Virginia summer is hot, and Millie and I don't like it. We much preferred the cool summers of Alaska, and we loathe to be outdoors when temperatures are above 80. I can almost survive in the heat, but poor Millie with her black coat really struggles if temperatures are high and she is in direct sunlight. Still, we have to get out for her exercise (I can go to the gym) so we've been doing our best to try to get out earlier in the morning before it gets too hot. I've also been trying to find places where she can swim. There are a number of trails along the Potomac where we can go for a hike, and she can jump in the Potomac for cooling off. Unfortunately, twice last month she came down with bouts of diarrhea. My guess is that the murky brown waters of the Potomac is probably not the best place to let her swim. Having said that, there's very little in terms of options around here. All of the waters around here are quite nasty looking. I would probably have to head far far out West or to the beaches of Maryland to get somewhere safe for Millie to swim. I am still looking for a good spot for her to swim, but in the meantime, I found couple of indoor doggy pools. The Pet Resort in Dulles offers 30 minutes of canine swimming for $35. Unfortunately they were booked full this weekend so I took Millie to Northern Virginia Animal Swim Center. It's an hour long schlep out there, but the drive through Virginia's countryside is quite nice so I didn't mind it so much. If you take Route 50, you pass through the historic towns of Aldie and Middleburg that reminded me a bit of Europe. The last one mile to the swim center is gravel though, so just keep that in mind.
The swim center in Middleburg is a little on the run downside, but had all the essential equipment, including toys, poo bags, shower area, etc. The owner(?)/trainer there first spent a few minutes showing Millie how to get in and out of the pool by the ramp. Then I spent the next 25 minutes or so tossing a tennis ball into the pool for her to fetch. She had a really good time and was eager to run around still afterwards. Once I finally got her to get in the car though, she fell right asleep. Great exercise for her. At $30 a pop and 2 hrs driving, I doubt I'll make regular visits, but will certainly try to go once in a while.
Update: Today I took Millie to the Dulles Pet Resort pool. The only pro to this pool seemed to be that it's a lot closer. The first thing I noticed is that their pool is a lot smaller, and the ramp takes up half of the pool length. If your dog does laps, it's not a big deal. However, if your dog is a retriever and likes to go in and out of the pool, they only swim about 6 feet or so before reaching the ball. Second, you can't shampoo your dog there afterward. Finally, I wonder a bit about their water. Millie vomited few hours after swimming.
ReplyDeleteIt's a drive, but I'll be taking her to the Middleburg pool only from now on. On a positive note, I found this English style tavern that has good food and allows you to bring your doggy in the outdoor seating area: http://www.huntersheadtavern.com/HuntersHead/HHHome.html. They even bring your pooch a water bowl :)