The Best Dog Swimming Pools For Cooling Off

While they may look like kiddie pools, a proper dog swimming pool uses tough PVC that can stand up to doggie nails better than thinner vinyl and plastic. While dogs can swim in a regular people pool, a dedicated dog pool can give your pooch their own way to cool off, without you having to worry about messy paws.

Our favorite dog swimming pool is the Jasonwell Foldable Dog Pet Bath Pool, which is available in five sizes to accommodate a variety of breeds. It's also got a thick, non-slip PVC bottom that can stand up to your dog's nails, though it would still be a good idea to give them a trim before taking a dip.

Best Overall

Jasonwell Foldable Dog Pet Bath Pool

$32 at Amazon $26 at Walmart $28 at Jasonwell.co

The Jasonwell Foldable Dog Pet Bath Pool is made from tough PVC, and the floor is even thicker, with a slip-resistant texture that will assure your dog's footing. This pool can take a beating, with heavy gauge PVC sandwiching polyester mesh, for a laminated, layered construction.

Rather than using inflatable sides, the Jasonwell pool has stiff, rectangular panels around the perimeter of the pool, which makes it easy to fold up, accordion-style, for transport. This design choice relies in part on water to retain the pool's structural integrity, which means that it can collapse inward if the water level isn't high enough to hold up the sides. This means it can't really be used as a very shallow paw-washing or wading pool—but we think the trade-off is worth it, since you don't have to waste a lot of time blowing up inflatable components.

The Jasonwell pool has a threaded cap on the lower side of the pool, which is convenient for emptying the pool in between swim sessions, though it can be a little slow to fully empty. It's available in seven different sizes, including the whopping, 79-inch diameter XXXXL.

_{Dimensions: 48 x 12 inches | Material: PVC, MDF or plastic board panels, depending on size | Set up: Folds up accordion style, fill with hose, empty with drain spout on side}

Best for Small Dogs

Petmaker Foldable Pet Pool

$26 at Amazon View on PETCO $32 at Wayfair

The Petmaker Dog Pool is 30.5 inches across (there's also a larger, 47-inch diameter version), which is the perfect size for small and medium dog breeds to get out of the heat. The Petmaker Dog Pool is made from PVC, with a heavy vinyl bottom that can withstand dog paws without ripping. However, its bottom doesn't have a non-slip texture—which is less of an issue thanks to its small diameter, since most dogs won't be running on its surface anyway.

Like our other favorite pools, the Petmaker features an accordion design that's easy to collapse and fold, but unlike those larger pools, the Petmaker folds down small enough to be remarkably portable. It even comes with its own carry bag.

Of course, the Petmaker's small size does have some limitations. It doesn't hold much more than a few gallons, while its limited size means it's more for keeping cool than roughhousing.

_{Dimensions: 30.5 x 12 inches | Breed size: Small, medium | Material: PVC | Set up: Foldable}

Best Bath

Booster Bath Elevated Pet Bath

$175 at Amazon $129 at Chewy View on Boosterbath.com

The Booster Bath isn't a pool, but it's a great way to bathe your dog outdoors and help them cool down a little too. The tub has a non-slip mat on the bottom, which combines with the 3-point safety harness to keep your dog in place while you spray them down with the included fan nozzle, which attaches to a standard garden hose. It's elevated, making it easy for you to spray down your dog from any angle without having to bend over, while the five-foot drain hose is long enough that you can set up the Booster Bath on the edge your driveway and let the water drain into the gutter or grass.

The Booster Bath is available in three different sizes, allowing you to accommodate most dog breeds. It's also available in three colors, and is made from UV-resistant polypropylene, so the colors won't fade in the sun. Unfortunately, the stairs are sold separately, and if you don't have those you'll have to lift your dog in and out of the bath.

_{Dimensions: 45.5 x 21.2 x 8 inches | Material: UV-resistant polypropylene | Accessories: fan nozzle, shampoo caddy, detachable legs}

Best Splash Pad

VISTOP Non-Slip Splash Pad for Kids and Dogs

$40 at Amazon $65 at Walmart

The VISTOP Non-Slip Splash Pad is a round, non-slip surface surrounded by a rim that inflates with water and sprays into the center, forming a shallow pool. It's more akin to a sprinkler than a pool, but it does hold enough water in its central reservoir for your dog to splash around in. The splash pad is made from phthalate and BPA-free PVC, with a non-slip coating thick enough (.45 millimeters) that it's not easily punctured by dog claws. Its edges are double laminated—similar to an inflatable kayak—for extra durability.

The VISTOP relies on the water pressure from a standard garden hose to inflate the rim, push water through the spouts, and retain that water in the center, so it requires you to keep the water running while in use. It's available in five different sizes—including a huge 97-inch version—and three different color schemes.

_{Dimensions: 59-, 67-, 77-, 87-, 97-inch diameter sizes | Materials: PVC | Colors: Blue; rainbow; blue & yellow}

Best Ramp for Entering Above Ground Pools

PetSafe Happy Ride Telescoping Dog Ramp

$120 at Amazon $108 at Chewy $120 at PETCO

The PetSafe Happy Ride Telescoping Dog Ramp is primarily intended for entering and exiting vehicles, including truck beds. However, it's also well-suited for helping a dog into a raised above-ground pool. It has a high-traction surface combined with side rails, making it as safe and non-slippery as possible. The standard size is rated for 400 pounds, allowing it to handle any size dog, while the ramp itself only weighs 13 pounds, which makes it easy to move around. The PetSafe telescoping ramp is also available in a compact and extra-large size.

_{Dimensions: 72 x 17 x 4 inches | Breed size: All | Material: Aluminum | Set up: Telescoping}

Best Splash Pad

Qrooper Dog Pool Splash Pad

View on Amazon

If your pooch likes to play and run around in the water rather than lounge in a pool, a splash pad provides just the right amount of fun. They can run through the sprinklers and try to bite the water sprays, cooling off all the while. Simply hook up your hose to the splash pad, then you can control the pressure/height of the spray. The middle holds a shallow pool of water and the entire thing is made of PVC that’s covered in no-scratch material. Note that sunlight may damage the splash pad, so you'll need to store inside or in full shade when it's not in use.

_{Dimensions: 55 inches | Breed size: All | Material: PVC | Set up: foldable}

Best Budget

GoStock Folding Dog Pool

View on Amazon

This pool folds down small enough that you can stash it in a drawer in the winter months, then it quickly pops right back into shape. It’s made of PVC-covered fiberboard for extra durability. The bottom of the pool has a no-slip coating to keep your pooch safe. When you're ready to drain it, just open up the valve that’s built in low on the side. It even comes with a dog brush so you can give your pup a bath when they’re good and wet. The pool is available in five sizes, so be sure to pick the one that’s the right size for your pooch.

_{Dimensions: 39 inches (circumference) x 12 inches high | Breed size: Different sizes available | Material: PVC and fiberboard | Set up: Foldable}

Best for Small Dogs

Trixie Portable Dog Splash Pool

$23 at Chewy $33 at Walmart View on PETCO

Made of scratch-resistant polyvinyl plastic, this pool is a good choice for miniature border collies and other small dog breeds. It has a scratch-resistant construction, no-slip bottom and stable sides that are just right for dogs who tend to jump in and out a lot. Bonus: The sides stay up even when it’s not fully filled with water. The portable pool folds up so you can take it with you anywhere. When pool time is over, open up the wide-mouth drain cap for quick emptying.

_{Dimensions: 31.5 (circumference) x 7.9 inches high | Breed size: Small | Material: Plastic | Set up: Foldable |}

Best Foldable

Lunaoo Foldable Dog Pool

$18 at Amazon

Our tester found this pool held up well to a summer full of soak sessions for both her golden retriever and herself. It’s available in three sizes and three color combinations, including dark blue and green, dark gray and blue, and light gray and aqua. The sides are made from a heavy fiberboard that’s covered in waterproof PVC. The whole thing folds down for storage, so you many want to hang onto the box to store it when the summer swim season comes to an end. 

_{Dimensions: 47 x 12 inches (large size) | Breed size: All | Material: PVC and fiberboard |Set up: Foldable |}

Best for Big Dogs

Yaheetech Foldable Pet Swimming Pool

$43 at Amazon

Our favorite dog swimming pool from Jasonwell is big, but the Yaheetech Foldable Swimming Pool comes in an even larger size: 70 inches across! Available in five different sizes, the Yaheetech XXXL size has a diameter of 71 inches and a depth of 12 inches, for a pool that's nearly six feet across, with a capacity of nearly 75 cubic feet of water—ready for large breed dogs.

The Yaheetech uses multi-layer panels around the perimeter, with a non-slip interior, internal MDF panels for structure, and a waterproof layer of PVC, with polyester mesh in between for maximum puncture resistance. Without water, the pool can be folded up like an accordion for travel or surprisingly compact storage.

It also comes with a hose adapter for draining, if you want to run a hose to a storm drain rather than dumping out the pool's contents all over your yard or driveway. The Yaheetech Foldable Dog Pool is available in black, blue, gray, or red, though some colors are only available in specific sizes. It also comes with 4 repair patches.

Price at time of publish: $50 for XXXL

_{Dimensions: 39-inch diameter x 12-inch height (medium), 47 x 12 inches (large), 55 x 12 inches (XL), 63 x 12 inches (XXL), 71 x 12 inches (XXXL) | Breed size: Large | Material: PVC, MDF board, polyester mesh | Set up: Foldable}

What to Look for in a Dog Pool 

When it comes to selecting a dog pool, keep these factors in mind.

Breed Size

While in general, the smaller your dog is, the smaller size pool you should buy, you should also take into consideration your dog’s level of activity and comfort in the water. Active dogs and dog breeds that are natural swimmers will be happier with a larger pool.

Material

You may be tempted to buy a kiddie pool and save a few dollars, however that’s a mistake. It’s worth it to spend the money on a pool made for dogs because most are coated in a super-strong PVC material that your dog’s nails won’t puncture (or at least puncture as easily).

Set Up

Most dog pools are foldable and easy to set up. Because they fold down, they’re easy to store in the off-season. However, some pools require you to hold the hose as the pool fills.

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

This article was written by Ellie Welles, a product reviewer for The Spruce Pets. Ellie is the proud parent of four cats, but also has extensive dog experience. For this article she evaluated a wide range of product claims and looked into the strongest materials for pet pools.

A previous version of this article was written by Anne Fritz.