Swimming pools pose serious risks to dogs, from drowning to chemical burns. The American Red Cross reports that pets account for thousands of pool-related emergencies annually. We at DogingtonPost believe every dog owner needs a comprehensive swimming pool dog safety plan. This guide covers the equipment, training, and precautions that protect your pet around water. What Pool Dangers Threaten Your Dog Dogs face three major hazards around pools that kill or injure thousands of pets each year. Water depth creates the biggest threat because most dogs cannot judge safe zones. An estimated 5,000 family pets drown in backyard swimming pools annually, with incidents occurring in water where dogs struggle to touch bottom and panic. Small breeds like Chihuahuas and Dachshunds face particular danger in standard pools that average four to six feet deep. Dogs also tire faster than owners expect – veterinary studies show that dogs exhaust their stamina 40% quicker than humans due to their body structure and patterns. Chemical Burns From Pool Treatment Pool chemicals pose serious health risks that many dog owners ignore. Chlorine concentrations above 3 parts per million cause skin irritation and eye damage in dogs within 15 minutes of exposure. Salt water pools contain sodium levels of 3,000-4,000 parts per million, which triggers dehydration and kidney stress when dogs drink the water. Pool shock treatments and algaecides contain compounds that burn paw pads and mouth tissues on contact. Slip Hazards Around Pool Decks Wet pool surfaces create dangerous slip zones for dogs who cannot grip smooth concrete or tile. Emergency veterinary data shows that 18% of pool-related dog injuries result from falls on slippery decks. Dogs run at full speed and cannot stop on wet surfaces, which leads to torn ligaments and broken bones. Pool edges present sharp corners that cause deep cuts when dogs slip and fall. Metal pool ladders become hot in direct sunlight (reaching temperatures of 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit) that burn paw pads instantly. Water Quality Threats Contaminated pool water poses hidden dangers that affect dogs differently than humans. Algae blooms produce toxins that cause liver damage and neurological symptoms in dogs within hours of exposure. Stagnant water breeds harmful bacteria like E. coli and Giardia, which trigger severe intestinal infections. Dogs drink 2-3 times more water than humans while active, which increases their risk of waterborne illness. Pool maintenance chemicals mixed incorrectly create toxic gas pockets (particularly chloramine gas) that damage respiratory systems. Heat exhaustion becomes a serious concern when dogs struggle in contaminated water. The right safety equipment can eliminate most of these risks and protect your dog from serious injury. What Equipment Protects Dogs Around Pools Professional pool safety equipment provides important protection for dogs around pools. Pool covers rank as the most effective protection method, but automatic safety covers outperform manual versions in emergency situations. Mesh safety covers meet ASTM safety standards and prevent dogs from breaking through, while solid vinyl covers create deadly traps when water accumulates on top. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors requires covers to meet ASTM safety standards with tamper-resistant anchors spaced every 8 feet around pool perimeters. Life Jackets Save Dogs in Water Dog life jackets significantly reduce drowning risk when owners fit them properly, but many owners choose incorrect sizes that slip off during emergencies. Neoprene jackets with chest flotation provide better buoyancy than foam versions, particularly for barrel-chested breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs. Top-handle designs allow owners to lift heavy dogs from water with minimal strain. Bright orange or yellow colors increase visibility in pool water compared to darker options. Professional dog trainers recommend jackets for all dogs under 25 pounds and any breed with short legs or breathing difficulties. Reflective strips add safety during evening swimming sessions when visibility drops. Pool Alarms Detect Water Emergencies Pool alarms detect water disturbances within seconds and sound loud alerts that reach significant distances from the source. Infrared motion sensors installed around pool perimeters trigger immediately when dogs approach water edges. Gate alarms on pool fences create dual protection layers that veterinary safety experts consider essential for homes with multiple dogs. Surface Protection Prevents Slip Injuries Non-slip mats reduce slip injuries when owners install them on wet concrete surfaces, but rubber mats with drainage holes prevent bacterial growth better than solid versions. Textured pool deck coatings provide permanent slip resistance that lasts years compared to temporary solutions that require regular replacement. Equipment alone cannot guarantee your dog’s safety around water. Proper training teaches dogs how to navigate pool areas safely and respond to emergency situations. How Do You Train Dogs for Pool Safety Most dogs need multiple sessions to master basic pool safety skills, with professional swim therapy typically conducted 2-3 times per week, but professional dog trainers report that many owners skip this step entirely. Start sessions in shallow water where dogs can stand comfortably – typically 12-18 inches deep for medium breeds. Hold sessions for 10-15 minutes maximum to prevent fatigue and negative associations with water. The American Kennel Club recommends starting with dogs on leash to maintain control during initial water exposure. Teaching Safe Pool Entry and Exit Dogs must learn designated entry and exit points to prevent panic situations in deep water. Install pool ramps with textured surfaces at the shallow end where dogs can walk in gradually. Train dogs to use only these specific access points. Walk them to the ramp location 15-20 times per session while you say a consistent command like “pool stairs.” Never allow dogs to jump directly into deep water, as this can lead to serious injuries. If your dog falls into water or is submerged, seek emergency veterinary care immediately. Practice exit procedures repeatedly until dogs automatically swim toward the ramp when tired. This skill prevents drowning when dogs become disoriented in larger pools (especially those over 20 feet long). Establishing Pool Boundaries and Rules Dogs need clear physical and verbal boundaries around pool areas to prevent accidents when unsupervised. Create a 3-foot safety zone around pool edges with temporary fencing or visual markers during sessions. Teach dogs a stop command that works within 6 feet of water – professional trainers use high-value treats and practice this command 50-100 times before they consider it reliable. Dogs should never enter pool areas without permission. Owners must practice recall commands that work even when dogs are excited about water. Install motion-activated sprinklers around pool perimeters as backup deterrents for dogs who ignore verbal commands. Building Water Confidence Gradually Start water introduction on pool steps where dogs control their depth exposure. Allow dogs to drink fresh water from bowls near the pool to create positive associations with the area. Use floating toys to encourage natural swimming motions in shallow sections (18-24 inches deep for most breeds). Never force hesitant dogs into deeper water, as this creates lasting fear that makes future training sessions more difficult. Final Thoughts Swimming pool dog safety demands constant attention and thorough preparation from every dog owner. Install safety covers, maintain proper chemical levels, and teach your dog designated entry and exit points. Watch for excessive panting, disorientation, or difficulty staying afloat as immediate warning signs that require intervention. Never leave dogs unattended near water, even for brief moments. Dogs can drown silently within 60 seconds when they panic or become exhausted (particularly smaller breeds under 25 pounds). Check your dog’s ears after each swim session for signs of infection, including head shaking or foul odors, then rinse chlorine from their coat immediately to prevent skin irritation. Create multiple safety layers around your pool area with fences, alarms, and trained emergency responses. Dogs that show fear of water should never face forced swimming situations. We at DogingtonPost offer comprehensive resources for responsible dog ownership, including expert advice on canine safety and health topics that keep your dog healthy and safe year-round.

The Anti-Communist Film Festival: Hail, Caesar!

A senior national security analyst for CNN is being criticized heavily for misleading her followers about the possible motivation for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.Law enforcement officials continue to investigate what led Tyler Robinson to allegedly shoot and kill Kirk while he spoke at one of his campus events at Utah Valley University. Some of the evidence released supports the suspicion that Robinson was motivated by political animus against Kirk's conservative beliefs.'Suggesting she's knowingly lying is more creditable than the fact she's this dumb.'Juliette Kayyem said that her reading of the evidence led her to conclude nothing about the possible motive for Robinson's alleged actions. "I have read a lot about Charlie Kirk's killer's family, his history and writings. A partisan can find what they are looking for," she wrote. "But to date, from what we know, there is no dominant political ideology. Instead it's a stew of irony, violence, gaming fetish and Discord."Kayyem was immediately assailed for what many saw as a dishonest and biased assessment of the available evidence."This is blatantly false. Killing a leading voice in the conservative movement because you hate what he stands for is a clear statement of leftist ideology for anyone not living in a George Orwell novel," Fox News columnist David Marcus responded."He assassinated a conservative, and his family and friends say he embraced leftist ideology. His boyfriend is trans. There is no evidence that he was aligned with the right; only wishcasting," reporter Chuck Ross replied."Dear @CNN, yet again your senior analyst is spreading misinformation online," talk radio host Erick Erickson said."I'd like to believe she's delusional; but suggesting she's knowingly lying is more creditable than the fact she's this dumb," responded Mark Hemingway of RealClearInvestigations. "We just may never know what motivated this furry-chasing gay with a trans boyfriend who used anti-fascist messaging during his assassination of a figure hated by the Left because they consider him an anti-LGBTQ fascist," reads one popular response with 4.7K likes."Reading this made me feel dumber," communications director Jeremy Redfern joked. RELATED: 'You woke us the f**k up!' Greg Gutfeld fires off message on Fox News after assassination of Charlie Kirk Many suspect that Robinson was motivated by support for the transgender movement, as he was dating a biological male who identified as transgender. Since Kayyem's post on social media, prosecutors have released damning texts allegedly from Robinson that point to his leftist political motivation.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Just a couple of months ago, Steve Deace spoke at an event at Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, where Charlie Kirk regularly worshipped and collaborated on initiatives. Right before he walked on stage, Charlie leaned down and whispered a word of encouragement in his ear.“Go hard,” he said.Today, as we continue to wrestle with the loss of Charlie, we all need to take that advice to heart. It’s time to go hard.But what does that look like? How do we “go hard” in a way that hits at the root of this violence and culminates in positive change?At a recent event for Conservative Partnership Institute, Steve answered that question with three bold initiatives that we all bear the responsibility of ensuring come to fruition. 1. Punish evil Steve beseeches all of us, but especially elected officials, to treat evil as such. Enough with leniency and delay. Either we punish evil, or we welcome it through the front door.“The scriptures say the only reason God permits government on this Earth is to be an avenging angel, a sword of righteousness against evil,” Steve says.“The people in this room who hold elected office and the ones who [do] not, you must punish evil. ... You must!” he urges.Failure to do so will have one outcome, he warns: “more evil.”To the dissenters who argue that to meet evil with fitting consequences will backfire because Democrats will only return the favor, Steve has a sobering message: “They’ve already done it all! They’re all going to do it all over again. 2005 called, and it wants its talking points back. That’s not where we are right now. My friend’s body is cold to testify to that truth.”But it’s not just Charlie’s tragic death that demands justice. There are many atrocities in this country that have yet to be addressed, Steve says. Whether it’s the deliberate invasion of illegal immigrants perpetrated by the Biden regime or the fact that the American people were lied to about Joe Biden’s mental acuity while a cabal of shadowy Democrats ran the country in his stead, justice has yet to be served on a number of iniquities.“Who’s gone to prison for this? Who’s been referred to prosecution? Who’s been arrested?” Steve asks.“We have to punish evil. If we don’t punish evil, there will be more evil. I promise you,” he reiterates.2. Stop the contagion of political sadism “We have a social contagion, and I’m not talking about trannyism. ... This is actually worse. I will call it political sadism,” Steve says.In the wake of Donald Trump’s near assassination and Charlie Kirk’s murder, the radical leftists have shown their true colors. Their brazen celebration of the attacks on people they consider their political enemies reveals just how sick and twisted they’ve become. They are reveling in “the physical suffering and debasement of people,” Steve laments.It’s not even taboo anymore. “Now teachers, nurses, public officials, financial advisers just post this stuff under their names, and they’re proud to do it,” he says.“It’s like a macabre carnival of ghouls fetishizing, turning the death of, I think, our best general into a kink that they cannot wait to satiate and rub in your faces and share with others.”So what do we do? We employ one of the left’s favorite weapons: “cancel culture.”“We have to publicly shame this out of existence. That’s the only antidote,” Steve says.“I kind of like cancel culture when my side’s doing the canceling,” he admits.“We have to [employ cancel culture] in return because they’re already doing all those things to us right now. This stuff has to be shunned. There should be a graveyard of lost jobs, lost careers. The social stigma to this should be overwhelming.”3. Redden the red states“Our red states have to be every bit as red as the blue states are blue,” Steve says.He explains that blue states never eased up on their progressivism after Donald Trump became the president. If anything, they doubled down because “they have complete and total control of the governing infrastructure ... [and] the policy-making” in their states.So why aren’t red states doing the same?“It needs to be inconceivable that they could propose these [liberal] policies in the places where we have total control,” Steve says, urging states like Wyoming and Idaho to become the right’s California and Massachusetts.The attitude we need to have toward progressive voters moving into red states is this, he says: “You’re not going to move here because Google gave you a job and come here and vote communism and cultural Marxism into my state. ... There’s more to life than a balance sheet, and part of that calculus needs to be the moral one.”We need to adopt the bold stance Ronald Reagan took when he declared an arms race against the Soviet Union: “Do not launch on us, [or] we will launch on you.”“We have to immediately establish that mutually assured destruction deterrent. We have to. If we don’t, I’m telling you right now, we’re going to bury more Charlies,” Steve says. “Well, we won’t bury any more Charlie Kirks because there’s nobody like him. The void he has left is immeasurable. But we’re going to bury more of us because they’re unbowed.”The debate is no longer Republican versus Democrat or even conservative versus liberal. The debate is now: “Do I still get to be an American or not?”How we respond to the death of Charlie Kirk will determine the answer to that question, Steve says.“Don’t sentence your children and grandchildren to have to settle these disputes in unpeaceable means because we weren’t aggressive enough to defend them with the peaceable means we still have,” he pleads.This is the fight Charlie was fighting until his last breath. That’s “why I am confident the next words he heard after that bullet ripped through his neck were, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant,’” he says.We should all live our lives so that we, too, can hear these words when our time comes.So “go hard,” Steve says.Our future depends on it.To hear his full speech, watch the video above.Want more from Steve Deace?To enjoy more of Steve's take on national politics, Christian worldview, and principled conservatism with a snarky twist, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

The 3-day event, in November 2025, features renowned Beatles historians and authors as well as performances by Max Weinberg and Jake Clemons of the E Street Band. The post Inaugural Everything Fab Four Fest to Honor The Beatles appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

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