Dog Pool Safety: Training and Products to Prevent Drowning

A large number of dogs drown every year when they fall in the pool and don't know how to get out! Do you want to keep your dog safe around your pool? If so, this dog pool safety article is for you! We will go over everything from how to get your dog into the pool, to tools you can use with your pup around the pool.

Dog Pool Safety: Training to Prevent Accidental Drowning

Every year, thousands of dogs die from drowning. Luckily, most of these situations can be avoided if you acclimate your dog to the pool, teach them rules and control, and teach them to find the exit!!! This article focuses on ensuring your dog is safe if they fall into the pool!

Start with the basics

To begin, your dog needs a good foundation of obedience. Heel is one of the most significant commands we will use when doing this process because it gives us both control and calmness. Any additional commands you practice, and master will only help your dog trust you to move forward with this process.

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Calmly enter the water

Now, let's talk about this process. To start, we recommend heeling your dog back and forth around the pool to get them calmer to be around the pool. As you can see, the dog in this video was hesitant. We tried heel, praise, and treats; nothing seemed to work.

So, instead, we picked her up and eased her in. It is essential to take time with this process and remember that we do not care if she wants to swim in the pool; we are working on what to do if she falls in.

With that in mind, make sure you are thinking about your overall goal of this process. We are focusing on keeping your dog safe if they fall in, but if you want them to swim, you need to work more on getting them acclimated to liking water or the pool.

Guide the dog out

Once we got her into the pool, we slowly guided her to the way out. We recommend using a leash here. Most dogs are not physically strong enough to climb out alone, so you must show them where the exit is. It is okay for her to make mistakes here as part of the process is for them to figure out where to go. If needed, you can then guide them back to the exit. Make sure you praise them when they go where you want them to.

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Slowly make it more difficult

We advance this in a few ways. Added more distance, having them facing the wrong direction and taking the leash away. Remember to go slow and take your time with this process. Of course, this process does not get accomplished in one day. So make sure you have a good training plan to make progress every day!

Safety Tips While Working in the Pool

Consistent Supervision

Always make sure you are supervising your dog if the pool is accessible. This process requires a leash at the start. You need to make sure you show your dog the rules of the pool consistently.

Short Training Sessions

Always remember that you need to take breaks when doing this. How often and how long really depends on each dog. So make sure you know your dog and what they can typically handle.

Every dog is different

Keep in mind what your goal is, and focus your efforts accordingly.

Focus on exiting

For a dog fearful of water, your goal may be to ensure they know how to exit the pool if they accidentally fall in. If your dog enjoys the water, there are additional considerations.

Wait for an invite to the pool

Teaching your dog they may only enter the pool when you invite them is critical to preventing an accident. Whenever your dog jumps in without permission, tell them no and follow through on removing them from the pool.

Train around the pool

Make sure you can get your dog to be calm, whether teaching them how to get out of the pool or being calmer when entering and leaving. The more well trained your dog is, the better!

Is Chlorine Exposure okay for my dog?

Overall, chlorine is very safe, and there is no large concern for dogs. However, there are a couple things to watch out for:

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    Don't Drink the Water: While small amounts will not hurt, keep an eye on your dog, especially on warmer days, and correct them if they start drinking. Take lots of breaks and always have free access to a water bowl.

  • Rinse off: Some dogs have more sensitive skin than others. It's always a good idea to rinse off after a swim in the pool.

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