Building a dog-friendly pool in your yard
If your dog loves to go for a swim, having a backyard swimming pool can be a great way for you to spend time together and cool off in the warmer months. Here are some things to contemplate when planning a dog-friendly pool for your home.
Access restrictions
Even if your pup is a very good swimmer, you probably want to make sure that you are with them in the pool. Dogs can easily drown in backyard pools if not supervised. This means you need a standard dog fence, but if your pooch is a good jumper, you might like to make the pool fence slightly higher than the legal minimum of 1.2 metres, as this might not be tall enough to keep out a tall and/or very eager dog from the pool area. Additionally, it's a good idea to keep garden beds and chairs away from the fence so that the dog cannot use other objects to jump into the pool area if you are not there to supervise them
An entrance and exit point
Even if you dog is young and sprightly, dogs can sometimes find it harder to get out of the pool by jumping if they are wet and a little tired from having a fun swim together. It can be a good idea to have stairs or a ramp to get in and out of the pool. This also ensures that your dog can keep using the pool as they get older, as many dogs get sore joints and arthritis and find it harder to jump and climb, especially on wet surfaces.
A strong filter
Outdoor dogs in particularly commonly jump into the pool with sand, dirt and leaves attached from their time in the yard - not to mention the doggy slobber around the mouth. In addition to this, dog fur will also get shed in the pool in general use. This means that your pool might need a stronger filter and different sterilisation routine to keep the pool perfect for both the owners and the dogs. Letting your pool designer know that the pool will be regularly used by dogs can help them integrate this fact into the pool filtration and dosing system.
If you are looking for a great backyard pool where you can swim with your dog when you are both warm, why not talk to local pool builders? They are skilled at designing pools for a range of uses and users.