Dogs and pools almost go hand in hand. It’s great family fun to let your dog enjoy the plunge with you. The question remains is it ok? The answer is not cut and dry. In general, yes, it’s OK to take your dog swimming as long as you know all the risks and prepare properly. If your swimming pool has a pool liner or you are looking to get a pool with a pool liner and want Fido to swim along side you, precautions need to be made.
In short, dogs can go swimming in a pool with a liner. However, you will need to put in a little training first. Dogs need to know how to properly exit and enter the pool with a liner. If you do not teach your dog how to exit properly, it will end up clawing its way out. This needs to be done immediately and enforced every single time. Dogs can shred a pool liner to pieces in just one oops.
The best way to train your dog to get in and out of your pool is to teach him to use the steps. Guide your dog with a leash and use food as motivation. Teach him how to enter the pool first. After he has mastered entering the pool then teach him how to exit. Your dog should enter and exit the pool the same way every single time. Training sessions should be short and fun.
Dog ramps offer a good alternative for elderly dogs, ones who do not like stairs, or can’t master them.
