Frequently Asked Questions

Towels for your dog, and you if you are swimming too. We do not supply towels. Toys for your dog if they have a favourite. We do have some toys here but dogs usually prefer their own and if your dog is a strong chewer or likes to destroy toys please do not use ours and bring your own. Some dogs get cold after swimming so a coat/robe might be helpful for these dogs. 

If you are going in the pool bring swimwear and a change of clothes for yourself. Ideally bring something with longer sleeves/legs to go over your swimwear as dogs can often scratch whilst they are swimming. 

There will be some dogs who do not want to swim. We are a force free training centre and no force should be used to make dogs swim. We want them to be confident enough to enter the pool by their own free will and will support them to do this.

If a dog does not swim on the first visit we will work with you to build more confidence for future sessions and can give you some hints and tips about growing water confidence. Dogs who do not swim still experience a fun and enriching session. No refunds are given for non-swimmers. There are some dogs who do not want to swim, however much we would like them to. 

Maybe. The site is not really suited to dogs that will bark consistently. We have neighbours, who we care about and do not want to disturb, we have other businesses running on site who deal with anxious and nervous dogs, and we are a training venue.

The odd bit of barking here and there is not a problem and to be expected, but dogs that will bark consistently are usually in a state of stress (through overwhelm, excitement, fear, nervousness, anxiety or frustration) and possibly not suited to the venue. If you have a very barky dog give us an email before you book and we will be happy to work with you to find a quieter day/time and help reduce the arousal level. 

Sorry, not usually. Our staff might be busy training others so we need payment to be made in advance of your session. You can pay online when you book. If this creates difficulties for you give us an email we can try and help. 

Not necessarily. We have a select of life jackets here. We find some dogs are more confident leaving the ramp wearing a life jacket if they are not strong swimmers. 

Usually no, we cannot have any food (human or dog) in or around the pool or the decking area as we do not want it getting dropped in the water.  If you make a note for us on your initial booking we will be able to help but luring a dog with food towards something they are not sure about is usually counter productive. 

Yes, we have days each week where we have no/few other dogs on site so you can book a visit at a quieter time. It is probably a good idea for easily overwhelmed dogs to be kept on a lead/longline for their first visit, until they relax in the new surroundings.  Quieter days are generally Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays, or early/late at the weekends.  Give us an email or a call and we can help find as suitable time. 

If your dog cannot tolerate a staff member being present we can do an induction session without your dog beforehand to go through all the training and then you can book your first swim session afterwards. Send us an email. 

The general guidance is that dogs should not eat a meal in the 1-2 hours before swimming. There is a risk of vomiting if they take in a lot of water whilst catching toys and swimming. There is also a risk of bloat (GDV) if they are very active after a meal, especially for large breed, deep chested dogs. 

You can rebook or cancel your session up to 1 hour beforehand. We are very aware that the British weather can be unpredictable.  Your confirmation email has links for rescheduling and cancelling or you can give us a call or email.

We are happy to run sessions in light drizzle but in heavier rain sessions will likely need to be rebooked.  We will not run sessions in thunder or lightening. If the weather is looking bad we will aim to contact you 1-2 hours before your session to check if you are happy or would prefer to reschedule.  

We may need to rebook or cancel your appointment if the pool chemicals read outside normal values, staff are not available or if the weather is bad. We will endeavour to rebook your session or offer a full refund.  Please make sure you check your mobile/email before you set out. 

Email - jo@the-grainstore.co.uk

Phone or whatsapp - 07984947625

Generally yes, swimming is a safe, fun and enriching activity for your dog. Not all dogs will enjoy swimming and we need to honour how they feel. As with any activity there is a risk of injury and illness.

Dogs should be given regular breaks from swimming during your session, particularly if they are catching toys in the water as there can be a small risk of water intoxication (taking in too much water). It is possible for dogs to incur injuries when swimming and getting in and out of the pool. You use the pool at your own risk. 

The pool paddock fencing is 4-5 foot tall, closer to 5 foot in most places.  Most dogs will be safe off lead in the pool paddock.

If your dog is an escape risk you can keep a longline on them attached to a harness (as long as we manage it carefully to be sure it does not get caught).  We can provide longlines. 

Yes, we can have up to four dogs sharing a session. You can share your session with a friend, or several, as long as the dogs have met before the session and they are comfortable and relaxed around each other. You can split the session cost between you, there are no extra charges. 

The main chemical used in the pool is chlorine. We test the pool at least once a day to ensure chlorine is within normal safe limits for humans. For most dogs this will be absolutely fine. Staff dog Maisie swims most days.  Chlorine is necessary to help keep the water clean and safe for you and your dog to swim in.  

If your dog has super sensitive skin or allergies you should discuss swimming with your vet first and then try a session if the vet is happy. Skin irritation is very unlikely. 

Dogs have been known to drink a small amount of pool water and this should not pose a problem to most. Dogs can be encouraged to drink from the freshwater bowl next to the pool when they have breaks from swimming. 

At times we may use chemicals to increase and decrease the PH and alkalinity levels of the pool. These are chemicals routinely used in home swimming pools they should not cause any problems to your dogs. 

No, the temperature of the pool is usually between 18 and 22 degrees. It can feel cold as you get in but it's not too bad once you are in and moving.  The temperature of the pool is very much driven by the night time temperatures and is cooler in spring and autumn.