Froglife

Leaping forward for reptiles and amphibians

You are here: Home / Archives for paws against ponds

paws against ponds

The Dog (Swimming) Days Are Over 

by

Written by Jade Walton: Transforming Lives Trainee

Here at Froglife we love our four-legged companions and know how important daily exercise is for our beloved dogs. While there is no harm in letting your dog swim in many different bodies of water, it is highly encouraged to steer them clear of ponds, especially during amphibian breeding season, and here are some reasons why: 

  • If you have used a spot-on flea or tick treatment on your dog, this can get into the pond water and possibly harm the invertebrate population of the pond. These invertebrates are a crucial part of the pond’s ecosystem and are a major food source for many amphibians. 
  • Dogs swimming in a pond can easily disrupt the mating behaviours of amphibians, making it less likely for the amphibians to use the pond as a breeding pond. 
  • If the pond has been used to breed, the arrival of an enthusiastic pup can damage any eggs or spawn that have been laid, or even harm any tadpoles or efts (baby newts) that may have hatched. 
  • Some ponds are artificial. This means pond liner may have been used to ensure water remains in the pond rather than soaking into the ground. If dogs are often running and jumping into a pond made with an artificial liner, this can damage and degrade the liner over time, likely causing the liner to rip and the pond to leak which cannot always be fixed. 

If your dog loves a swim, it’s best for them to stick to larger bodies of water, such as, lakes, rivers, or the sea. If they are a real water lover, it may be best to keep them on the lead when around ponds as we know how tempting a good old dip can be. 

You can find more information on this subject by visiting our #PawsAgainstPonds Campaign Page. 

Garden Ponds and Dogs

by

Back in 2020, our Come Forth for Wildlife team were working in Falkirk creating Neighbourhood Wildlife Corridors which are small features for wildlife that connect gardens to country parks and nature reserves (these are key in keeping our amphibian and reptile populations safe).

One particular household asked our team if it was possible to have a wildlife pond built, but to have some kind of prevention to discourage their dog from taking a swim. Staff member Chris leapt into action and started thinking up some ideas. Eventually, Chris settled on a small fence surrounding the pond which wasn’t accessible for the family dog, but left enough space for wildlife to get through.

Before During  After

 

I think we can all agree that this pond was definitely a success. You don’t even need to use commercial fencing, you can use alternatives such as willow fencing or thick hedges to keep your canine friends out of your wildlife pond. 

Don’t have the space or money for fencing? There are even more ideas that you can use to protect your pond:

  • Build a raised or ‘tub pond’
  • Strong mesh (5cm squared or more) dug into the ground 
  • Netting (more 5cm squared or more) pulled tight and staked to prevent wildlife becoming tangled. 
  • You can even get fancy with some pond covers from your local garden centre 

For more information on building a wildlife pond, read our Just Add Water guide.

You can also find out more information on our #pawsagainstponds campaign here.

#pawsagainstponds Campaign

by

During April, we will be running our #pawsagainstponds campaign! Britain is a nation of dog lovers, there are over 12 million in the UK and here at Froglife we love our furry friends, in fact many of our staff and volunteers are dog owners themselves. However, dogs swimming in ponds can have negative impacts on wildlife and we want to focus on reducing this and raising awareness of the issue.

Keeping dogs out of ponds used by amphibians for breeding is important for three reasons:

  • Dogs swimming and paddling in ponds can stir up sediment, blocking out valuable sunlight for aquatic plants and spawn/tadpole development.
  • Trampling spawn, tadpoles and froglets/toadlets
  • Spot-on flea treatments can have a devastating impact on aquatic ecosystems. If dogs go into ponds shortly after treatment, the powerful pesticides can kill the insect life within the pond. You can find further information on the British Veterinary Association’s webpage here. 

There can also be negative impacts on dogs including:

  • Illness and risk of death from blue-green algae. Please read the British Veterinary Association’s article on the subject (with advice on what you can do to prevent your dog from becoming ill) here
  • Injuries from hidden hazards below the water
  • Infections from existing cuts and injuries or ones sustained whilst in the water  

If you see a pond that is well planted and appears to be a designated wildlife habitat, try to keep your dogs away or even better, on a lead, particularly in spring when amphibians will be breeding and in the summer when young amphibians will be leaving their ponds for terrestrial habitats.

Ziggy being a very good girl!

What alternatives are there?

We still want dogs to enjoy water, but we want to keep wildlife as well as the dogs themselves safe when doing so. There are some brilliant alternatives to swimming in wild water including:

  • ‘Dog swim days’ You can check outdoor pools in your area to see if they provide this service. There are some great suggestions here. 
  • Head for the beach! Remember to check if dogs are allowed on your chosen beach before travelling
  • Sourcing an old paddling pool or sandpit and making a doggy pool in the comfort of your own garden
  • Play with sprinklers- hook one up to your hosepipe and watch your dog enjoy it- you could even join in with them! (be aware of local hosepipe bans in the summer months before doing this)
  • Give them an outdoor bath- if you’ve been on a walk and your doggo is a bit dusty/dirty you can bathe them in the garden. Make it fun by adding their favourite toys and don’t forget a nice treat for afterwards

 What you can do to help the #pawsagainstponds campaign:

  • When walking your dog near wild water, please keep them on a lead
  • Use alternatives to swimming in wild water (mentioned above)
  • When building a wildlife pond, consider creating natural fencing (hedges, willow fencing) to prevent your dog from taking a swim. More info here
  • Spread the word! Please share our social media posts and tell your family and friends about the campaign

Further reading:

Here are some useful articles on dogs in ponds

 

Please click "Accept" to use cookies on this website. More information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close