Dog Swim

Today I had the opportunity to see something that I have been wanting to see for a long time. A dog swim! Have I never seen a dog swim? Of course I have, but a “dog swim” does not mean that dogs are simply swimming around in a river or pond. They are swimming in a pool. A pool that is usually used by humans.

The local community pool had an event today where people could bring there dogs to the local pool for a donation of 5 dollar, and let their dog play with the other dogs while swimming and splashing around in the pool. Being dog-crazy as I am, I left my room at 10am in the morning to walk 1h to get to the pool where the event was held. This might seem like a long walk just to see dogs having fun at the local pool but I have wanted to take my own dog to such an event for a long time but never had the opportunity to do so. I doubt I ever will, seeing how my dog turns 13 years old tomorrow. But, at least I got to see the American version of a dog swim, and what can I say, it was a lot of fun.

There were about 50 dogs happily running around by the pool, fetching balls, barking and playing with each other and their owners. Dogs that were a little more cautious could use the kid's pool and splash around without having to swim. Some dogs wore swimming vests, and, knowing that this device would keep them afloat, those were some of the boldest dogs around, jumping into the pool wildly and enthusiastically. One dog even climbed the diving tower upon his handler's encouragement and jumped down to fetch his beloved ball from out of the water. Some dogs eagerly drank some of the water but since the staff of the community pool had drained the water a week before and replaced it with water without chemicals in it, there was no danger for the dogs at all.

Everybody had a great time; children and their parents, no matter if they had brought a dog themselves, were among the people who seemed to have the most fun, cheering the dogs on to jump into the water and playing with them by throwing balls into the water.