If you haven't tried dog swimming before and would like to know more before you jump in, DogCoach has dropped by Frederikssund Dog Center in North Zealand to try it out. You can read about the process in this little guide.
Our test rabbit was Balder – a three-year-old Pug/Cocker Spaniel mix. He’s not afraid of water, but he’s also not the type to think water is the biggest party in the world (cough… like Labradors).
Upon arrival, you first enter a room adjacent to the “swimming pool”. Here there is coffee and cookies and a small seating arrangement where you can wait until your time starts. On this day we are welcomed by Jan Rasmussen. The first time you come you are always guided by the staff. We go into the pool, which is quite large – and contains 60,000 liters of water. Jan says that it is Zealand’s largest dog pool.
Have you read: DogCoach Mini Guide to Dog Swimming?
First, Balder needs to shower so he's ready to get in the water. Then Jan puts a little "life jacket" on him because we're not sure how good he'll be at swimming. Balder is given a long leash, followed up the ramp and without much thought, he splashes into the water.
From here, Jan leads him around the pool with a line while we praise him.
There are toys available that you can use to give the dog something to “chase”. We started with a small ball, but we replaced it with an oblong toy because Balder found it fun to bite for the water. It is quite harmless in itself, but Jan explains that it can give him a stomach ache if he swallows too much of it.
We have booked half an hour, which goes by amazingly quickly, while Balder darts back and forth in the pool.
He only takes short breather breaks on the small plateau by the ramp, where he can bottom out. Along the way, when we notice that Balder is comfortable and (surprisingly) happy to swim, Jan takes off the line so Balder can move freely around the pool.
As time is running out, we fish Balder out, take off his life jacket, shower him again and dry him with towels we brought. All the while Balder tries to escape so he can jump into the pool again. The floor is scraped and cleaned up before leaving, and it is by no means an unmanageable task.
Jan warns me that Balder will probably need to pee before we hit the road again. From there I drive on with a happy and grateful dog. Dog swimming is an easy, fun and different way to spend time with your dog.
Frederikssund Dog Center is a popular destination when it comes to dog swimming. Their pool contains 60,000 liters of water, is 10 meters long, 4 meters wide and 1.6 meters deep, and is heated to at least 22 degrees Celsius all year round.
DogCoach report – Balder's first swimming lesson
If you haven't tried dog swimming before and would like to know more before you jump in, DogCoach has dropped by Frederikssund Dog Center in North Zealand to try it out. You can read about the process in this little guide.
Our test rabbit was Balder – a three-year-old Pug/Cocker Spaniel mix. He’s not afraid of water, but he’s also not the type to think water is the biggest party in the world (cough… like Labradors).
Upon arrival, you first enter a room adjacent to the “swimming pool”. Here there is coffee and cookies and a small seating arrangement where you can wait until your time starts. On this day we are welcomed by Jan Rasmussen. The first time you come you are always guided by the staff. We go into the pool, which is quite large – and contains 60,000 liters of water. Jan says that it is Zealand’s largest dog pool.
Have you read: DogCoach Mini Guide to Dog Swimming?
First, Balder needs to shower so he's ready to get in the water. Then Jan puts a little "life jacket" on him because we're not sure how good he'll be at swimming. Balder is given a long leash, followed up the ramp and without much thought, he splashes into the water.
From here, Jan leads him around the pool with a line while we praise him.
There are toys available that you can use to give the dog something to “chase”. We started with a small ball, but we replaced it with an oblong toy because Balder found it fun to bite for the water. It is quite harmless in itself, but Jan explains that it can give him a stomach ache if he swallows too much of it.
We have booked half an hour, which goes by amazingly quickly, while Balder darts back and forth in the pool.
He only takes short breather breaks on the small plateau by the ramp, where he can bottom out. Along the way, when we notice that Balder is comfortable and (surprisingly) happy to swim, Jan takes off the line so Balder can move freely around the pool.
As time is running out, we fish Balder out, take off his life jacket, shower him again and dry him with towels we brought. All the while Balder tries to escape so he can jump into the pool again. The floor is scraped and cleaned up before leaving, and it is by no means an unmanageable task.
Jan warns me that Balder will probably need to pee before we hit the road again. From there I drive on with a happy and grateful dog. Dog swimming is an easy, fun and different way to spend time with your dog.
Frederikssund Dog Center is a popular destination when it comes to dog swimming. Their pool contains 60,000 liters of water, is 10 meters long, 4 meters wide and 1.6 meters deep, and is heated to at least 22 degrees Celsius all year round.