Keep your dog cool with a Gravitis Pool!
It’s just a couple more weeks until the school summer holidays, with lots of sunshine forecast perhaps now is a good time to think about treating your dog to one of our specially designed pet paddling pools.
Small garden? No problem! The Gravitis Pet Supplies Dog Paddling Pool is available in 3 sizes so you can get one to fit even the smallest back yard, in a space less than a metre square. Our robust pools are designed especially for dogs and constructed from non-toxic, scratch resistant PVC with a reinforced, non-slip floor. The rigid side panels help the pools to keep their shape even when it is empty, and they are much tougher than a standard paddling pool. The pools are also non-inflatable so there is no risk of puncturing them even if your dog decides to have a little chew on the sides they are designed to withstand more than a few teeth marks!
Spaniel photo by Rob Waller on Pexels
Why is it important to keep your dog cool?
We’ve written quite a few posts over the years about keeping your dog cool in the summer. It is vital that you keep your eye on your dog during hot weather as they can’t always tell you when something is wrong. If you are at home, make sure they are kept comfortable and cool with plenty of shade and access to clean drinking water if you want them to enjoy the sunshine as much as you do.
It is important to watch your dog and make sure they aren’t showing any signs of heat exhaustion. Don’t judge how hot your dog might be by thinking about how hot you are. They don’t experience heat in the same way that humans do, and their bodies regulate their temperature in a different way too and this also varies between breeds. Dogs don't sweat all over, just through their paws - and they might not necessarily show you that they are distressed by the heat until it’s too late, as they can often become focused on a game or an activity rather than thinking about how they are feeling or whether they need to slow down a bit or have a drink.
Some breeds of dog are more prone to heatstroke than others, particularly flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds such as Pugs, Boxers and French Bulldogs so take special care with these breeds if you are out in the sunshine.
Cool Dalmatian photo by Bethany Ferr on Pexels
The Gravitis Pet Paddling Pool
The pool comes in three sizes: Medium, Large and Extra Large.
- The Medium Dog Paddling Pool is 80cm in diameter and 20cm deep, ideal for a small yard or smaller dogs who just want to get their feet wet. Available from our online shop for £18.95
- The Large Dog Paddling Pool is 120cm in diameter and 30cm deep and costs £29.85
- And the Extra Large Dog Paddling Pool is 160cm in diameter and also 30cm deep so these pools are definitely designed more for splashing than swimming, unless your dog is really small! This pool costs £38.85.
The pool has rigid side panels which make it easy to fold up in a concertina-fashion and it folds down neatly so it is compact and easy to pack away or take with you if you’re taking your dog on holiday. It also has a screw-in drainage plug which makes the whole take-down process simple and easy to manage.
Gravitis pet supplies pool
Keeping your dog cool
If you’re using a pool to keep your dog cool, we recommend keeping it in a shady spot in your garden – or creating shade over it with a gazebo or parasol. Fill it with cool - but not freezing- cold water. If it is a very hot day, your dog could go into shock if the water is too cold. If your dog has short legs then don’t fill it too deep unless you are keeping a close eye on them and if they are too short to climb in and out over the side of the pool (20-30cm) consider putting something into the pool to enable them to climb out easily by themselves such as some safely stacked bricks or an upturned washing up bowl.
Some dogs will be keen to get straight in and splash around, but others may need some gentle encouragement. Start by filling the pool by a few inches and letting them stand in the shallow water for a short time, before gradually increasing the amount of water and the timeframe. Even a dip in shallow water can help cool the paws which is where dogs absorb and release most of their heat, and if you splash some water onto their coat this will help them to keep them cool too.
The Gravitis pool is easy to drain
Be sure to supervise your dog at all times in the pool. You may want to check that their claws aren’t too long before they get in - and although the pool is designed to withstand a little chewing, it is better to discourage any destructive behaviour if you want to prolong the life of the pool.
If you’ve bought a Gravitis Pet Supplies Dog Paddling Pool we’d love to know how you and your dog are getting on with it! Although this pool has been designed especially for dogs, it can also be used as a pet bath or ball pit for your dog and is also suitable for family use as a kid’s pool, ball pit, sand pit or garden play space. How do you use yours? Let us know in the comments section below!
Main photo: Murdock the lurcher taking a dip in a Gravitis pool when he was a pup