Any dog owner will inform you that dog hair is a daily nuisance and becomes part of everyday life. Grooming your pet and cleaning up after animals that shed heavily is a responsibility we endure for our happy little companions as a trade for their unconditional love and loyalty. If you are a pool AND pet owner, this cleanup absolutely applies to your pool treatment as well.

Long story short, yes, dog hair can clog your pool filter if not cleaned regularly. What most pet owners don’t know, is that the oil glands in their skin can essentially waterproof your filter as well, severely reducing it’s effectiveness. This issue of oil is especially compounded if you have a dog breed that was developed to retrieve game from water (Labradors, Goldens, Water Spaniels, Poodles). Learn below how to maintain the system properly, keep dog hair to a minimum, and remove pesky oils from your pool filter.

1.) Groom Your Dog

I know this should be a no brainer, but so many people miss this crucial first step. The Furminator brand makes a large selection of products to help remove both the outer and inner stray hairs that would fall off daily. Regular brushing with special monthly shampoos and conditioners that aim to remove additional loose hairs is your first line of defense for your pool.

2.) Regularly Skim Your Pool or use Skimmer Socks

If you’re actively skimming your pool already, fantastic! It can be a great way to get exercise and sunshine at the same time and is the recommended method for removing any hair in the pool before it hits the filtration system. If you don’t feel like doing any manual labor, purchase a pack of Pool Skimmer Socks on amazon. These stretch over your pool trap and grab fine particles before they get sucked into the pump system. These are disposable, so make sure you don’t leave them on for days at a time. Note that we have yet to deal with the major problem of oils in the system.

3.) Remove the excess oil from your filtration system.

Unfortunately with all of these steps, depending on what breed of dog and how many you have, their natural water-resistant oils can’t be skimmed or caught by the pump. They ultimately end up building up on your pool filter. Over time your pool filter will end up partially water-resistant, and can’t do its job effectively.

Pull that pool filter out, grab some Dawn brand dish soap, and liberally apply it all over the filter. Use a high pressure garden hose to laboriously clean it until it is bright and shiny. Dish soap is fantastic at breaking down the oil and removing it from your filter!

If you have a particularly active outdoor dog, or multiple dogs, that swim in your pool, this should be considered as a weekly treatment.