
Melissa
March 25th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
doggie life vest or a pool cover or that gate that goes right up against the pool. I don’t think you can teach dogs to swim, can you????
I would love a pool! But we have a giant tree so no pool.
March 25th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Not sure if your pool has a liner or not, but if it does check it out for leaks. Doggie paws trying to get out can ruin a liner (not that the liner is more important, just a heads up.)
If I were you I’d look into fencing the pool or seperating out a dog run. You can let them run free when you are out there, but have a specific area for when you are not.
March 25th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Yes, I too have absolutely no advice. And my first thought wasn’t a nice one. Do they sell alarms taht squeal when dogs get near? Like the things they sell for cars when deers come near…
March 25th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Oh geez…one more thing to worry about. No advice. Never had doggies!!!!
March 26th, 2007 at 5:39 am
A pool alarm might work, maybe?
You can get one of those fences that goes around the pool? You can get the really cheap flimsy ones if it’s just the dogs you are worried about. My BIL has an alarm on his back door. If it opens, it blares the loudest most annoying squeal. Not sure how that would help with the dogs though.
I really don’t have any advice. I have never seen a dog who did that.
Does your pool have steps that they dogs can learn to use? My BIL’s dogs learned to climb out the steps.
Quite a dilemma and just what you need…huh?
Hugs!
March 26th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Nicki,
Do you have a pool alarm? I would recommend one. It can get annoying cause they will sometimes go off if you get a particularly large leaf or something in the pool, but, I would really recommend it anyway.
My aunt’s basset hound drowned in her pool, so, it does happen, unfortunately. We don’t have a dog, so, it’s never been a problem for us with our pool.
Gretchen
March 26th, 2007 at 11:16 am
How about a pool tarp? Then again, they might be more likely to go out and lay on it, huh?