2mo ago

Swimming pool, blind dog

I'm moving into a house with a pool in a couple of months. I have a 20# dog who is blind and I'm trying to think of ways to keep her safe. The area from the back door/patio to the pool is all concrete, so installing fencing would require drilling holes. Looking for something temporary that could be removed during parties. I suggested wooden planters spaced every 8+10 feet with a bracket to hold a board. Husband didn't like that. I'm still leaning towards that, but looking for other ideas. Thoughts?

23 comments

I mean it sounds like a removable mesh pool fence is what you need. The holes might be permanent, but properly installed inserts would make them less conspicuous.
- nets are indeed an excellent light and cheap idea
- That's probably the best looking because it can easily be totally removed.

does this mean that a blind dog won't enjoy swimming?
- It might not be able to find it's own way out. Also it might panic.
- She hates it! I have scars from trying to take her swimming.

I once saw pool fencing where the base was weighed down with water or sand, like those 'children playing' signs. Easy to move out of the way when not needed.
- I looked at plastic k-rails but they were expensive and would take a lot of space to store. I'll check out those fence bases. If i can just scoop pool water to hold them down, that would be good.

You could space tiki torches or something similar around the pool, and run a mesh fence like this between them: https://www.lowes.com/pd/GARDEN-CRAFT-50-ft-x-2-ft-Green-PVC-Coated-Steel-Welded-Wire-Rolled-Fencing-with-Mesh-Size-2-in-x-3-in/1000367323
Easy to take down and roll up, and you don't have to worry about removing posts, you just light them to provide some light for the guests!
- We have several things that could support something like that - spa, stair rail, and 4 holes that hold an umbrella or volley ball net. I suggested putting low stretchy net around that but husband didn't like that. He suggests 'we' take her on the leash every day and train her to use one area of the yard. She's 12, has lived in the same house for 10 years (9 and a half with sight) , and still loses the back door despite having a rug trail to it. She's happy and sweet, but i don't think that's going to work.
  
  I suppose another option could be to attach a retractable lead outside the door. If you could set the length so she could reach the grass but not the pool, you could just clip her onto it when she is outside

Did he not like the planters or not like the boards about your idea? That was a pretty good idea. You could use strips of vinyl lattice instead of boards. It doesn't need to be a tall fence right?
- Right - 8" high would be plenty and she won't try to go under. He does woodworking, so i think he thought i wanted him to build a dozen planters.
- Vinyl instead of boards also removes any particular spacing requirements.

maybe the kiddie-floaty like things (or the adult versions) in case the dog fells into water, then he may have something to hold onto/get on it. Also maybe some wooden slabs (plastics would be cheaper but would not look good, and they may even fly away in strong winds, but handling wooden slabs maybe harder because of weight, may be a 2 person task to take them on and off) cut to shape of your pool to cover it completely/partially. This will reduce the chances of doggy unknowingly (that is to you guys would know if it is risky for him to go outside or not) fall in the pool. This will also double up as ypour general pool cover to keep your pool water clean, and can also help you insulate your water better, in case you live in a frigid climate and heat the pool, or in some very hot climate and want to keep your water cool.
- She hates the pool, hates a bath, and is not a good swimmer. If she falls in I think she will freak out instead of trying to climb out. We don't cover, but using swimming things beside the pool is a good idea - pool noodles or something by the pool would likely cue her to turn away - like doggy bumper bowling.
  
  Can I please get a video of the doggy bumber bowling? On a more serious note, may I ask why not covers? It is one of the safest passive ways, if the weight is the issue, there are some even glass fibre reinforced plastic based sheets (something like surf board) which would be light but hard.

We used one of those portable dog fences to block off our old pool. They are lightweight and easy to fold up and store away. You could place stones (or sandbags) every few feet or so to prevent the fence from being easily moved by the dog and secured the ends of the fence to something.
I will say they aren't built to stay outside all day, but we had one outside for a couple of years and it was still intact. It was worn down though and the black paint was peeling off. But if you can put it away when it isn't needed then this shouldn't be an issue then
- The panels that connect on the ends? Maybe I'll check pricing on those.
  
  We had one of these:
  You can take the ends apart and make it into a fence.

23 comments