9 Ways to Keep Your Dog Safe Around the Pool

Are you looking for ways to keep your dog safe around the pool?

While there aren’t any confirmed statistics on how many pets drown in pools each year, certain estimates put the number at roughly 5000.

While some dogs can swim, many can’t. Because of this, keeping your fur baby safe is a top priority. Luckily, there are many preventative measures you can take.

Here are 9 ways to keep your dog safe around the pool:

1. Proper Supervision

Dogs should never be left alone by the pool without supervision. Some dogs are born with a natural ability to swim, and some aren’t. It depends on your breed of dog and their personality.

Some may be physically able to swim, but are scared of the water. A scared dog is likely to panic in the pool. Even if your dog is scared or inexperienced around water, they may still jump in the pool if they’re hot or see their favorite toy fall in.

But even the most experienced swimmers aren’t safe without proper supervision. Accidents can happen at any time. Unfortunately, some dogs still drown in a pool full of people. This is why they need to be watched closely, so you can watch for drowning signs.

To be safe, don’t assume your dog can swim. Dogs don’t understand the concept of treading water, so they’ll swim until they’re too tired to keep going.

Stay close while they are swimming to make sure they’re okay. If you let your dog outside without supervision, make sure the pool is properly closed off.

2. Dog Ramp for Pool

Many dog trainers will tell you that the most important part of dog swimming lessons is learning how to exit. You can make exiting the pool easy for your dog by getting a dog pool ramp or steps. If interested, I wrote a blog post on the best dog ramps for pools.

A dog ramp is a great safety feature even if you think your dog doesn’t necessarily need it. It reduces the chances of an accident, and you won’t need to help your furry friend in and out of the pool. They’re also easier to use for older and arthritic dogs.

As you look for a dog ramp or steps, consider the size, material, and assembly. The best ramp is appropriately sized for your dog and made out of anti-slip material. Sometimes steps are better for small pools because they take up less space.

3. Life Jacket

Another way you can keep your dog safe is by getting them a life jacket. These are especially helpful if your dog doesn’t know how to swim or is a beginner. They can swim and have fun with the added protection that a life jacket brings.

Not only does a life jacket keep your dog safe, but a life jacket also makes your dog easy to spot. It also gives you something to grip if they need help getting out.

Dog life jackets are designed to allow your dog to move naturally through the water. Of course, that doesn’t mean your dog will enjoy wearing it immediately. Let them get used to it so they’re not stressed wearing one in the water.

4. Pool alarms

Despite your best precautions, some dogs will still find their way to the pool. This is how a pool alarm would help. It would notify you any time your pet gets near or enters the pool, so you can act. A timely pool alert can save your dog’s life in an emergency.

Some alarms detect motion by the pool, while others are worn on your dog’s collar. If you choose a collar alarm, it will alert you when the collar gets wet.

5. Learn CPR

Learning CPR will not only give you tools for an emergency, but will also give you peace of mind.

CPR for pets is similar to CPR for humans. You start by positioning, compressions, then artificial respiration. Check with your vet for how to best perform these emergency practices for your dog.

You can search for animal CPR classes in your area. Your local veterinarian may even offer animal CPR classes.

If you prefer to take online classes, the Red Cross offers many free online options. You can also search for animal CPR YouTube videos to learn at home.

6. Dog Swimming Lessons

If you have a pool in your backyard, get swimming lessons for your dog. Some dogs are bred specifically for the water, while others are not.

Whether your dog is excited or scared to get in the water, swimming lessons will help them get more comfortable and prevent future accidents.

Some dog trainers offer swimming lessons. If you’d prefer to teach your dog to swim yourself, make sure they’re always wearing a safety jacket.

Don’t pull them in, as they may try to climb on top of you and put your safety at risk. Bring a toy and carry your dog around the water, allowing them to paddle.

Let your dog stay in the shallow end of the water for as long they need. As they get more comfortable, lead them to deeper water while you hold onto their safety jacket. Reward your dog for being so brave and give lots of encouragement and praise.

If you have a friend with a dog who knows how to swim, you can invite them over. If they’re scared, it may be useful to have another dog show yours how fun it is to swim.

7. Make Sure Your Dog Stays Cool

While you may think having a pool is a great way to keep your dog from overheating, that’s not the case. Dogs have a higher resting temperature than humans, so they tend to overheat quicker than us.

This means they can overheat when they’re left outside, and they can even overheat in the pool. If your dog is black or dark brown, they’ll overheat faster than light-colored dogs.

Your dog may love swimming so much that he may ignore the fact that he’s overheating and tired. If his gums appear dark red rather than pink and he’s panting a lot, it’s time to get him some water and air conditioning.

8. Dog-Safe Pool Covers

Dog-safe pool covers are a safety measure meant to prevent your dog from entering the pool when you’re not using it.

Many people already use pool covers to keep out debris and bugs, but there are pool covers meant to prevent your pets from getting in the pool. These covers support the full weight of your dog.

Regular pool covers can sink in when your dog walks on them resulting in them getting stuck. This is a huge safety risk.

But safety pool covers are thicker and sturdier, so your pet won’t accidentally fall in. These are made with the intent to keep children and pets safe.

9. Pool Fence

One final option is to get a dog fence for pools, so your dog can’t easily access the pool area. This can be one of the best preventative safety measures you take to ensure your dog is safe when you’re not using the pool.

When choosing a fence, consider the fence type, height, and whether it’s removable or fixed. Your fence must be high enough so your dog can’t jump over it, and strong enough that it resists the weather.

Conclusion

Well, I hope I offered you some helpful tips to keep your dog safe around the pool.

Some of these recommendations simply require your presence such as proper supervision and making sure your dog stays cool.

Other recommendations will result in you learning new skills such as CPR or your dog learning proper swimming through lessons.

Lastly, you can buy specific products to protect your dog such as a dog ramp, life jacket, pool alarm, pool fence, or dog-safe pool cover.

You can feel confident knowing that you have these backup measures in case something goes wrong.