It sounds like this really worries you, and I totally understand. We have a pool in my backyard, but it has a loop-lock cover on it. We haven't opened it since there are leaks that we can't seem to find and it is a huge pain at this point, but when it was open, it was always a concern. There were also three fishponds on our property when we moved in, but they made me too nervous. The small ones weren't a big deal to rip out but there was one that was made of gunite that was six foot deep and just huge. We felt badly destroying something that was very beautiful, but there was no way any dog could have gotten out if they fell in. In fact, the previous owner lost one of their dogs that way. If there is any water that they can get to, there needs to be and they need to know how to get out. My three girls loved the pool, and my husband and I always said that if our little one were alive, we would have had to find a way to keep the pool open for her. Whenever Gracie would get hot or very excited after playing hard, she would run to the back door and scratch at it. I'd open the door and she would run to the pool and hop in on one of the steps. Once she was cooled off, she'd "fly" so fast until she could run back and be inside. This happened several times a day. My girls were fascinated with the pool, so I worked with them a great deal on swimming. Each time I put them in the pool, I would place them in at a different spot of the pool. Some of the times I had their face oriented away from the steps. They had to orient themselves each time so that they could figure out themselves where the stairs were. Of course, I was right there if they were in any sort of trouble, but they never needed me. The most difficult thing for me was that they loved walking along the edge, and they sometimes would push each other in. Their breeder was there when it happened and my little Gracie fell in and really went under water. It took great restraint and strong urges from their breeder to let Gracie come up on her own to see that she could get up and out on her own. We were both there ready to jump in if she were in trouble. It literally broke my heart those few seconds not rescuing her, but Gracie was able to do it, and she remained confident in the water. I never left a raft in the pool when it was unattended, and I never really let my girls in the back alone even with the pool closed, but there always was the worry if they got out somehow on their own. When we were there, if a raft was in the water, they often would hop on. When they were bored, they hopped off and swam to the steps and got out. As they grew older, they started to develop more fears toward the water. My Kiwi was just obsessed in general with water, and she each day had to chase the shower water. Right after she went out in the morning, she'd race upstairs to the shower. She knew that was going to be my next stop, and chasing that water made her so happy. It became a balance trying to keep her dry as much as possible and allow her to do something I know was an obsession and joy for her. If you are extra vigilant and your baby becomes more comfortable with swimming and has a way out of the pool if she falls in, she should be fine. Bailey is beautiful and I can tell how much you love her. Enjoy every minute with her. May you have much happiness and many years of health, love, and laughter with her. |