Best Dog Swimming Spots in the UK

A beach trip can be a fun-filled day for the whole family, just make sure the beach you’re taking your pooch to is a dog-friendly one!

It’s important to assess the depth, condition and surroundings of the lake or river before your dog enters it. If there’s plenty of trees, rubbish, branches etc, your pooch shouldn’t paddle in this body of water! The same applies if there’s no shallow end, or if your canine companion doesn’t seem so keen on entering the water in the first place. As mentioned previously, blue-green algae is a dangerous waterbody that can be found in lakes, rivers, ponds etc, which produce poisonous toxins that could harm your pooch. There’s no way of knowing if the water is contaminated without testing it, and the presence of blue-green algae is greater in warmer weather. If the lake or river you’ve come across is known to contain blue-green algae, you must not let your dog near it.

Finding ways to entertain your pooch during warmer months can be a bit tricky. The hot weather can limit what activities you and your canine companion can do without risking them overheating, which is why swimming is a great option. For a splash-tastic time, dogs and swimming pools make for a chaotically fun day for everyone!

Dog swimming pools provide the perfect, safe environment with no harsh, harmful chemicals to help a dog be able to paddle around happily. Many dogs love to swim, and even as they grow older, swimming can be very beneficial for their health.

Hydrotherapy for dogs is a recommended treatment for countless bone and joint issues like arthritis, helping them to continuously build up muscle without putting any unneeded strain on their body. Not all dogs enjoy swimming, but for those who do, finding a doggy swimming pool near you can be a great option.

Typically, most public leisure centres don’t allow a dog in the swimming pool, mainly due to health regulations. Some public pools hold owner/dog events so you can swim with your canine companion, but these are specified events and it should be assumed that your dog isn’t allowed unless otherwise mentioned. If your dog has health issues to do with diarrhoea or an infection, they shouldn’t par-take in such swim pools for dogs/owner days either.

Whilst it’s not recommended for dogs to drink swimming pool water, a small amount shouldn’t cause harm. This is all dependent on how balanced and regulated the pool’s chlorine levels are, why is why your pooch shouldn’t regularly slurp on pool water anyway! If your pooch does drink chlorinated water, it could lead to nausea, vomiting and in more extreme cases, esophageal damage.

If you’re looking for a swimming pool in the North West suitable for dogs, there are plenty of options. From dog swimming pools in Manchester to Liverpool, you’ll be spoilt for choice when deciding where to go to get your canine pool-confident!

K9 Swim, a Manchester based swimming pool has been operating and providing dogs with hydrotherapy swimming since 2012. They offer both assisted and unassisted swim sessions and you can even pay a little extra to have more puppies join in on the swimming fun!

Based in Wirral, Doggy Paddle boasts that their swimming sessions allow for both mental and physical stimulation. Offering a safe place for your fur baby to learn how to swim and it’s a great way to build a bond with your dog through trying something new together.

Splash for Dogs is another doggy pool that offers both hydrotherapy and pleasure swimming sessions. Located in Cheshire, they require a veterinary referral before you’re able to book with them and encourage new customers to call ahead if they’re not sure if Splash is for them.

Other swimming pools for dogs in the North West include:

●      Aqua Dogs

●      Rose Tree Farm Boarding

Swim Paws in Stockton-on-Tees is one of several dog friendly swimming pools in the North East. They offer swim for rehabilitation sessions which are guided by vet referral to help with any ailments your pup may have. Swimming has the added benefit of boosting your canine companion’s immune system. They also have fun sessions with lots of toys so your pup can free swim and just enjoy themselves. Watching a load of dogs swimming in a pool sounds like a cuteness overload to us! Woofs n Scruffs has four locations across the North East so you’re likely to be in range of one of their facilities. They offer lots of different services including dog training, doggy daycare and swimming session for your pup to enjoy. 

Finding the best place to take your dog swimming in Yorkshire is made easy with a number of places to choose from. Tidal Paws in Barnsley has a heated pool fitted with anti-swim jets so that when your pup is more confident in the water, they can start to learn to swim against a current to increase muscle strength.

Paddlin Paws is a facility that offers both hydrotherapy sessions and free swims so is great for somewhere to go and just have fun. House of Hound Hydrotherapy & Training is focussed more on medical case hydrotherapy sessions for dogs. You can even book laser appointments and physiotherapy there.

Other facilities around Yorkshire that offer swimming for dogs include:

●      Aqua Paws

●      Swim 4 Paws

●      Black Dog Hydrotherapy

●      Fit4dogsuk LTD Canine Hydrotherapy Center

If you’re looking for dog swimming pools in London to take your pup for a summer cooldown session, Canine Aqua Splash in Borehamwood offers private sessions in their indoor heated pool. You can pay for additional doggy pals to join them so up to four dogs can attend a single session.

Aquadoggies near Reading offers a range of swimming and non-swimming services. You can book hydrotherapy sessions for controlled swims to help improve cardiovascular stamina and muscle tone. A great way to improve movement range in dogs who are recovering from injuries to safely and gently get them back to feeling their best.

Other places to take your dog swimming near London include:

●      Barkers K9 Hydrotherapy

●      Dipping Dogs

Leicester based swimming pool for dogs, Soggy Dogs offers their services across the Midlands. A private family run business that pride themselves on making the facility a pleasant place to be. The pool and even the washroom look more like an expensive Spa for people than a pool for dogs!

Bluewaters Canine Hydrotherapy is a specialised hydrotherapy and physiotherapy centre. They have both a pool and treadmill for their hydrotherapy sessions, but also offer confidence building swimming lessons and fun swims in their state-of-the-art pool.

Bearhugs Canine Hydrotherapy is another dog swimming pool in the Midlands.  They even have special bookings for giant breed puppies to help with exercising them to get out excess energy but without straining their still developing joints.

Other swimming pools in the Midlands include the  Sherwood Canine Fun, Fitness and Mobility Swin Centre

Red Rover Dog Fun Pool is a Glasgow based pool for owners looking for places for their dogs to cool off and have a swim in Scotland. Their website specifically states that their facility is not aimed towards hydrotherapy cases but instead, a fun, safe place for dogs to learn how to swim and develop their confidence.

Solway Canine Hydrotherapy Centre in Dumfries is aimed more towards medical cases where swimming will help to heal and strengthen joints for injured or unwell animals. However, they do require a vet referral when you make your booking.

The K9 Health Centre in Aberdeen offers treatments in their pool for supporting your pup’s health and well-being. They can help with problems like obesity, pain management and even growth-related problems.

For Welsh parents looking to cool their dogs off with a swim, The Dog Spa in Caerphilly has both an indoor jet swimming pool and a state-of-the-art treadmill to treat all varieties of issues. Being proud members of the Canine Hydrotherapy Association ensures all their information and treatments you receive are always up to date. Aquadogs, also based in Caerphilly offer very similar services to help your dog’s get the gentle exercise they need.

West Wales Canine Hydrotherapy is set in the stunning scenery of Carmarthenshire in a former Church so the environment is stunning while the pool is as modern as they come. While they offer medical based hydrotherapy sessions, they also offer sessions for parents who just want an alternative to strenuous and muddy walks for their canine companions.

Whilst swimming is a paw-some form of exercise for your four-legged friend, there’s some precautions you should take before they take the plunge!

Dog-safe swimming pools are a great way of introducing your dog to water, whether it’s a paddling pool or an actual pool! If your dog is a frequent water baby, it’s worth being clued up about dog swimming tail, which is essentially a sprained tail and is five times more frequent in furry swimmers than non-swimmers. It’s unknown what causes dog swim tail, as it’s been attributed to both the cold water and to the act of swimming.

As long as chlorine levels are monitored and at the correct balance, then yes, swimming pools are safe for dogs to swim in. Supervision is essential, especially in regard to making sure your pooch doesn’t drink the water!

Whilst generally it’s deemed safe for dogs to swim in the sea, there are a range of factors to be aware of before your dog dives in! From rough weather causing big waves and harmful bacteria to dead fish and jelly fish, these are all things you should check for before allowing your pooch from having a paddle.

Yes you can! Like with most things, take it slowly and don’t go for the “sink or swim” approach! You want to build your pooch’s confidence, not break it. Your dog needs to get used to having wet paws first, then being in the water just standing. If they seem confident that’s when you can lead them in a little deeper where their instinct should be to paddle with just their front legs. You can book onto guided classes if your canine companion isn’t quite picking it up! It will be super rewarding watching your dog swimming in the pool once they’ve grasped the impressive doggy paddle! Find out if all dogs can swim in this article.

If you’re taking your dog to one of the spots discussed above, recall is an absolute essential to ensure you have control of your dog and that they won’t disturb another pooch’s swimming session!

For everything you need to dry your beloved pet off after a swim and all your other dog necessities, check out our wide range of products in-store and online.