I wanted to get something like this for my Lab to use to cool off, but the pools I saw at the local store are very shallow and I’d like to get something that’s at least 2.5 - 3 feet deep and 5-6 feet across.
I’d get her an inflatable one, since they come in much larger sizes, but it would probably get shredded by her nails within minutes.
Hmmm…you might not be able to find a molded kiddie pool for that, but a molded landscaping pond/koi pond from a hardware store might fit the bill…and it would probably be a bit more sturdy, too. Typically, they are several feet high to handle the depth that koi like.
Oh, that’s a good idea. I’ll look into it. Thanks.
Google “stock tank” they make both galvanized metal and heavy duty plastic, in tons of different sizes.
There are lots of them. Here’s one example. Only the top bit is inflatable, and that’s not likely to get scratched as much. I’ll bet there are lots of ‘temporary outdoor pool’ results on ebay too, especially if you can collect in person.
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
Thanks for the idea, but I don’t think this one would work. Even with me rigging up some kind of ramp for her, her nails would still come in contact with the inflatable ring a lot, when she’s climbing in and out, especially since I picture her trying to bound in and out of it from all sides.
I ditto this… head to a feed or farm supply store in your area that deals with livestock supplies/food/fencing.
If you just want your lab to cool off and not actually swim, just get a molded plastic pool.
I have a golden that’s constantly hot and addicted to water, and I’ve always had a molded plastic pool for her.
Problem we ran into right away was that it takes a good bit of water to fill up a plastic pool and I couldn’t leave the pool filled because I’d have a constantly wet dog. I was wasting a ton of water filling up the large molded pool and dumping it every night.
Now I just get her the smaller sized molded pool and put about 2-3" of water in it and she’s JUST as happy as she was in the full-sized molded pool filled to the top.
All she wants is for her belly to touch the water, for her tail to float, for a ball to float and to be able to roll over and get all wet.
A deeper pool would be awesome but a small, shallow pool with fresh water daily is where it’s at.
FWIW my golden is quite large for a female, 93#, so if she can fit in the smaller molded pool there’s a good chance your lab can too.
Just some advice from a retriever owner 
What Zipper said. The most important parts for a dog to keep cool are their belly and their paws, and to have plenty of fresh, cool water to drink.
A small moulded paddling pool is perfect - you’re not wasting a tonne of water keeping it fresh and clean (because a dog getting in and out will turn the water to mank in NO time), it’s big enough for most mid-large dogs to lie down in if they want to, but small enough for you to easily maneouvre around and fill without blowing through gallons of water. And it’s low enough that she can step in and out as she wishes, without having to try and jump or clamber over the sides.
That’s what I used to have for my malamute, before he ate the goddamn thing. Now I’ve got to investigate a stock trough (or old bathtub) for the simple reason that I need something he can’t get his teeth through.
They have garden ponds at Home Depot and Lowe’s in my area (we were looking at them as a deeper kiddie pool for the kids) and they weren’t very expensive at all.
Are you going to around every minute the dog is loose with a pool around it can’t stand up in? It sounds like a death trap.
As what Zipper and Sierra Indigo said. We have a moulded “clam” which we filled with water for the husky to lie in and dip her paws into.
That’s what we had for Hudson, before he ate it.
They’re about $20 a pop at the start of summer, I figure it’s no great hardship to get a new one once a year
I’m considering trying out what ZipperJJ, Sierra Indigo and Cicero did (I pictured her standing in a few inches of water thinking the dog equivalent of “Seriously?” but maybe she’ll love it), thanks for your concern, but no I’m not going to give her the opportunity to get into the pool while she’s alone. We have a pen for those occasions.
Thanks again for all the suggestions.
Not a dog person, but what the heck – the smaller pools are cheap and easy to find. Why not do a trial run with one and see whether she likes it before going to the trouble and expense of obtaining a bigger one?
For the same reason I wouldn’t automatically buy one for a 12 year old. I already know she likes deep pools of the sort big enough for an adult person to swim in, so I set out looking to give her a reasonable version of that to splash around in.
Fair enough.
To clarify before this ends up spiraling out of control obviously, I know the dog isn’t a preteen child. I had their relative sizes in mind when I said that. It’s hard for me to picture her 80 lb self getting a lot of enjoyment out of a pool that’s only a bit longer than she is, but I’m willing to give it a try.