We are in the “dog days of summer,” when the mercury climbs and the days are long. Yet fall is around the corner.
Sadly, that means some public pools in Colorado soon will be closing for the season, as teen lifeguards have to go back to school.
Not everyone is mourning the end of summer, however. If your dog loves water, this is a very special time of year when some pools go to the dogs for one day of glorious dog paddling, tennis-ball fetching and deck-side booty sniffing.
If your pooch wants to show off his diving abilities or your puppy wants to prance in the shallow end before pool managers drain the water for the season, don’t miss these fun events with irresistible names like the “Pooch Plunge” and “Dog-a-Pool-ooza.”
Dog swimming events at public pools
Doggie Dip – Arvada, Saturday, Aug. 17
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lake Arbor Pool, 7451 W. 83rd Way
Secrest Pool, 6820 W. 66th Ave.
No open swim for people.
Space is limited.
Advance purchase: residents $7, non-residents $9; day of: $10
Dog Daze at the Bay, Broomfield, Sept. 7
250 Spader Way
Multiple sessions
Pre-register to guarantee your spot and time
Dog-a-Pool-ooza – Denver, Aug. 11 & Sept. 1
Cost: $5 per dog, no re-entry. Sessions sell out, so arrive early.
Garfield Pool, Sunday Aug. 11
1295 S. Lowell Blvd.
Session 1: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Session 2: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Cook Park Pool, Sunday, Sept. 1
7100 E. Cherry Creek Dr. South
Session 1: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Session 2: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Berkeley Pool, Sunday, Sept. 1
Scheitler Recreation Center, 5031 W. 46th Ave., 720-865-0640
Session 1: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Session 2: 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Session 3: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Stapleton Denver, Dog Daze at F-15 Pool, Sept. 7
$5 in advance. $10 on the day of the event if space is available.
Session 1: 1 to 1:45 p.m. for small dogs
Session 2: 2 to 3 p.m. for large dogs
Swimming for dogs only, not humans.
Register in advance. Only 200 small dogs and 150 large dogs allowed.
Pooch Plunge, Fort Collins, Sunday, Aug. 25
4 to 6 p.m.
Fort Collins City Park Pool
1599 City Park Drive
$8 in advance (per person and per pooch); $10 day-of
Buy in advance for VIP (very important pooch) early admission
Greeley Discovery Bay’s Doggie Day, Saturday, Aug. 24
Session 1: 10 a.m. to noon – dogs under 50 pounds
Session 2: 1 to 3 p.m. – dogs 51 pounds +
Discovery Bay Waterpark
715 E. 24th St.
$8 in advance; $10 at the door
Number of dogs limited. Buy in advance to guarantee admission.
Littleton, Doggie Dip at Deer Creek Pool, Aug. 19
5:30 to 7 p.m.
$12 per dog. Registration required in advance. Each dog must have a handler. Learn more and register.
Deer Creek Pool, 8637 S. Garrison St.
Longmont, End of Summer Dog Swims, Kick-off, Aug 13 + Aug 14-25
Roosevelt Activity Pool, 903 8th Ave., Aug. 13, 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 7 p.m.; Aug. 14-16 & Aug. 21-23
Kanemoto Activity Pool, 1151 S. Pratt Parkway, Aug, 17-18 and Aug. 24-25
Fee: $4 per dog. Click here for more details.
Paws for a Dip, Thornton, Aug. 17
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thornton City Pool, 2141 E. 95th Ave.
$5 per dog with one human companion; $1 for each additional human. Children age 12 and under are free. No swimming for humans. No unsupervised children. Proof of dog’s current vaccination required.
Barker days in Parker, Sept. 7
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
H2O’Brien Pool, 10795 Victorian Drive
$6 per resident dog in advance. Walk-up: $8 for resident dogs and $10 for non-resident dogs
Pups at the Pool, Pueblo, Sunday, Aug. 25
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $5 per dog
Pueblo City Park Pool
221 S. Parkside Lane
Please note:
- Boulder typically offers its very popular multi-day Dog Dayz in September, but due to construction, the event will be on hiatus this year. Click here for more information. And stay tuned for 2020.
- The Poochy Paddle at Old Town Hot Springs in Steamboat typically takes place both in mid-September and in April. More details to come about this fall’s event.
- Colorado Springs’ public pools do not offer dog swimming events.