speed swimmer

[debbiej]

Last summer we thought we'd take down our old 18x30 aboveground pool. the liner is getting old and we can't find a liner to fit. So we didn't cover or winterize it. We didn't know we'd have a dog who would need to use it. So...what a mess. we had patched all the tears in the liner and finally the weather was warm enough today to get in to start cleaning. yuck. nice slimy bottom from not being covered. I guess it wasn't much worse than a pond. Hilda has finished her course of hydrotherapy and hasn't been swimming for over a month. she showed great interest in the pool with me in it, so we put her in. At first I held her collar and held her back like they did at hydrotherapy, but then I let her go and walked backwards in front of her. as soon as she figured out nothing was holding her back, she MOVED! I could not even stay ahead of her. so she is a good swimmer, and she swam a lot of laps. after we got her out, she stood on the deck and barked at me--don't know if she wanted me out or wanted back in herself. I can see us swimming for exercise all summer!

[Ilovemypuppy]

Thats' great that you can give her her hydrotherapy right there on your own property..a word of caution..please be very careful that she can not get into the pool on her own, unsupervised..many dogs have drowned when getting into pools and then not being able to get out or find their way out.

[debbiej]

getting both in and out will be a problem till we figure out what to build for that purpose. the only way in the pool is from up on the deck. I think we will build a pvc ramp down into the water, but I'm not sure exactly how yet. probably from that mesh like material and pipe. for the time being we block off the steps up the deck so she can't get up there. I think once our new mexcio summer really hits, she will want in that water!!

[SABELLESMOM]

My step son bought a ramp, like the ones used to help dogs into the backs of vans and adapted it to install at poolside. I'm pretty sure he told me it was:
petedge.com

Otherwise, I know there are ones made for boats (lightweight, float) as well. Maybe you could do a search?

[debbiej]

I checked that and it seems like a great idea. I will search for boat ones too. I did find a place that sells plastic platform steps to put in above ground pools, but I like the idea of a ramp better. Thanks!!

[kaylynn143]

Would a doggy dock work?

http://www.doggydock.net/

[debbiej]

that is a really neat idea! I had thought to use that meshlike material, and pvc pipe and make a long ramp, a short ramp is just too steep. but that doggy dock is low enough for her to climb on to, and so would work better. thanks for the link!

[spoteet]

Sajan has one of the doggydock for our pontoon boat and it works great, he even uses it for a resting float :)