Why Dog Pools Are Never “Balanced”

Dog owners love seeing their pets splash, but for a pool service pro, canine swimmers change the entire maintenance playbook. The first shift is mindset: you won’t talk anyone out of letting their dog use the pool, so stop trying and manage what you can control. That means setting a clear baseline for appearance and water quality, then building a service plan that anticipates higher bather loads, oils, hair, and dirt. Dogs tolerate chlorine well, but pools don’t tolerate dogs nearly as well. Expect more debris on the floor, a stubborn scum line on the tile, and filters that load up quickly. Start the relationship by explaining, in simple terms, that a dog-heavy pool won’t match the crystal look of their neighbor’s human-only pool, and that your job is to keep it sanitary and usable within realistic limits.

Dog activity falls into three patterns: occasional treads on the steps, moderate swim time from one or two dogs, and high load from several dogs using the pool daily. Levels one and two are manageable with tighter chemistry and added cleaning, but level three moves the goalposts. The water will cloud faster, algae will threaten more often, and dirt will spike each week, especially if dogs track soil from planters. You can suggest deterrents when owners want fewer swims without banning them entirely. Simple physical barriers like a lounge chair across the steps are surprisingly effective, since most dogs enter from the shallow end. Mesh fences and safety nets work too, though solar blankets are unsafe for pets. When owners insist on open access, shift the plan to resilience rather than perfection.

Chemistry is your best ally, and timing matters. Add borates to roughly 50 ppm to stabilize pH swings, extend chlorine life, and slow algae. Use enzymes to break down oils and reduce that dark tile line that dogs accelerate. Pair with phosphate remover to starve algae of fuel. If you choose PoolRx or a similar mineral system, install it during the off-season before heavy dog use to reduce the chance of hair discoloration with sustained high chlorine. Even with salt systems, plan on supplemental chlorination because dog load burns through free chlorine quickly. Keep a 50-pound bucket of cal hypo on site for routine boosts after heavy swim days. Most owners will accept the cost when they understand it’s the price of keeping the water stable for pets and people.

Filters carry the hidden burden of dog use. Quad cartridge filters that might otherwise last three years often need replacement in half that time under heavy canine load. Cleaning intervals also compress: six months turns into three, and sometimes even more often during peak summer. For DE systems, schedule more frequent breakdowns and grid inspections since hair and oils gum up fabric and shorten grid life. Sand demands vigilant backwashing whenever pressure rises, as hair mats can creep PSI up faster than leaves. Be candid about the mess: opening a filter might look like you found a sleeping Labrador inside. That honesty supports your case for increased cleaning frequency and higher consumable costs, which protects your margins and keeps the client satisfied with measurable results.

Communication underpins everything. Outline why the pool won’t always look showroom clear, what enhancements you’re adding, and the specific schedule changes you’re implementing. Explain that dogs equal higher chemical demand, more filter work, and a different visual baseline. Offer tiered steps if budget is tight: start with enzymes and phosphate remover, add borates next, then layer PoolRx as insurance. The key is to act early, not react late. With clear expectations and a proactive plan, you can keep dog-friendly pools healthy, reduce callbacks, and make a fair profit while letting owners enjoy their pets’ playtime without turning your route into chaos.