Would love opinions on keeping a Newf out of the pool

[NewfLove]

For two years, we have had a pool AND a Newf. Unfortunately, if she is in the back yard (3 acres to run and play in), she is in the pool. Because of that, we have made a small dog run on the side of the house where the dogs go to the bathroom. Anyway, we can't let her out back because I can't keep up with the grooming; she goes straight into the pool. We bought a fence that we put around the shallow end where the steps are, but she just jumped in the deep end. A fence completely around the pool is very expensive.

Here is my idea: What if I get a pool alarm and put it in the pool only when we let her out (otherwise it would go off nonstop with all the leaves and bees, etc. around here). I assume it would make a beep and stop her from going in? Then, she would learn to go in only when we give her permission (when we are in the pool with no pool alarm). Or, if anyone has any other ideas, I'm open to them! (I have read threads where people say, "Just train your dog!" Well, training a Newf to stay out of water is almost impossible, as you know.)

 

[CMDRTED]

I take it this is an in-ground pool?

 

[NessaM]

In this state, in this township, having your pool fenced off is the law. Child safety. My guys run straight to the gate every day during the summer, and I have to tell them either, "okay boys, hang on" while I walk over and let them in or, "not right now guys," if I've got something I need to do that afternoon that would be made difficult to accomplish by adding 3 hours of blow drying to my schedule.

(In other words, I totally hear you)

As for advice - I've got nothing, sorry. I'm not sure a pool alarm would work. A beep? No mere beep would stop my two. I don't think an air horn would stop them. Perhaps you could use some serious treats to train her to stop and sit at the shallow end before getting permission to swim? That way at least if you're with her you'd have a bit of time to grab her before she dove in. And if you gave her a treat and then permission a bunch of the time, she'd stay in the sit while you walked towards her, in the hopes that she was going to get a cookie and then be allowed to swim.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

It's the same here as in NJ...all pools have to be fenced and gated, including above ground pools too (and technically, hot tubs have to have covers on at all times when not in use). Would some kind of cover be a more economical choice than a fence for you? I've no idea as I don't have a pool...

 

[JackandKelly]

Watching this thread for ideas..other than making a dog run on the side of the house using a 6' fence, there is no keeping Lola out of the lake. 8 months of professional training classes and excellent recall, but there is NO reliable way to keep this girl from the water. 50% of the time she will stop mid-run and come back to me before getting wet (we are literally 35 feet from the water) the other 50% she goes in, gets wet then comes right back. If the other Newfs are out with her...forget it. They all go deaf!

 

[NewfLove]

Yes, it's an in-ground pool. We live out in the country - in a county with basically no laws or codes. Animal Control won't even come out here as they only have to tend to the city, so the dead dogs and cats (spay and neuter? What's that?) literally rot on the side of the road. Our next-door neighbor shot his pistol toward our house at some stray dogs. Oh, East Texas is so backward sometimes. There is no law about a fence, and we don't have small children, so we haven't wanted to pay for a fence, plus our property is fenced, so we don't have to worry about anyone/anything else getting in the pool. We have tried the training before with her, and she completely ignores me when she saw the water, but that might be the only option. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to consider them all.

 

[NewfLove]

Watching this thread for ideas..other than making a dog run on the side of the house using a 6' fence, there is no keeping Lola out of the lake. 8 months of professional training classes and excellent recall, but there is NO reliable way to keep this girl from the water. 50% of the time she will stop mid-run and come back to me before getting wet (we are literally 35 feet from the water) the other 50% she goes in, gets wet then comes right back. If the other Newfs are out with her...forget it. They all go deaf!

That is what we have, a dog run that is about 40 feet long and about 15 feet wide on the side where all three dogs go. I was hoping to give her more room to run and play in the back where the pool is.

This is what we're dealing with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDe8Z94HUXI

 

[kdwbellea]

In DE it is law to have a fence completely surrounding any pool.

I think the pool cover is a great idea, except make sure it is incredibly strong, otherwise the potential (just like with kids) is if it were to tear or not support the weight and the dog/kid falls through a tear/rip then they can't get back out and are trapped under the cover. Kind of like when one falls through the ice on a pond. That's just my panicky thinking of the worst case scenario brain though.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

That is what we have, a dog run that is about 40 feet long and about 15 feet wide on the side where all three dogs go. I was hoping to give her more room to run and play in the back where the pool is.

This is what we're dealing with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDe8Z94HUXI

Hahaha! That was great! Err, I mean...that poor gentleman.

 

[NessaM]

At the risk of starting a grooming war on the pros and cons of shaving - you could always shave her down so that she dries much more quickly. Then she could enjoy the pool at her discretion, and you could rest easy knowing you can basically towel-dry her and let her air-dry the rest of the way while you go about your business, without having to worry about skin fold infections etc. Obviously you wouldn't want to take her down to the skin, but leaving an inch and a half of fur or so would have her drying much more quickly.

I know you do pet therapy, so you might not want to trim her down, but remember, Archie at Casa Pacifica gets a full buzz cut for hygiene reasons, and I don't think his kids love him any less.

Alternatively, I tunnel bellies out during the summer, which helps at least to get the tummies, armpits and groins to dry more quickly. Those are the places Nooks tends to get staph infections during the summer. The faster my guys will dry out, the more frequently they can enjoy the refreshment of a cool dip in the pool. Being really thorough in removing the undercoat/lightening the coat density on her might help too - the Mars Coat King would be your friend there.

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

This is what we're dealing with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDe8Z94HUXI

Your doomed. Not even sure the fencing at Fort Knox would work

 

[NewfLove]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We might just have to cut her down because it's the belly that gets so gross and stinky not matter how many times (per day) I try to dry her. But, with her pet therapy like Nessa said, I don't want her really short!

Yes, I realize that fences or covers are a law in most states. As I stated, it is not a law here and we have our yard fenced and have no young children. Having said that, a pool cover might be our answer, at least in the winter when we are not in it at all.

 

[Melissakins]

Your doomed. Not even sure the fencing at Fort Knox would work

hahahahaha

That's my Sophie. Sorry I can't hear you right now! I'm in the water! Wha?? You want me to come to you? I can't hear you, la la la la la

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

Having said that, a pool cover might be our answer, at least in the winter when we are not in it at all.

My grandmother has an in-ground pool with a cover and I know that it can hold A LOT of weight. I'm not sure how much it's rated at, but I think it can hold something ridiculous, like the weight of a small car (so that it's doesn't buckle under the weight of Chicagoland snow...)

 

[JDH2]

Well... My two have a in-ground inside pool in their main room. I have to keep a solar cover on it because of the moisture and the needed heat since it doesn't get much sun. They know that if the cover is on that they can't go in but if the cover is off they are welcome in. I hate having to deal with the cover, it is like bubble wrap but I don't have a choice.When my pump motor went out again Max quit swimming if the pump wasn't on?! If you could train her to the sound of the alarm I really think that would work. The only drawback would be remembering to put the alarm in or turning it on everytime.
I wish I could train my two not to drink out of it, they do it even when they have the freshest clean cold water in their bowls...

 

[ardeagold]

Good luck! We used to have an inground pool but filled it in. Now there's the pond! In MD you have to have a fence around the yard that the pool is in...not necessarily the pool itself.

So, the yard is fenced...and the dog were in the pool ALL the time. Now Frankie is in the pond ALL the time. Hope he outgrows it like most others did. Now they only go in occasionally (or when I'm there playing with them).

I'd cut them down kind of short (like a puppy coat type thing but not totally shaved) and then you can basically towel dry and blow them briefly...or put some floor fans down and they dry themselves. (Maybe you could put some outside near the house...of course making sure the fans can't end up in the pool!)

Also, even with a short coat, make sure the undercoat is all combed out. That's where the water/moisture would be held, causing skin issues.

 

[NewfieMama]

Cooper got a puppy cut last year and OMG it was adorable. We did about 1 3/4 " long all over, so he was still super soft but also much less damp and hot.

 

[Liisa]

Our rules are the same as Donna - fence around the yard with strict restrictions on THAT fence. But not necessarily around the pool per se. So once my guys are in the yard, they can get to the pool. We did a temporary fence within the permanent fence (Dianne - I've got pictures on my FB page.) It was about $3k or so to put up and the poles slide into tubes in concrete. So we can put it up when I need to and take it out when I want open access to the pool. Just put it up last fall. My problem - since Cooper does NOT swim... yet (we are going to force the issue this summer ) we have one of those covers that can "hold an elephant". It holds the dogs, but it does dip down so pool water seeps through the cover. The dogs use it like a trampoline and DRINK THE WINTERIZED water! Eeek! The pool keeps them out of the chemical laden water and allows us to shock the pool if we need to without fear of them using at as a water bowl.

 

[rhoward]

Yes, it's an in-ground pool. We live out in the country - in a county with basically no laws or codes. Animal Control won't even come out here as they only have to tend to the city, so the dead dogs and cats (spay and neuter? What's that?) literally rot on the side of the road. Our next-door neighbor shot his pistol toward our house at some stray dogs. Oh, East Texas is so backward sometimes. There is no law about a fence, and we don't have small children, so we haven't wanted to pay for a fence, plus our property is fenced, so we don't have to worry about anyone/anything else getting in the pool. We have tried the training before with her, and she completely ignores me when she saw the water, but that might be the only option. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to consider them all.

I grew up in East Texas. I know what you mean! I had a pool before and was worried about the children. I had a fence with a self locking gate put in. The nice thing about it was that you could easily take out the entire fence in about 5 minutes and 10-15 minutes to put it back. Great for parties and safe for children and pets. It was about $1,500. It was some kind of see through mesh that looked very nice.

 

[LoveLandseers]

Dianne, so glad you posted this thread because we have the exact same issue! We've had a heavy duty cover on all winter and it's been so nice to let Morris have free rein on the yard, but soon the pool will be open and we'll be in the same boat! We're considering putting a fence up around it but aside from the expense I think it's going to look pretty weird. The heavy duty cover has definitely worked this winter but it's not something you can easily take on and off.