I know what you are probably thinking—you have to teach your dog to use a kiddie pool?! The short answer is YES! A kiddie pool is a completely foreign object for dogs. There is an edge to it, the surface is an unfamiliar texture, and even the water that goes into it is clear and hard for your dog to see. I’ve had several people reach out to me—including my own mother— to say that their own dogs won’t use the kiddie pool they bought, and I always tell them the same thing: you have to teach a dog how to use a kiddie pool!

My own pups, June and Margot, LOVE splashing around in their kiddie pool. You can see photos and stories of them having a blast over on our Instagram. What is NOT shown on Instagram is the process of introducing them to the kiddie pool. Although you wouldn’t know it now with how they run, dive, splash, and roll around in the pool, both June and Margot were highly skeptical of the pool when we first brought it home.

With COVID-19 still looming, it is more important than ever to social distance and stay home when possible, and a kiddie pool is a great way to have fun with your dogs when it’s a million degrees out. Not only does a kiddie pool help keep your pup cool on a hot summer day, but the act of splashing around and bobbing for toys is great enrichment.

Step 1: Introduce the Pool

When you first bring the kiddie pool home, put it outside in your yard and let your dog interact with it on their own time. Don’t fill it with water yet, just let your dog see it and sniff it and get used to it. If your dog is completely unconcerned about the pool, or very excited to sniff it, great! Use treats to reward that engagement, and maybe even throw some treats in the dry pool so that your dog gets used to jumping in and out.

If, however, your dog is nervous and skeptical, that is okay, too! Stand near the pool and lure your dog over with high value treats and praise. You might have to toss treats on the ground nearby at first if your dog is too nervous to walk up to the pool. Just be patient, take your time, and don’t force anything!

The goal is to make positive associations for your dog with the kiddie pool. It may take a few minutes or even a few days for your dog to walk up to the pool and take treats from your hand. Keep your tone positive and engaging, use your dog’s favorite toy, or maybe even sit down in the dry pool to show your pup there is nothing to be concerned about.

If your dog is really nervous about the pool at first, this is a spectacular confidence building exercise! So, don’t feel frustrated if your dog does not take to the pool right away. Use that as an opportunity to build up your dog’s confidence, and strengthen their trust in your leadership.

Ideally, you want your dog comfortable enough to jump into the pool without water to take treats from your hand before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Fill with Water

Once your dog is comfortable around the kiddie pool, fill it with water and repeat the above process. Use treats or your dog’s favorite toys to encourage their engagement with the pool. Stand or sit in the kiddie pool to show them there is nothing to be nervous about, and lure them in. Don’t splash or slosh around, as many dogs can find that scary.

Once your dog jumps into the pool with water in it, mark the behavior and reward, either with a tasty treat or a fun toy. Don’t force them to stay in the pool if they immediately hop out. Instead, try luring them back in with treats or toys: mark, reward, and repeat. Because pools are playtime, I like to use toys as much as possible. Try throwing in your dog’s favorite (waterproof) toy like a tennis ball or rubber Kong and let them chase after it in the water.

If your dog is comfortable with the pool, but seems confused about stepping into it, you can gently pick your dog up to put them in the pool. However, do NOT force them in. There is a difference between showing your dog and helping your dog versus forcing your dog. If your pup struggles or panics, then leave them be and give them more time and space to adjust to the pool.

Step 3: Have FUN

Once your dog understands how to get in and out of the pool, it’s time for a pool paw-rty! You can play fetch by throwing a fun toy into the pool for your dog to chase, or even toss in a few ice cubes for them to bob after––my pups LOVE the ice cubes. I’ve noticed a lot of dogs like to dig in the water, too, which is great fun! If you have more than one dog, or if you have doggy friends visit for a play date, you might notice that one dog’s enthusiasm for the pool will rub off on the others, which is always hilarious to watch. However, some dogs just don’t like getting their paws wet, period. That’s okay, too! If your dog never takes to the kiddie pool, check out some of these other ways you can beat the San Antonio heat this summer!

On a final note, don’t forget to pull up a lawn chair and put your feet in the pool, crack open a cold drink, and relax. Meanwhile, your dog can run, jump, splash, fetch, bob, dig, and just be a dog, all while keeping cool!