DCS Pool Barriers spends a lot of time emphasizing the importance of keeping children safe around the pool by providing supervision in the water and through meeting Arizona law and installing a high quality pool fence in your home. It's not just children who need to be looked after when it comes to the pool and the great Arizona outdoors - homeowners with pets also need to be aware of these safety concerns when it comes to their pet. Some pet owners may choose to trust their pet's ability to find the stairs and swim to safety, but others may not want to take that risk. What are the options available for those of us who want to make sure that our pets are well protected, in the back yard and from outside predators? The answers are remarkably similar to what is necessary for keeping a child safe in the water: supervision and prevention.

Swimming during the summer is a great way for dogs to cool off and stay healthy when those midday walks become too much for them to handle without overheating. A couple of easy rules can go a long way in making sure that your pet stays safe while going in the water: supervise, take it easy, and stay hydrated. Supervising your pet in the pool is just as important as supervising a child in the water - keeping an eye on your pet to notice when they're struggling or sinking is an absolute must for pet water safety. Also, keeping in mind your dog's health and build and taking it easy in the water can go a long way in preventing injury or exhaustion. Heavier dogs - whether they are overweight, a thicker in build or longer coats - will tire more easily in the water than slighter or leaner breeds. Keep an eye out for signs of fatigue; such as when a dog's hindquarters start to drag, overstimulation, bright eyes and a frantic pace so you know when it's time to call it quits in the pool. Finally, make sure your dog is staying hydrated while in the water by bringing out their food and water bowls. If need be, use a syringe to get fresh water into their mouths if they seem uninterested in drinking. Dehydration due to swimming can lead to cramping and other negative health effects so keep them from drinking the chlorinated or salted water of the pool, and make sure there is fresh water on hand.

Unfortunately, being able to supervise a pet every time they go outside is often an unrealistic expectation. A more preventative way to ensure that a pet remains safe around the pool even when an owner can't be right by their side is to put in a perimeter fence that can separate the pool from the rest of the yard. Installing a fence with a latching gate is an excellent way of making sure that your pet does not make its way into the pool area from the patio or grass when you are not there to watch. However, many pets are much smaller than the average human child, who most protective fences are built for. What about the safety of smaller dogs and pets who might be able to slip through the gaps between the pickets? The experts at DCS Pool Barriers have thought of this question, and they came up with an answer. Because DCS Pool Barriers controls each step of the manufacturing process for its custom wrought iron fences, they are able to make the spaces between the pickets smaller in order to prevent smaller animals from slipping through the gaps and getting themselves in trouble. They call this "puppy fencing" - although it works just fine for both puppies and small, fully grown dogs. These fences are just as customizable as any other, so there is nothing lost in terms of design for safety's sake. DCS is able to customize gates and fences to suit your practical as well as aesthetic needs, without putting the health and safety of your pet on the line.