"The pool, which featured on the cover of Blur's 2023 album The Ballad of Darren, has been running the Doggy Dip since 2019 and this year had to lay on extra sessions to meet demand. Pan of people and dogs in the pool Tuesday was a successful first visit for Neo, a four-year-old miniature poodle from nearby Greenock. Since he has twice fallen into the local canal, his owner Christina Bell was keen to try swimming with him in a more relaxed environment."
"He loves splashing around but when his feet can't touch the bottom then he panics, she says. We thought we'd come here because it's warmer water and more buoyant because of the salt and it's been a massive improvement. A pair of Pekingese, 12-year-old Raphael and five-year-old Ludo, are return visitors, drifting serenely through the waggy throng in their flotation jackets. It helps because they are quite top-heavy, says their owner Angelique Peyranns, who has travelled across the estuary from Dunoon."
Gourock outdoor saltwater pool on Scotland's west coast opens for an annual Doggy Dip on the last day of the season, relaxing the humans-only policy so dogs can swim in mercifully heated waters with their owners. The event has run since 2019 and required extra sessions this year due to high demand. Dogs of varied breeds and abilities attend; saltwater buoyancy and warmer temperatures help anxious or top-heavy animals. Owners report improved confidence and safety for pets, with flotation jackets and supervised conditions making the environment suitable for both first-time and returning canine swimmers.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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