With children and families, swimming lessons and pool safety lessons can start as early as infancy. There is a wealth of information regarding safety about your swimming pool in Lafayette, LA for children and adults, but what about your furry family? With an increase in pet culture and animals increasingly becoming more than just pets to their owners, it’s important to keep in mind safety around the swimming pool for them as well. While some breeds, such as poodles and Labrador retrievers, are natural swimmers, there are other breeds that do not fare so well in the water. French bulldogs and English bulldogs for instance are especially susceptible to drowning with their small, compact bodies and brachycephalic faces. Brachycephalic breeds, in general, are more likely to encounter issues in deeper water because their snouts are short, and it is easy for water to get up their noses. Dogs with short legs, such as the dachshund and basset hound, even with their longer snouts, are also susceptible to drowning because their legs are shorter. Knowing the physical characteristics of dogs that are not natural swimmers can help you determine if you need to be more vigilant around the pool with your animal.
In the winter months, covering your pool can keep your furry family out of your swimming pool in Lafayette, LA. While it is not necessary to cover pools in the South because winters are typically milder, keeping an animal out of a cold pool is simple with a pool cover. You also get the added benefit of protection from leaves and debris during the months your pool is covered. In recent years, the market for dog clothing and equipment has exploded, and many companies make life vests for dogs and cats. During the summer months, it is a good idea to keep your pet pal safely in a flotation device if you can’t keep a solid eye on them. Lastly, if you want your pet to swim with you and your family, training your dog how to safely enter the pool via the steps will ensure that no doggy cannonballs land on human heads.