Doggy Paddle Aquatic Center For Dogs

Daniel

2024-05

Could not recommend Doggy Paddle more. Our lab has been going twice a week for over a year now and it’s his favorite part of the week. For a high energy dog, swimming has been a great supplement to his normal exercise routine, helping him stay in shape while socializing with other dogs. The staff is incredible and you can tell they care. Don’t hesitate to give Doggy Paddle a try (your dog will thank you).

Hayley “The Hailstorm” Turner

2023-05

All three of my dogs LOVE Doggy Paddle Aquatic Center. They have done several group swim sessions together now and I can’t wait to take them again! The staff is super friendly and nice (and clearly all dog lovers) and they make sure all of them have a chance to try to get in on their own, they help them swim across (my two nervous ones) and back in the large pool. They have ear cleaning solution and cotton balls, and they also bring fluffy warm towels to dry them off oh, and they have life vests if you don’t have any!! If you are considering taking your dog to Doggy Paddle for a test swim, DO IT! Your dog will feel right at home with their help and tons of toys to chase after ❤️

Hilary

2023-05

Doggy Paddle is the happiest place on earth for dogs! My 3 Aussies have been doing Splash & Play for over a year and have also done solo swims in the evening. They LOVE going to swim and love the people who work there just as much. Everyone is so helpful, friendly, and clearly love dogs so much. I feel like my dogs get fantastic personalized care every time they go there.

Gina Magsombol

2023-05

I took my border collie mix here as he loves to swim, and I had felt mother's guilt from not exercising him enough. The staff was very gentle with him, as he is timid around strangers but found his groove right away! Within a short time, he was jumping into the pool on his own and swimming in circles. When it was time to leave, he didn't want to go! It's worth every penny for your pup!

Leigh Wang

2017-05

I'm glad to have learned about this place! I got my dog at the shelter and so she has never had exposure to swimming or just wading in water, even tho she is a lab mix and has webbed paws. I wanted her to get familiar and comfortable with the water since I want to be able to take her out on the lake in the summers, and so this place was great. The lobby and check in areas are clean and there is an indoor "park" for before your time slot as you wait with coffee tea and soda. Then this area can also be used after the swimming session as a place to continue to dry off. The swimming session was also really organized , for beginners or just more timid dogs, there is a calm pool, whereas for other dogs there is the play pool. Before entering the pool area, my dogs paws were rinsed off. There was an instructor in wetsuit who helped get my dog into the water and then helped her get used to swimming with support and then later on her own. In 30 mins my dog definitely learned new water skills and got a great aerobic workout! After swimming, there is a small stall that you can use to dry off your dog and also blow-dry. The whole experience was fantastic and am already looking forward to the next session! Also, free parking available in top floor garage.

Mark Quintos

2022-05

I went here to introduce my pup to water and the staff there did a great job getting him used to the water and swimming, since then I’ve been using their splash and play for a couple of months now.Staff is friendly and accommodating, they recognize my pup and are great with him (sorry he pulls towards the pool every single time)- one of their staff reached out to me about a scratch on my pup’s nose, it was there prior to playtime but, for me, it says something about his attentiveness to the pups and I couldn’t appreciate it more. The facilities are clean. Cherie does an incredible job reaching out to schedule splash and play and grouping play types together. And finally, my pup comes home exhausted in comparison to other daycares I’ve used in the area.I have nothing but amazing things to say about Doggy Paddle. :)

Andrew Levin

2017-05

I cannot describe how impressive this place is. The staff is knowledgeable, helpful and extremely caring for your pup. They took such good care of my 6 month old lab, who had never been in the water. By the end of the 30 minute swim session, he was diving right in like a pro. We enjoyed a few minutes in the nice playpark area afterwards, so my pup could run out his remaining energy and dry off. We will be back!

Kiersten Smith

2023-11

We’ve been taking our pup here for a couple of years now and she absolutely loves it! The staff are incredibly accommodating and sensitive to the unique needs of each dog, which we are very grateful for as the type of swims our pup enjoys has changed over time (more playful vs calm).

Koyoi

2020-05

I love this place. I can bring my German Shepard and he can exercise. Bought him several times and in the very beginning he didn't want to get in the water but eventually he did and learned to swim very quickly.Now he loves to go swimming whenever we visit. The people here are very kind and you can tell they love these dogs. I highly recommend this place.I read the negative reviews and some are frightening and concerning but some are just making a big deal out of nothing. There will always be people like that.Just make sure you're always watching your dog and you can toss the toys they provide for your dog to go fetch. So be interactive with your dog. If something isn't going your way and you sense your dog is in danger, speak up and you can always just leave. I went here several times and had no problems with it.Always be attentive no matter where you go with your dog.Overall, my dog had plenty of exercise and fun. When we get back home, he is super sleepy and tired. Will definitely come back here many times.

Hilary Sargent

2022-05

There are few things in life that make Teddy as happy as doggy paddle does. We can barely control him when we walk through the door because he is so excited to be there. We love splash and play for him and he is exhausted and happy when he comes home to us. The staff is amazing too. Super nice and so great with Teddy. Highly recommend!

Everett Gutierrez Jr

2021-05

Xaylin and Vanessa are amazing! I took our 9 year old dog, Legacy, for the first time after looking for options to get therapy for her arthritis. The staff were very patient, extremely friendly, and walked me through the process with our dog. Our dog enjoyed every moment and she came back tired. The staff and clean facility truly made the difference, I will be bringing her back with our other dog in the near future.

Jasmine May

2023-11

My dog loves coming here. We do their daycare program and she comes home so tired and happy at the end. Wonderful spot if you have a high energy dog that loves to swim.

Paridhi Sharma

2023-05

Review update:The owner claims I shouted and used derogatory way of talking to them.I called them “negligent” and “irresponsible dog handlers” because that’s what I truly felt when they started pointing out flaws in our dog and incidents that followed. I will still call your team and services negligent. There’s no way a dog can jump out of pool and pin down other dog if the handler is truly present with dogs, trainer or not.We have never had single in person conversation. The communication is done over the Text messages.*****Our dog was here for a year and a half.During the first 6 months the experience was great. Thereon, our dog was blamed for bite marks that he received from other dogs in the group.The swim instructors are negligent.According to them, my pup leaped out of the pool to pin down the other dog. When asked where the instructors were, the response was lame. All the blame was put on our pup. Animals are such, the handlers need to be able to handle dogs. If you cannot, then don’t run the business.They take unneutered dogs but your dog can turn into a nuisance as per their inconvenience.They keep moving dates and timings last minute as per their schedule.I did not find this facility trust worthy. Your dog can get injured due to the negligence of the staff. As sweet as the staff maybe, if you are not trained professional/dog handlers, the sweetness is not worth a dime.

Mandy Tandy

2023-05

We were gifted a couple of swimming lessons. (Lessons are transferable if your dog doesn’t enjoy swimming)The first lesson, my dog was scared and didn’t seem to like it. We had one more lesson so thought we’d try again. So glad we did! My dog absolute loves swimming now. He has graduated out of a life vest. A 30 minute swim window is all it takes to tucker him out.They have a swim day care group here too.The swim instructors and front desk reception are all really nice.Scheduling all takes place via text, which takes a little to get used to. I hope they open more locations so more pups get to experience this. Definitely treat your pup to a couple sessions.

Jennie Edelstein

2022-05

Hendrix absolutely loves Doggy Paddle. He spends most of his time home with me, but the few hours he is at Splash and Play each week, he comes home very happy and tired! He gets a lot of impact-free exercise in the pool and loves swimming more and more as he keeps going. Thank you!

Holly Yeager

2021-05

My dogs go nuts when I tell them we are going "swimming at the pool" they know...and, when we get withing blocks...they are back and forth from each window in the back crying...they love Doggy Paddle Aquatic Center!

Kelly O'Brien

2023-05

The staff is super friendly and responsive. The pool facilities are great. We love buying a package to take our dogs swimming during the cold winter months. They are always exhausted after a session - a tired dog is a good dog!

Ed Grochowiak

2022-05

Doggy paddle is the best! They take great care of our dog when he goes to swim. Highly recommend for any dog owners.

Elizabeth Ribordy

2021-05

Our puppy Winston had his first swimming lesson today and the whole experience greatly exceeded our expectations. Our instructor was so nice, patient and enthusiastic. He really made Winston feel comfortable in the water and by the end of the lesson it was already a night and day difference in his confidence and skills. We also loved the playroom for him to run around beforehand and the warm towels, such a nice touch. We’ll be back and highly recommend taking your pups!

Denise Roma

2023-05

We took our three dogs to the pool today and they had a blast. The girls who got in the pool with our fur babes were super sweet and encouraging. Even our Boston, who has never liked water, enjoyed swimming. The indoor park was also lots of fun. Dogs are worn out and happy.

Chase Mangioni

2022-05

My pup LOVED this place. Instructors are great, staff are friendly and accommodating, and the facilities are perfect with their setup. My pup swam in a nicely sized saltwater pool and they were very upfront that diarrhea and dehydration are common in that water. My pup did great though! He love every bit of his 45 minutes and was dog tired for days! Highly recommended facility!

Ryan Devonshire

2023-05

Doggy Paddle is the best! Every time we take our dog there to swim, the staff takes wonderful care of him & ensures he gets plenty of exercise while having a lot of fun. Highly recommend if you have an active dog!

Katie Gray

2019-05

This place is an amazing little hidden gem on Willow Street. Kinda in the middle of nowhere and it can be difficult to find the entrance, but there is always parking available, and once you find your way in, you are in doggy heaven. If you have a dog that loves to swim (like my 4 yr old English Bulldog), this place is perfect for those 9 months out of the year in Chicago that it’s just too damn cold for Montrose Beach/any other outdoor dog beach. They really are organized, friendly to the dogs and owners, and even have a really cute indoor dog park for before/after your swim slot with refreshments and rest areas for the owners that’s decorated to look like a little porch-like homey-feel area. They also have the option (for an extra small fee) of picking up and dropping off your dog for their swim time if you can’t make it down there yourself. There’s always at least one, sometimes two employees (depending on the amount of dogs in the session) in the pool with the dogs keeping them safe and tossing toys around for them to play with. They also require life jackets on dogs, even ones that are strong swimmers. I believe they value the safety and comfort of your pet over all else. I’ve never seen it overcrowded, never seen any issues between dogs (other than the occasional stolen ball), and I’ve never had ANY issues whatsoever with the staff, they are incredible! One time I was running late for our appointment, and they were kind enough to let my dog still get her full swim time in, which I was eternally grateful for. Also, when we started coming there, my dog already knew how to swim, but I’ve seen that they do private and semi-private lessons for dogs learning to swim or who are scared/hesitant of the whole water situation. I have a new puppy on the way and fully intend on bringing him here to learn to swim and get comfortable with the water environment. Can’t say enough great things about this place!!

Jane Lohmar

2020-05

My dog Fig LOVES LOVES LOVES Doggy Paddle. He has been going for several weeks now and he gets more excited every time he goes. He had never been swimming before we took him there, so was understandably hesitant (to say the least) about his first experience. But the instructors were kind, patient, and skilled, and before I knew it he was swimming like a champ. The exercise is great for him, wearing him out, burning a ton of calories, and keeping his mind and body active. I take him about twice a week and get such joy seeing my dog have so much fun. Thanks, Doggy Paddle! I'm so glad we found you.

E F

2022-05

Didn’t like the way the class was conducted. My expectation was that an actual trainer is going to train the dog to be comfortable in the water and not just force them in. If that was what they called training, it wouldn’t be any different than pulling your dog in the lake and forcing them to swim. I thought they’d have actual training where they assess what the dog’s motivation is. For the price we paid, we certainly expected a better experience considering this is only for 30 minutes. The facility itself was not the cleanest. The doors they had were rotting on the bottom and the pool looked really murky.

Luke Balestri

2021-05

My personal experience and I have an, “only dog,” was it could not have been a better one.Easy parking - SUPER FRIENDLY - Dog Lovers - Clean/SafeThey were really helpful getting us to the point of getting him in. He had a few things to get done at the vet prior to sign off. For almost 10 days I was in text message contact (which I prefer) with them. Made me feel good about where I was taking PoP to swim.I have an exhausted happy pup. We both can’t wait to go back!

Ryan Gabrielli

2019-05

Love the idea! We brought our pup here (who has never been swimming before) and after 1 lesson he was hooked. They usually say it takes 2-3 sessions before the dog feel comfortable swimming without a life vest and on their own, well we were surprised when our pup just jumped right in on the second time we were there. The staff really made sure to introduce our pup to the water such that it made them comfortable with the idea. They also have a play area for the dogs to socialize before or after swim time, complete with a mini fridge with beverages for the owners. I am so happy we found this place, and sad that we won't be able to get a membership here as we are only in town for a short while.

S Jennings

2021-05

My pups had a great experience. First timers going to the pool, and it will take a few more times before they are completely comfortable, but great first experience. Swimmer was super gentle and kind with them, provided life jackets, toys, towels, and blow dryer at the end. Someone was always in the pool with them and helped them be comfortable.

Katharine Hollars

2019-05

Our girls absolutely love Doggy Paddle! We've been coming for about a year and every instructor has been accommodating and patient with our two dachshunds. It took a few sessions for them to get fully comfortable in the water, but the instructors have always been good about making sure each session helped them be more at ease. They are now swimming without life jackets and going after toys!The facility is always clean and Doggy Paddle also does a wonderful job keeping things fun for dog parents, too. They host holiday parties, provide free coffee/tea/soda, and maintain an indoor park for member use. I HIGHLY recommend Doggy Paddle.

Candace Moore

2018-05

So much fun for pups. A great facility that is clean and the staff is wonderful with my shy dog and make sure that is healing well from her knee surgery.