Re: swimming pool

In Reply to: swimming pool
Category:   Barking
Posted by:  Jared McCammon
Posted on:  September 26, 2002 at 17:44:58

: I have a swimming pool and whenever I go swimming, my 2 year old Jack Russel Terrier barks wildly. He goes insane. If we lock him in a room he goes crazy and if we let him outside he will bark at us and try to jump in. I was just wondering why this is and if I could get advice on how I can stop this so we can swim in peace.

Response:

Dear Jared,

I have not had the good fortune to own a pool, but, especially when my kids were small, we would visit friends who had both a swimming pool and Russells. The behavior you describe seems to be the norm for all the Jack Russells I've seen around a swimming pool, with folks having fun in it. While we can't see into their little brains, I theorize that they either want to be in on the good time, or else they think the people they love are somehow in danger and need saving.

The solution seems to be to fence off the pool area, with an un-climb-able fence, and to put the dogs in the house before going swimming. By the way, its not unheard-of for Russells to drown in unattended pools, trying to retrieve something in the water, and being unable to climb out. Be watchful, please !

Thanks for your question.