Summer is in full swing, which means it’s time to take advantage of the heat and get in some necessary pool time with your pup. It’s easier and safer than ever to unleash your pup’s inner Michael Phelps with all kinds of great gear, from dog pools to life jackets to waterproof toys.
Before we — and your pup — dive in, this is a good time to underscore that all that water-based fun with your dog requires the same level of safety and focus you’d have for a toddler — and then some.
5 tips to help your pup have fun in the sun — safely.
Here are some tips to keep your dog safe:
Keep your dog constantly in sight around any bodies of water, from pool to lake to ocean. Things can happen frighteningly fast, so stay eyes-on with your pup to avoid any accidents.
As water temperatures rise, the presence of deadly blue-green algaeopens in a new tab can put your dog at risk with even the slightest contact. Learn how to spot it and steer clear of anything remotely suspicious.
Possibly the sneakiest risk of all is dry or secondary drowning. Dry drowningopens in a new tab can occur hours or even days after any activity that results in your pup swallowing mouthfuls of water. Protect your dog by using a well-fitted life jacket that keeps their head above water or focusing your retrieving play near the surf’s edge. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, bluish gums and skin, and extreme lethargy. If you do ever suspect dry drowning symptoms in your dog, go to an emergency vet right away.
With a sensible safety foundation in place, you can happily soak in the sheer fun of all things water with your dog. We’ve rounded up a list of 11 things to help you and your dog enjoy summer to its fullest.
Some like it hot (but not most dogs). Here are the season’s health hazards, from fleas to foxtails.
Btw, our editors (and their pets) picked out these products. They’re always in stock at the time we publish, but there’s a chance they’ll sell out. If you do buy through our links, we may earn a commission. (We’ve got a lot of toys to buy over here, you know?)
This best-selling collapsable pool is perfectly proportioned to your pup, while still leaving room for whatever swimming or bathing activities they’ll need to engage in. Plus, it features a non-slip texture so you won’t have to worry about your lovely summer afternoon turning into a slip-and-slide competition between your dogs (and maybe humans, too).
The Yaheetech foldable dog pool is designed to be ultra sturdy, packed with 35 pieces of rectangular medium-density fiberboard (MDF) boards. It comes in multiple sizes, from medium (for your solo Chihuahua) to XXL (for your Saint Bernard or pack of Chihuahuas). It’s foldable and easy to store, making it a good choice for travel, too.
If you and your pup are hopping on the neon trend (it’s summer, after all), this bright pool is for you. Foldable and made of BPA-plastic, this lime-green choice is as convenient and safe as it is fun to look at. It’s also puncture-resistant, so it’s great for pups who like to chew.
For those who love a little pop of color in their backyard, we have the pool for you. This Frisco pool is foldable, equipped with a patch kit, and covered in adorable pink flamingoes. Sorry, Chihuahuas, but the Frisco pool is ideal for medium-and-large-sized dogs. If flamingoes aren’t your speed, the pool also comes in pineappleopens in a new tab print, rubber ducky opens in a new tabprint, or just plain red. (But, come on…it’s gotta be flamingoes, right?)
Inspired by the creator’s own dog, Bananas, this dog pool is designed with a tropical palms, banana leaf pattern. The pool is foldable, ethically sourced and produced, equipped with a repair patch, and built with a heavy-duty vinyl bottom panel. The Mini Pup also comes in a chic, black-and-white marble pattern for fancy pups.
This pad has low sides, so dogs of any size or age can join the fun. Just raise and lower the fountain height to make a game of it. If your dog’s zoomies opens in a new tabalready make you laugh, prepare yourself for the Olympic-level sprinkler version.
Before your pup hits the pool (or lake or ocean), be sure to fit them with a life jacket if they aren’t a strong swimmer. This smartly designed and best-selling (36,458 shoppers to be exact!) safety vest includes sturdy pick-up handles to pull your dog out of the water and a front-neck float to keep their head above it. It offers a good range of motion with cut-in leg holes and padding for floatation and warmth. It comes in a variety of colors, but we recommend the bright orange with reflective accents, so it’s hard to miss.
Whether your dog prefers to use it as a pool float or a deck lounger, this is made with vinyl-coated fabric, is puncture resistant, and filled with buoyant foam (no inflating or air to lose) for durability.
If your dog prefers to ride high and bone dry in the water, this is your float. The top side is reinforced to withstand your dog’s paws and nails (but keeping them clippedopens in a new tab is always a good idea anyway).
FunBoy, makers of the world’s best, most Instagrammable inflatable pool toys, has created the perfect little float just for your four-legged little friend. The blow-up boat can accommodate dogs up to 70 pounds and features thick, puncture-resistant material and a reinforced compartment for treats or toys. It’s also just really freaking cute!
Who wants to keep playing after dark? Every dog addicted to fetch, of course. The classic ball and stick is now waterproof and glow-in-the-dark, so there are no excuses to stop playing.
This bright, waterproof (they are sea creatures, after all) trio magically floats upright in the water to make fetching your dog’s favorite new turtle, starfish, and stingray super easy and safe.
Be one of those paddle-boarding human-dog duos who make it look like a breeze. The secret to a secure ride for your dog? Tricking out the nose of your board with a customizable peel-and-stick pad. Now, go live the dream together.
Cory and Jane are daughter-mother partners in just about everything including co-founding Dogly, a platform for pets and their people to live well together. They’re parents to a family full of magical rescue dogs and a bossy street cat from Shanghai who are their resident muses, testers of all things, and advisors on the meaning of life.
