Protect Your Dog From An Accidental Pool Drowning

Thousands of swimming pools are enjoyed by Americans all across our country

, some big, some little. As nice and convenient as they are, swimming pools are the cause of many drownings by dogs. Many dogs are attracted to water and can swim just fine. The reason many drown is not being able to find a way out of the pool.

There are some breeds of dog who have short muzzles and already have a difficult time breathing, such as the bull dog, making it easy for them to inhale water from a pool if they fall in. These dogs should be monitored closely if they are allowed to swim. They don't really have the right build for swimming, and may not be able to keep their heads above water.

Even though most dogs seem to love water and know how to move through it, it is best to start teaching a young puppy to enjoy swimming while you are there to supervise and encourage. You should never throw a dog in any body of water, expecting it to naturally start swimming. This may very well only lead to fear of water. Gently encourage a dog to wade into a body of water such as a lake or a pool, being there to provide support and make the experience a fun thing. Never force a dog to swim. Not all dogs show a desire to swim.

Both humans and dogs can benefit from the exercise of swimming. If you own a swimming pool and don't mind having dog hair in it, this is a good place for your dog to enjoy a cool swim on a hot day and it is good therapy for dogs that can't do much walking because of arthritis or injury. However, NEVER leave a dog without proper supervision if it is in or near a pool. You should also hose off your dog after the swim to remove any chlorine that might cause the hair and coat to dry out.

If you own a pool and a dog, here are some ways to prevent drowning:

1. You must first teach your dog to swim and have fun playing in water.

2. Lead your dog over to the steps several times while swimming until it will naturally head that way to climb out. Repetition is the key to teaching a dog how to get out of the water to dry land. There are also pool ramps for dogs. Exhaustion while trying to find a way to climb out of a pool is usually the cause of death by drowning of a dog.

3. Put up a secure fence around your pool with no way of entry for a dog when no one is there to supervise.

4. Install a pool protector alarm that will sound in the house by remote if any person or dog should fall into the water. They are portable and easy to install and can be found by searching the internet. They can mean the difference between life and death of a child or dog.

A hot summer day just isn't right without kids, dogs and a swimming pool. A cool pool on a warm summer day is just the place to hang out, but be sure your dog doesn't overdo it and get too tired. They can't seem to stop having fun on their own without our intervention. It's up to us as owners to protect our dogs from drowning and have a safe and enjoyable summer.

by: Karleen Lindsey

POST COMMENT

English Springer Spaniel Dog Breed History, Description, Grooming And Personality Traits Where To Find Cat Cookie Jar A Rapturous Encounter With Raptors Awaits This June At The Jurong Bird Park! Pink Dog Bed – Your Dog Deserves this Cute Treat The Importance of Pet Nutrition Learning How To Dog Sled Natures Defenders Best Yet For Cats - The Best Protection for Cats The 7 Top Tips To Help When Choosing A Parrot Cage Obedience training for dogs Brief Overview Of Basic Dog Training How to Train Your Dog Like A Hollywood Star Pet Bedlington Terrier Dog Breed Profile Information Get Started: Adopt A Golden Retriever Puppy Today