The holidays are bringing family and friends to your Tampa Bay home, and some guests might show up with a wagging tail. While everyone’s catching up on the patio, a visiting dog may be exploring your backyard for the first time. Even a dog that loves to swim won’t know where your pool steps are.
Before guests arrive, make a plan to keep visiting pets supervised and the pool gate latched when the pool area is unattended. If a guest’s dog is comfortable in the water and their owner wants to let them swim, start by showing them how to get out. Here’s how to make pool safety part of your holiday hosting plans.
Dog Pool Safety: How to Teach Your Dog to Swim and Find the Steps
Some dogs hear a splash and come running. Others are happy to watch from the patio. Either way, if you have a backyard pool, one of the most useful things you can teach a dog who’s comfortable in the water is how to get back out. A dog that falls in may paddle straight to the nearest wall, even when the steps are just a few feet away.
Here’s how to introduce your dog to the pool and make swim days safer for pets and backyard wildlife.
Start at the shallow steps
Pick a quiet time when the deck is calm. Before getting in, fit your dog with a dog life jacket with a sturdy grab handle. Let them approach the shallow steps at their own pace, and praise them for small steps forward, even if all they do the first day is dip a paw. If they back away, take a break and let them enjoy the shade. For a dog who prefers dry land, supervised patio time can be the whole outing.
Teach the way out before swimming across the pool
- Start right beside the exit. Once your dog is comfortable in the water, get in with them, stay within reach, and guide them back to the steps.
- Reward the climb out. Praise your dog as they find their footing and walk onto the deck. Use the same simple cue each time, such as “Steps!”
- Practice from a little farther away. Once your dog heads to the steps reliably from nearby, try a short approach from another angle. Stay close, keep sessions brief, and take breaks before your dog tires.
If your pool’s only exit is a vertical ladder, set up a sturdy, dog-friendly ramp before swim practice. Make sure your dog can walk from the water to the deck.
Make pet safety part of your pool routine
- Keep an adult on watch. During a cookout or pool party, agree on who is watching the dog. Bring pets inside or close and latch the pool gate when swim time ends.
- Keep pets off pool covers. A loose cover can trap a dog or cat underneath. Keep the pool area secured even when the pool is covered.
- Set out fresh drinking water. Put a bowl in the shade so your dog has an easy place to drink between swims. Rinse their coat with fresh water afterward, and store pool chemicals securely out of reach.
Give backyard wildlife a way out, too
Frogs, lizards, and ducklings can wind up in a pool and struggle to climb its smooth walls. A floating wildlife escape ramp secured to the pool edge gives small animals a way to climb out. If you find an injured animal, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator for guidance.
And if your Tampa Bay backyard backs up to a lake, retention pond, or canal, keep your dog leashed and away from the shoreline. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises keeping pets out of fresh and brackish water where alligators may be present.
Planning a pool renovation in Tampa Bay? If your dog is part of your backyard routine, tell JJB Pools & Spas how you use the space. We can talk through entry steps and access as part of your pool remodel. Contact us today!
Dog Pool Safety FAQ for Holiday Hosts
How can I keep visiting dogs safe around my backyard pool during the holidays?
Show guests where the pool gate is when they arrive and agree on who will watch their dog outside. During busy moments like dinner or gift-opening, bring visiting pets indoors or keep them in a secure area away from the pool. Close and latch the pool gate whenever the pool area is unattended.
Should I show a visiting dog where the pool steps are?
If the owner wants their dog to swim and the dog is comfortable entering the water, start right beside the shallow steps. Have the owner stay within reach, guide the dog back to the steps, and praise them for climbing onto the deck. For a dog that prefers dry land, supervised patio time is plenty.
Can a dog get out of a swimming pool with only a ladder?
A vertical pool ladder can be difficult for a dog to climb. If you plan to let a dog swim, set up a sturdy, dog-friendly ramp and practice using it together before letting the dog swim farther from the exit.
Is a covered swimming pool safe for dogs and cats?
Keep pets away from the pool even when it’s covered. A loose cover can shift if a pet steps on it, trapping the animal underneath. Keep the pool gate latched when no one is supervising.
Can visiting dogs swim in a Tampa Bay retention pond or canal?
Keep dogs leashed and away from the shoreline. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises keeping pets out of fresh and brackish water, including ponds and canals, where alligators may be present even when you can’t see them.
How can I help frogs and other small animals escape my swimming pool?
Secure a floating wildlife escape ramp to the pool edge. It gives frogs, lizards, and other small animals a way to climb out if they fall in and can’t get over the pool wall.