Pool Party – we’re having a heatwave. It was simply too hot to travel with Travis as the mercury crept towards 30°C again, so I cancelled plans for the afternoon and filled Travis’ new toy.

I tossed a tennis ball into the middle and left him to work out how to do the rest. He’s a bold, inquisitive puppy so it only took a couple of minutes before he peered over the edge and then poked a paw in. It must have felt soothing on hot feet because he hopped straight in.

Lots of digging ensued, and he forgot about the ball entirely as he recreated a couple of famous Hockney paintings by creating a splash and a bigger splash… and then he did what boys do in swimming pools which ended the session!

It was a great introduction to the pool, and next time we may progress to getting wet above the elbows! (I suspect I will get wet all over once we move on from here).

Once he’s confident, we can look forward to swimming for real, but it’s important to ensure that he feels in control and is able to get in an out freely. Safe spots for dogs to swim are becoming more available but care needs to be taken in the summer as algae blooms are common in sunny weather and can be fatal for dogs and dangerous for humans.

If you choose to allow your dog to swim in an undesignated spot, use a long line and/or a canine lifejacket and make sure that you are confident about potential hazards such as currents, hazards below the water and that your dog can get out easily. Aim for short sessions so that your dog doesn’t get too tired. Make sure that your vaccinations are up to date too, as leptospirosis is a problem in waterways.

So, cancel plans, fill the pool and have fun!

Next week: Cock-a-hoop – The Royal Wee

Meanwhile, why not check out R+Dog Training Puppy Start Right Courses  and the new Puppy Social Walk in Chiswick House grounds for help with understanding your puppy.