How to Build the Perfect Pool for Your Pup
With warm weather and longer days, our husky mutts get hot fast. While we love lake days and paddleboarding, we needed an easy way for Luna and Linus to cool off at home. Luna has even tried claiming a cow trough as her personal swimming spot. We tried plastic kiddie pools, but they didn’t last long. Plastic pools are easy to puncture or chew through. So we researched stock tank pools, and it turned out to be the perfect, more durable solution for Linus and Luna. Here’s how to build a DIY dog pool using a stock tank.
It is possible just to fill a stock tank with water and let the dogs have their fun, but we wanted to add a pump and filter to keep the water somewhat clean without having to constantly empty and refill. The whole process of setting up the tank and adding a pump took a couple of hours.
What You’ll Need
Stock Tank (we got a round 4 ft tank at a local livestock supply store)
How to Build It
Find a flat surface near a plug and a water hose
Drill 2 holes to fit the inlet and outflow components. We made two 2 3/4” holes (but check to see what size hole your components require), a quarter of the way around the pool from each other to help with water circulation. The hole for the inlet (water into the pump) is closer to the bottom of the pool, and the outflow hole we put higher up, but still under the water line.
The plunge valves are not necessary, but it gives us the option to shut off water to the pump when needed and to disconnect the pump without all the water leaking out.
We then connected everything per the pump instruction manual.
We didn’t need to use silicone sealant around any of our fittings as all of the components came with rubber gaskets, and so far have been water-tight.
Our total cost was roughly $600, with the biggest expense being the stock tank.
Lastly, fill with water and let the fun begin!
Dog-Friendly Modifications
Since our dogs like to drink the water, we haven't been using chlorine. We've had the pool for a couple of years, and algae has not been too much of an issue. Additionally, since the water is free of chemicals, we can pump it out to water the plants in the yard.
The pump helps with filtering out bugs and debris, but for a little extra protection against mosquitoes, we use mosquito dunks, which are safe for pets and humans.
Finally, we installed a sun shade sail, which helps keep some of the leaves out and cools the pool a bit.
We have had the pool for about a year now, and it has proven to be a refreshing escape from the summer heat for Linus and Luna. HAPPY SPLASHING!
