[MMcK]

What has been your experience with dogs and covered in-ground pools? We have a 5 month old GSD. She has been fenced off from the pool, but had been exploring ways to get to it (mostly when it was covered with ice).

We are getting a safety cover, but before it is installed we were wondering if folks had problems with dogs getting onto the cover? Right now, she is more interested in chewing sticks and digging holes than the pool...but I'm not optimistic that will last.
Thanks.

 

[katieliz]

thank you so much for being concerned about your five month old's safety. gsd's of all ages are very very curious and will get into all manner of trouble when left to their own devices. we have an inground pool too, with a safety cover, and the dogs are never allowed in the yard where the pool is (pool is covered year round now, too busy to take care of it and use it!!!), except when they're with us on the way to "their" yard, which is entirely fenced as well, with no access to the pool yard. and even then they're never left out unsupervised. always better to be safe than sorry.

welcome to the board! what's your girl's name? everyone here loves to see pictures!!!

 

[Karin]

We have a pool and Heidi fell in the first day we got her. She thrashed around and I had to pull her to safety. She avoids the pool, but when she's really excited while chasing a squirrel, she's almost fallen in several times. In fact, a couple of times, while running around the pool really fast, she started to fall in, but somehow pulled herself back up. The entire right side of her body (right front and back paws) ended up getting all wet, as well as her right side. I have no idea how she escaped falling in!

I worry about the pool a lot, so I don't let her out there unless I can keep an eye on her. We're going to put a fence around the entire pool so we don't have to worry about it during the summer months. Plus, we'll try to teach her how to get to the steps this summer when the weather is warmer. She hates the water though, so I think it'll be really tough getting her in there.

 

[LUV_GSDs]

my old dog used to sun herself on the above ground pool deck and never got close to the water so I started taking or other dog out by the pool and turn around and she is walking on the 6" ledge around the pool. Be very careful as you never know what they will do next

 

[katieliz]

omg, isn't that the truth, you NEVER know what they'll do next!!!

 

[Jazy's mom]

There is a ramp device that you can attach to the side of the pool incase the dog falls in. I saw one while searching for a ramp for my SUV. It allows the dog to climb out on their own. Of course you would need to train the dog to use it. I would still keep the dog away from the pool when you can not supervise, but this would be a good back up plan just in case.