Many dog owners around Milwaukee partake in an annual event called Pool Party or Pool Drain. Many of the public pools in the area allow pooches to come and swim before the big drain for the season. It’s a great event if you are prepared to care for your dog!
Before I became a professional dog walker in the Milwaukee area, I assumed that all dogs know how to swim. Boy, was I ever wrong.
Yesterday, at such an event, I was sadly affected by the lack of knowledge by dog owners with throwing their dogs in the pool and expecting them to magically become Labradors or Golden Retrievers.
Bottom line – make sure your dog knows how to swim before you throw them in, without a life vest or, with you fully clothed and unwilling to jump in to save them. I pulled one dog out who seemingly COULD swim (breed left off to protect the innocent) but froze up in fear and being unable to touch bottom. I was screaming at a woman to jump in to get her drowning dog out – much to her dismay. Sorry, lady, it’s your responsibility to make sure your dog can swim. And sadly, I had to leave.
Here is a list of dog breeds that cannot swim, who should never be at a pool party, OR be fully escorted into the pool and out of the pool with owners physically carrying them in and out.
