Swimming Dogs

On Saturday we snuck* our way into the End of Season Dog Swim at the local city pool.

*By snuck I mean we walked up to the gate said, "We're forcing our poor daughter to live a dog-less life, but can we torture her by watching the dogs swim?" And they said, "Sure, you assholes!"

A few of the dogs got off leash and instead of staying in the water, where they were allowed off leash, they ran around like I imagine all the kids would have run around the pool all summer if there weren't any rules about that sort of thing.

Watching all the dogs play and dive and chase each other was excruciating and hilarious.

Someday we'll get a dog.

If you have a dog, or like watching them swim, there are a couple more similar events coming up as other local pools are drained for the season.

You can see the other pictures here.

Comments

[De in D.C.]

LOL, do all people in Michigan enter a pool while fully clothed? ;)

j/k, that looks like a ton of fun; for both the dogs and the owners (and the people that sneak in!).

[melissa s]

health department rules.

[Rhi]

This is the cutest thing ever. I want a dog just so I can take it swimming. But, after that? I do NOT want to smell wet dog.

[Chrissy]

Get a dog now! Not a puppy, but a dog. You will be soooo glad you did. Better yet, rescue one from the pound. My boys love our dog more than anything in the world.

[HouseofJules]

How fun! That yellow lab makes me want to go get a dog right now!
Jules
House of Jules

[Georgia]

Oh my fracking god. My heart...it cannot take such huge amounts of adorable and awesomeness as an entire swimming pool full of excited dogs. I've gone to both the animal shelter and dog parks to do the "someday..." thing. But this? Too cute.

[Lisa]

The best thing we ever did was get a poodle. I know, a grandma dog. Right. I've heard it all, but the reality is, after everyone stops laughing they look around and realize that there is NO DOG HAIR ON ANYTHING. Poodles are super smart, easy to train, and love kids. I highly recommend one.

[lisa]

Where do you find events like this? We're in the area.

My dog LOVES to swim, we can't keep him out of our pool in the summer. Everytime we get in he jumps in right behind us. We're drained and closed up for the season, but I'm sure he'd love one more dip.

[ame i.]

Sweet, what a great idea!
I had an American Eskimo (passed away after a stroke last summer after 15 wonderful years)who loved to swim. She would swim for hours in my brother-in-law's pool, be almost dry, and jump back in when we weren't looking. Yep, she loved snow, too.

[sarah Welsh]

wow. this is amazing and so joyful and GARK! i WANT TO BE THERE SO BAD. the worst thing about my marriage is that my husband is allergic to both dogs and cats. and it hurts my heart.

[Dianna]

Looks like they were having a lot of fun!

[bonzai]

OMG - I cannot imagine how much fun this would be! And I second Lisa's comment - if you are not up for dog hair or have a kid with allergies, I highly recommend a poodle. We have a 55 lb black and white standard poodle who is just as goofy as they come.
And if you aren't sure what you like, go to a dog show - check the AKC site for dates in your area. They have these computers set up where you can put in your likes and dislikes and they come up with a list of breeds that might fit your life style. THEN you can go talk to a breeder and see a bunch of them in person.

[patois]

We're those types of people who actually love our children so we got them a dog. We even have a pool. Sadly, the dog won't go in the pool. She just runs around the pool with a gross tennis ball, dropping it in the water for one of us to throw it in the dirt for her to fetch and bring back and do this vicious cycle. I guess I should be glad she doesn't go in the pool. I'd hate all that fur floating around. The dirt from the ball is gross enough.

Oh, how I'd love to have seen a bunch of mutts swimming around. In someone else's pool.

[Michelle]

Some dogs, when I watch them swim, they look in pain and struggling and I just want to jump in and help them. Then other dogs seem like total naturals. And yet, I've never seen a dog that wasn't perfectly capable of swimming to shore/deck on its own.

[Nell]

What a great idea!

[Grace]

That is so cool! My dogs (oddly) hate water, but I'd love go to something like that and watch the other dogs play. I bet Maddie was beside herself.

[Cat]

I have never heard of this in my life! What a great idea, sharing the pool with the pups before they drain it for the winter! There are barely any places around anymore where your dogs are allowed to swim

[Sharon]

That is awesome. What a great idea. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

[Mary Anne]

We have a 38 lb pug (yes, really). He was accidentally bumped into the pool last year and he sank like a stone to the bottom where my husband was forced to retreive him from. He now has a life jacket (yes, really) and my husband is dying for a lab that swims. I cannot ever show him this post or I will have a new puppy within the hour. So cute though...everyone looks like they are having fun!

[melissaS]

There was a big bassett there with a life vest on. Also, weirdly, a golden retriever (they're usually pretty good in water right?).

[Aimee Greeblemonkey]

holy cow, that's cute.

[Karin]

We have a dog who LOVES to get in our pool but cannot *gulp* swim without something in his mouth! If he doesn't he bites at the splash and his ass sinks like a rock - taking him all the way to the bottom! Needless to say it's a total pain to keep him out of the pool so we don't have to perform doggy CPR.

Oh....worse yet - he's a LAB! HA

[Olga's Relief]

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I would also like to suggest this site: Olga's Relief. You might find some valuable information regarding Woman's Health and Issues. Cheers!

[BOSSY]

Bossy used to live in a neighborhood in Arlington Virginia that allowed this. Her current neighborhood said they were going to do it, but then the idea got buried beneath a thousand insurance claims and lawsuits.

[Bailey]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

[Ryann White]

Hey you should check out this service called Sitter Socials if you ever need a babysitter for the young ones!

goto http://www.sittersocials.com and check it out! Let me know what you think if you end up using it!

[Bentley]

Do you hate your kids? Will you delete this? Everyone knows you can't take negative comments so your site is a farce.

[KYouell]

What is up with the spam and the troll? And on a post about doggies for heaven's sake! I come here for funny and real, people. You're wasting my precious midnight oil.

Gotta say I love seeing the northern dogs getting a break from the heat in that water. Is it a snow/cold weather thing to drain the pool yearly? I a native Californian and have not heard of this habit, or the idea to let the furry family members swim pre-draining. Nice idea.

[Cheryl K. Bennett]

I have a dog - but she can't swim. She is a Corgi.

RUN out and get a dog today! I cannot tell you how very happy my puprs makes me!!!

Cheryl in IN