Pool maintenance for dog owners

Pet owners typically have two major concerns when it comes to letting their four-legged friends swim in their pool. That is how to keep the pool clean and how to ensure their dog is safe in the water. There are several ways you can keep your dog’s fur from clogging up your filtration system. There are also a variety of pool cleaning products on the market that are designed to be pet-friendly.

If your dog regularly cools off in your swimming pool, take a look at these pool maintenance for dog owners tips:

Clean your pool after each use

There is a saying that one dog in the pool is equivalent to 50 human swimmers! As crazy as that sounds, you’ve got to factor in that dog’s will not only bring hair into the pool, there will also be dirt and contaminants with them.

Manually cleaning the pool after your pets have finished swimming for the day will help remove some of that debris from the pool’s surface before it’s transported to the filter. You can simply do this with a telescope pole or invest in a high-quality robotic cleaner.

Find out more about pool cleaners here.

Regularly clean your filter

A build-up of fur can be hard on your filter system, but by no means is it known to cause irreparable damage. It just means you’ll have to regularly clean your filter to keep your pool running optimally.

If you have a cartridge filter, for example, you may have to spray it off more often. Those with a sand filter may be required to run a perform regular backwash.

Deciding between DIY or professional pool maintenance? Take a look at the pros and cons here. 

Prepare your dog for a swim

Preparing your dog for a swim is an essential step in pool maintenance for dog owners.

This tip is irrelevant if your dog can happily enter the pool whenever they wish due to open access, but it can help minimise the clean-up. Brushing your dog prior to the swim will help remove the loose fur and dirt before they jump into the water.

For best results, look for a de-shedding brush. Ensuring they are regularly shampooed will also make a difference.

Watch the chlorine level

Chlorine is considered safe for dogs as long as it is at the recommended amount. As a dog’s eyes, nose and ears and more sensitive than humans, high levels of chlorine exposure can result in adverse effects. Making sure you don’t add too much chlorine to your pool is important for their safety.

Some pet owners prefer salt chlorine generators if their four-legged friend is swimming regularly as they produce a low level of chlorine. If you are concerned about the amount of chlorine your pet is exposed to, you could give your dog a rinse after swimming.

Dogs have a keen sense of smell, so it’s important to be particularly mindful of how you handle and store any pool chemicals for the safety of your pets.

Consider the design of your pool

If you’re yet to install a pool and considering one that both you and your pets can enjoy. There are a few design factors to take into account that can affect the usage and the level of pool maintenance for dog owners:

1. The type of pool

Most pet owners will steer clear of vinyl liners as they can be subjected to small punctures that could resort in major leaks. Fibreglass or concrete pools, on the other hand, are a more durable option.

2. The design

Steps that are scaled for both humans and your dog are helpful in regards to entering and exiting the pool, especially for those pets that are a little more cautious about swimming. A tanning ledge that provides a shallow area for dogs is also a favourable option.

3. The fencing

If you want to control the times your dog does access the pool, you’ll need to consider how you position your fencing. In fact, this should be your first consideration before you even start designing the swimming pool

For more pool tips and advice, visit the pool section of our Learning Library.