Want to take your dog out for a swim? JoCo public pools will open for pooches

There just might be something to that phrase “dog days of summer.” Just ask Bella, Augie and Rockie.

For these three four-legged residents of Johnson County, the hottest days of the year mean the public pools are open for the dogs.

Beginning this weekend in Lenexa and through early September, several Johnson County public pools will close to humans for the season and open for dogs for a few hours.

Big, small and medium dogs are all invited — and hundreds of them are expected to dive in.

“They absolutely love it,” said Barb Roland of Shawnee, who will be taking her golden retrievers Augie and Rockie to this Saturday’s Aug. 9 Paws in the Pool event at Flat Rock Creek Pool in Lenexa. The pair is the third generation of golden retrievers that Roland has taken to the end-of-summer swims in public pools.

“Our dogs have been doing it for years and years,” Roland said. “We always have had a really good experience. Everyone is socially polite. Really, all the dogs want to do is swim in the pool. They don’t want to chase other dogs.

“They are good and tired by the end of the session.”

Bridget Kelly of Overland Park will be returning for the fourth year to Prairie Village’s Puppy Poolooza in September with Bella, a black lab-Irish setter-dachshund mix.

“She loves the water,” Kelly said.

So does Kelly, who is the swim coach for the Prairie Village Piranhas, a summer youth swim team. Bella and Kelly often swim at the Lake of the Ozarks together, Kelly said.

“But pools are safer for her,” Kelly said. “All the dogs are friendly. It’s a chance for her to be around other dogs and have fun.”

Bella can expect about 200 other dogs to join her, said Ashley Freburg, Prairie Village’s Public Information Officer and Deputy City Clerk.

“It’s fantastic,” she said. “There are a lot of adorable dogs swimming. There is a certain energy.

“I don’t have a dog. I have a cat and I think it’s a fun event,” Freburg said.

How do public dog swims work?

The dogs aren’t the only ones eager for the swims.

“Our staff really likes to do this event,” said Ryan Wiebe, Lenexa’s Parks & Recreation Aquatics Manager.

In addition, Wiebe said members of Lenexa’s animal control volunteer at the swim.

“But really we haven’t had any issues,” Wiebe said.

Dog swims are designed for success by separating dogs by weight.

For example, in Lenexa the little dogs — 30 pounds or less — have the first session. Then, there is a mixed swim that allows both medium-sized dogs and small dogs.

Then in the last session, the big dogs have their time.

In Lenexa, there will be several small plastic pools on the pool’s concrete deck open to any skittish dogs or senior dogs who want to be a part of the fun but don’t want to get in the big pool.

Wiebe said it’s common to have 150 to 175 dogs attend the Lenexa event, although there have been years with as many as 200.

A big change in Lenexa this year — thanks to dog owners’ feedback — is moving Paws in the Pool from a weeknight to a Saturday morning.

“It’s a lot cooler in the morning for the dogs and it’s easier for the owners who won’t have to rush to get here after work,” Wiebe said.

These swims are strictly for dogs, and for good reason.

Wiebe said the chemicals that make pools safe for human are not safe for dogs, and the adjustment of the chemicals to make it safe for dogs makes the pools unsafe for humans.

When can you take your dog out to swim?

There are no residency requirements for dogs to enjoy the public pool swims, but there are vaccination requirements and admission fees for the dogs. Some cities had not yet scheduled their dog swims as of this story’s publish date.

• Saturday, Aug. 9: Paws in the Pool in Lenexa
• Saturday, Aug. 9: Too Cool To Drool in Olathe
• Saturday, Aug. 16: K9s at the Cover in Shawnee
• Tuesday, Sept. 2: Pool Party for Pooches in Mission
• Tuesday, Sept. 2: Puppy Poolooza in Prairie Village
• Tuesday, Sept. 2: Leawood Soggy Doggy Swim Time in Leawood

Check individual city websites for registration, requirements and information.

This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM.