Dog Swim Vancouver
48 reviews 2213 Granville St, Vancouver, BC +1 604-362-7487 dogswimvancouver.com suggest an edit
13 October 2023 1:00
My Cavalier loves to go here! When he first went, he wasn’t interested in swimming but loved to play and has made friends too! The staff are great - and have encouraged him into the water so now he will go in for a swim when it’s not too busy. The water is clean and a great place for young dogs to get accustomed to the water. Oliver has been coming since he was a pup, which has helped him stay very interested in meeting both dogs and humans! I highly recommend this daycare as the dogs and people here are friendly and the staff really care about the dogs.
27 September 2023 18:30
We have been going here for years. Our dog loves it so obviously something good is happening. Plus the employees and owner are very friendly
17 August 2023 1:37
Very friendly and attentive staff. My dog has been coming here for almost a year and goes in super excited and comes out exhausted! They're always good at letting me know how her day went and who she played with. Thank you for all you do for my pupper!
20 July 2023 3:55
I would recommend it 100%. I had to work out of my downtown office and booked Lola for 3 full days. She's a dachshund and not very thrilled around water. I took her to the beach right after en she ran into the ocean and stay there for over an hour. I had to literally carry her out of the water!
19 July 2023 14:01
My dog Layla had THE best time today during her swim lesson with Stefania. She was so good with Layla who is anxious when trying new things. She had so much fun during her lesson.
03 June 2023 9:14
This facility is great. An indoor pool with a free swim time for a small group of dogs at $25 a session is amazing. For the people complaining about not having any help during those free swims, pay for the service you wish you had. It’s available.
02 June 2023 4:45
The facility is spacious and clean. As they mention on their website, there is no smell of chlorine, nor is there a smell of "wet pets". The instructor Cole was friendly and very instructive. Despite the pups being a bit apprehensive, both were able to swim. Will definitely find a time for them to swim again.
Post-swim. I just had to rinse off the salt water.otherwise, my pup smelled the same.
Only sad thing is that the owners are not able to go into the pool haha. But nevertheless, my puppy has a great experience.
Post-swim. I just had to rinse off the salt water.otherwise, my pup smelled the same.
Only sad thing is that the owners are not able to go into the pool haha. But nevertheless, my puppy has a great experience.
01 June 2023 5:16
We’ve been bringing our duck toller, Molly, to Dog Swim on a weekly basis for the last 3 years and have had nothing but positive experiences. She absolutely loves going and we love to take her because we know she’s in such great hands. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to introduce their dog to swimming (just know that not every dog will be doing laps after their first lesson) or looking for a trustworthy, social, doggy day-care.
23 March 2023 11:35
I took my dog here. It was our first time but no one on staff ever showed. They didn't check our vax records or introduce us to the facility. When our 45m was up we found there was 1 towel for 3 dogs. We went to the day care side to ask for more towels but they didn't provide them. 2-stars b/c I like the pool, however the staff left a lot to be desired. If they had shown up or even been helpful when asked I would be going back just for the pool. Now I am on the fence b/c of how bad the service was
01 March 2023 7:54
My dog LOVES to swim (Labrador). He could go for hours so I inquired about booking this facility for his birthday. I had the pleasure of speaking with Ed. He answered all my questions and set up a date for the celebration.
On the day of the celebration, we met Cathy. She was in with the dogs and so so friendly. Cathy was amazing! She made sure some of the dogs who didn't have a lot of experience with the water were well cared for. They also had some life jackets for the dogs if needed. All the dogs, including my own, had the best time! My dog couldn't be kept away. We will definitely come back!
Thanks Dog Swim Vancouver!
On the day of the celebration, we met Cathy. She was in with the dogs and so so friendly. Cathy was amazing! She made sure some of the dogs who didn't have a lot of experience with the water were well cared for. They also had some life jackets for the dogs if needed. All the dogs, including my own, had the best time! My dog couldn't be kept away. We will definitely come back!
Thanks Dog Swim Vancouver!
07 January 2023 7:56
Took my pup here recently and water was way too cold for a December swim!
Politely asked owner Ed Light via Facebook Messenger if water could be warmed even slightly and after replying, saying he'd replaced the HVAC system, promptly BLOCKED me on Facebook!?
I don't recommend bringing any puppies, elderly, or any canines with rheumatic condition to this facility.
Very bizarre way to treat a brand new and (at the time) potentially regular customer.
Politely asked owner Ed Light via Facebook Messenger if water could be warmed even slightly and after replying, saying he'd replaced the HVAC system, promptly BLOCKED me on Facebook!?
I don't recommend bringing any puppies, elderly, or any canines with rheumatic condition to this facility.
Very bizarre way to treat a brand new and (at the time) potentially regular customer.
07 October 2022 6:30
Poor follow up. Did not return phone call or email requesting refund. Cancellation outside of 24 hours window.
07 October 2022 3:04
I took my baby corgi to swim here but the facilities are not very friendly for small dogs. The steps into the pool are large and steep, which made it difficult for my dog to climb in and out of the pool. The ramps are also positioned in such a way where small dogs could slip between the cracks of the ramp and the wall of the pool.
I wish there was a ramp with smaller steps for my dog. I also wish there was a way that i could easily step my feet into the pool to help encourage my dog to go in without having to commit my entire body into the pool.
My first visit also was not very welcoming. The staff was not present and spent all their time at the daycare side of the building. I wish i was offered some tips or advice as a first timer, but i ended up having to figure out how the facility is used on my own.
There were a couple of mistakes i made on my end too which soured my experience here. Firstly, i should have brought my own life jacket for my puppy since the ones available did not fit her well. Secondly, i shouldn’t have come alone. Trying to encourage your pup to swim is a 2 person job.
I gave this place 2 stars because although my experience was bad, the facility seems good for large dogs.
I wish there was a ramp with smaller steps for my dog. I also wish there was a way that i could easily step my feet into the pool to help encourage my dog to go in without having to commit my entire body into the pool.
My first visit also was not very welcoming. The staff was not present and spent all their time at the daycare side of the building. I wish i was offered some tips or advice as a first timer, but i ended up having to figure out how the facility is used on my own.
There were a couple of mistakes i made on my end too which soured my experience here. Firstly, i should have brought my own life jacket for my puppy since the ones available did not fit her well. Secondly, i shouldn’t have come alone. Trying to encourage your pup to swim is a 2 person job.
I gave this place 2 stars because although my experience was bad, the facility seems good for large dogs.
25 September 2022 3:16
We took a 1-1 dog swim lesson for our Aussie here, it's a nice pool and instructor is good but our dog didn't make much progress. We will probably try to teach her to get comfortable at the beach!
06 September 2022 22:04
We love taking our dog Theo to Dogswim for daycare. The staff/owner have been extremely kind and professional with us and Theo is always well taken care of! Plus, they end up using the dog park right next to their daycare and it’s a nice bonus to see all of them playing and running around outside. Best daycare in vancouver that we have found.
02 July 2022 5:46
I can’t say enough good things about this place. All the staff is incredibly sweet and patient with my puppy. He went from being scared of getting in the water to being the biggest water obsessed freak in a couple classes. He absolutely LOVES coming here and it’s such a good distraction for him and also great exercise!
21 May 2022 19:13
Great place for a doggie swim. Puppy's first swim. Gave her confidence. All pups had a great time! I'd book again in. I plan to book again
20 May 2022 20:20
Love love the staff except for the manager she was a bit rude. The ladies that work there Monica Emily and Cathee are ama.zing with the dogs. A few of them ate trainers as well and I recommend this business 100 percent.
23 February 2021 5:43
Great place, super clean, friendly (for both dogs and their humans), and your dog comes home tired. We've taken our dog mostly for public swim and while it took a little time for him to understand how to get in he had a blast since. Staff is really helpful and quick to always assist. Keep up the great work!
18 February 2021 7:52
We took our dog for a one-on-one swim lesson with Ed. Before going, she was always hesitant to go in the water at the beach if she couldn’t touch the bottom. After one session, Ed told us to take her down to Kits dog beach and see how she does. The next time we went, she was literally swimming/fetching sticks in the ocean without any hesitation - I highly recommend Dog Swim Vancouver!
09 February 2021 12:52
Doesn't take care of pool properly. First 6 months. Pool was never shocked, no chlorine, etc.
Gross.
Rewards bad behavior with treats.
Gross.
Rewards bad behavior with treats.
09 February 2021 1:45
I absolutely recommend anyone, who works & has a FurBaby, to bring their Pup here for Daycare
It is very affordable, the Owner takes great care of the dogs, & my little dog seems much calmer when I pick her up, compared to other dog daycares I've taken her to
It is very affordable, the Owner takes great care of the dogs, & my little dog seems much calmer when I pick her up, compared to other dog daycares I've taken her to
06 February 2021 11:19
I can't say enough great things about Ed and the staff at Dog Swim Vancouver. Our rambunctious dog, Indie, has been going for day care regularly for the last several months. Every morning he pulls me the whole way there once we get to the final block and is thoroughly exhausted at the end of the day. Suffice to say he loves it and we love it too. Unlike other dog day cares, our pup comes home smelling fresh and clean from the pool. This is a newer business there have been a few hiccups along the way (who knew our dog could jump a 5 ft fence!) but Ed worked with us to ensure any issues were resolved to our satisfaction. 5+ stars for Ed and his team.
26 January 2021 7:23
I have been here once and I love it. It's a great place to exercise your fur baby and also keeping yourself Warm without having to stand outside at the beach in the cold winter weather. My girl loves swimming and this will be my go-to for the next few months. Great idea!
23 January 2021 2:26
I promised myself I would write a review if Dog Swim exceeded my expectations.here I am! My dog is shy, anxious & reactive to strangers (of the human variety). She had never swam before. From the moment we arrived, Brooke helped her feel safe & welcome. None of her hesitation or behavior deterred Brooke, even when my dog barked at her. Brooke was able to safely get her into the pool and guided her to get comfortable swimming. My dog came out, tail wagging! Brooke got to know my dog in the beginning and by the end my dog was happily taking treats and fetching a ball (so much of the lesson was my dog getting comfortable with Brooke and around the water-really appreciated this). We will continue to come back and I have complete faith that Dog Swim will help my shy, nervous pup become a beach bum!
10 January 2021 1:03
Amazing experience! So much fun for dogs and owners. Very clean, well run facility. Toys, life vests and towels provided. Owner is very kind and friendly. Really enjoyed it!
09 January 2021 8:33
I’ve been taking my dog to Dog Swim Vancouver since opening week (Dec 2019). We normally book the pool for the 45 minutes recreational swim. And because we’ve been back so many times, we bring our own swimming vest and toy but they certainly have all that there for you to use. We go at least once every two months, but that is because we live 20 minutes away (that’s with no rush hour).
The pool is well kept and the area is safe for dogs and humans to walk/sprint-being mindful that it is a swimming pool, so of course it can get slippery.
If we lived closer, I would definitely take him once a week. It’s definitely a great exercise and it is so much cleaner than taking him to a lake-such a great indoor swimming pool for rainy and cold days! 45 minutes is just the perfect amount of time and it’s soooo nice that we are able to interact with our dog. Only dogs can be in the pool unless you’re a staff but it is so awesome that when we can book the 45 minutes and be able to bond with our dog at the same time.
Compared to day one of opening week and now (a year later), there has been so many improvements. Ed, the owner is super open minded and took all the suggestions he received. Not many improvements were needed but definitely were helpful. He immediately got a ramp for the dogs to get in/out of the pool and put up a gate at the entrance and a rail at the top of the deck. If you get the chance to meet or talk to Ed, you can tell he loves his shop and enjoys what he’s doing!
I highly recommend Dog Swim Vancouver!
The pool is well kept and the area is safe for dogs and humans to walk/sprint-being mindful that it is a swimming pool, so of course it can get slippery.
If we lived closer, I would definitely take him once a week. It’s definitely a great exercise and it is so much cleaner than taking him to a lake-such a great indoor swimming pool for rainy and cold days! 45 minutes is just the perfect amount of time and it’s soooo nice that we are able to interact with our dog. Only dogs can be in the pool unless you’re a staff but it is so awesome that when we can book the 45 minutes and be able to bond with our dog at the same time.
Compared to day one of opening week and now (a year later), there has been so many improvements. Ed, the owner is super open minded and took all the suggestions he received. Not many improvements were needed but definitely were helpful. He immediately got a ramp for the dogs to get in/out of the pool and put up a gate at the entrance and a rail at the top of the deck. If you get the chance to meet or talk to Ed, you can tell he loves his shop and enjoys what he’s doing!
I highly recommend Dog Swim Vancouver!
04 January 2021 1:09
This place is heavensent! Ed is an amazing swim coach, very patient, gentle and caring. I have always wanted to find a place like this and I'm so happy they are here! Our senior dog loves Ed and has easily gotten over his apprehension of the water. Can't say enough great things about this place!
21 August 2020 1:52
We started bringing our pup to Dog Swim at 4 months, and he's loves it! We started taking him to give him a break from us during Covid but its such a great environment, and Winston always comes home zonked! Ed is fantastic with dogs, you can tell he really cares about them but has control of the room! Can't be happier with my choice for day care!
27 July 2020 20:03
Great place to take your dog if are worried about taking them to the water on their own. The owner is amazing so kind and patient with your dog.
17 July 2020 15:30
Just picked up Figgy from his first day at doggy day care. He is an apprehensive (of people) rescue and I felt 100% comfy leaving him there for the day. It is in such a great location and the drop off/pickup was quick and simple. We will be bringing him weekly!
17 June 2020 6:28
Sunny really enjoyed her swim. We have already told others & they want to come now too. This is a great idea as my dog has an issue in her hock & swimming does not aggravate it. We love the beach too but some times it’s nice not to deal with sand & dirt.
13 May 2020 22:43
Ed, and Dog Swim Vancouver are amazing. Best doggy day care in Vancouver. We have been taking our dog Niko here for 3 months now and I can’t give anything but our full thanks and praise. Facility and pool are top notch! Thanks Ed!
10 May 2020 20:29
We just picked our new rescue Jezebel from her first full-day at dog swim Van. What a great experience! Jezebel has never swam before and also has a disabled front leg; this did not deter Ed and his staff one bit. They have all been fantastic with her. We just bought a 10 pack of daycare and a 5 pack of one to one swims so she can continue to grow confidence swimming.
25 April 2020 17:38
I loved my job very much but didnt agree with many things Ed was doing. Hes NOT CERTIFIED to do hydro therapy and dogs dont always get walked. I'm extremely disappointed in the fact he called me on Sunday and told me there's no more work. I really hope he figured it out before his business closes because he has no idea what hes doing
20 April 2020 11:56
A great place to take your pup!
A daycare with a professional and caring staff and a ton of fun for your dog.
Plus a pool!
A daycare with a professional and caring staff and a ton of fun for your dog.
Plus a pool!
15 April 2020 13:06
We brought out 1 year old dog here for a group swim but he was the only one registered for the last swim of the evening. Ed was super kind and only charged us for a drop-in despite doing a 1: 1 session with Reggie. Reggie was hesitant about the ramp, but was warming up to it near the end. Ed helped him into the water and was incredibly patient. He recognized Reggie's boundaries and didn't do anything without our permission. We will definitely be back to try again. Overall a great experience - the facility is super clean and they even have a blow dryer! It's very evident that Ed cares a lot about the dogs experience and helping put pet-parents minds at ease. Thanks for providing a great space for our pups!:)
06 April 2020 19:34
We were so excited to bring our young dog here. Our dog has never swam before and is a very fearful dog in general. We thought we would sign her up for the private lesson as they advertised on the website that reactive dogs are welcome. We went inside and there was no check in procedure, no questions regarding our dog. The guy just put on his wetsuit, got in the water and expected us to hand our dog over. He didn’t have ANY interaction with our dog prior to this outside of the water. Nonetheless, our dog was terrified of him and the water and bit him. Our dog has never bit before so we were shocked and felt absolutely terrible. We were also so upset that there wasn’t better protocol in place for introducing the dog to the water for the FIRST lesson. We thought he would take his time to slowly introduce her in, perhaps on the ramp. We even bought a bunch of toys and treats as we thought positive reinforcement was going to be used. The trainer should’ve also interacted with her first before just asking us to throw her over to him in the deep water. Basically we had a HORRIBLE experience and ruined our day. My wife cried all the way home, feeling guilty and disappointed at what was suppose to be a fun day. Thought we could trust the trainer to help our dog gain some confidence but now she is even more fearful. Chaotic place with dogs running around even though we thought it was a private lesson. We went because the prices looked reasonable but would rather pay triple for a more experienced trainer at Aquapaws.
07 January 2023 8:15
Luke,
Aquapaws? Hmmmm. Thanks for the idea!
Sorry to learn your dog was treated so subparly.: (
Aquapaws? Hmmmm. Thanks for the idea!
Sorry to learn your dog was treated so subparly.: (
15 March 2020 10:40
Amazing experience for both the swim and the day care!
I originally got there for a drop in swim not knowing what to expect. Ed saw that our dog was hesitant so he got in the water with her and helped her get used to the water. After her first lap he asked me if I thought she should do another, which was nice because I felt that I was in control to pull the plug at any point. She ended up going into the water 4 times and left with 10 laps under her belt!
Ed didn’t charge me for the visit which was super nice of him! I ended up buying a 5 pack of one on one swims so my dog can build confidence with Ed in the water.
Just tried out the daycare and she had a great time there as well. The employee looking after the dogs was very nice and seemed like she was very happy to be spending the day with all the dogs. Picked up my dog and she was extremely happy and Ed said that she seemed to really enjoy it there!
Very happy to have this service right in the heart of the city. Unreal staff who really care about dogs and seem very happy to help!
I originally got there for a drop in swim not knowing what to expect. Ed saw that our dog was hesitant so he got in the water with her and helped her get used to the water. After her first lap he asked me if I thought she should do another, which was nice because I felt that I was in control to pull the plug at any point. She ended up going into the water 4 times and left with 10 laps under her belt!
Ed didn’t charge me for the visit which was super nice of him! I ended up buying a 5 pack of one on one swims so my dog can build confidence with Ed in the water.
Just tried out the daycare and she had a great time there as well. The employee looking after the dogs was very nice and seemed like she was very happy to be spending the day with all the dogs. Picked up my dog and she was extremely happy and Ed said that she seemed to really enjoy it there!
Very happy to have this service right in the heart of the city. Unreal staff who really care about dogs and seem very happy to help!
09 March 2020 15:59
New Swimming pool and daycare that just opened up. Took my dog there for a swim and had the best experience. Knowledgable owner and great facility.
09 March 2020 13:45
AMAZING PLACE! We have a 12 year old rescue Dane who is so afraid of water. She bonded with the owner Ed in a second and had so much fun in the water today for her first swim! Dog Swim gotta be the cleanest daycare I've ever been. It's spacious with great ventilation. The floor is so clean and scent free (no usual daycare pee or wet dog smell). They are also so reasonably priced compared to other canine hydro therapy facilities in the city. If your dog is great with water and is adventurous, you could try the economical rec swim. If you feel your dog will benefit from some guidance, schedule for a private swim with Ed. We are already planning on returning on a weekly basis. My vet told us swimming is so great for senior dogs. Highly recommend Dog Swim to all dog lovers in the city!
01 March 2020 23:25
Great place! The place is nice and clean. And the owner is very nice and friendly. Most important thing is Kaikai has sooooo much fun.
25 February 2020 20:59
Couldn’t be happier that dog swim opened. Our dog absolutely loves coming here and gets so much exercise that she is so tired when she comes home!
Ed is super knowledgeable, kind and welcoming.
Thank you to the dog swim vancouver team for such a great experience.
Ed is super knowledgeable, kind and welcoming.
Thank you to the dog swim vancouver team for such a great experience.
19 February 2020 3:38
The pool is really one of a kind in Vancouver. Take your dogs here to burn some energy while it's raining out! The pool is state of the art.
The dog daycare space is pretty big and very nicely laid out.
Ed is super nice and he'll even get in the pool with your dog for swimming lessons. You can tell that he's put a lot of thought into the building of the pool and lay out of everything.
The dog daycare space is pretty big and very nicely laid out.
Ed is super nice and he'll even get in the pool with your dog for swimming lessons. You can tell that he's put a lot of thought into the building of the pool and lay out of everything.
07 January 2023 8:09
Carrie,
I believe you're one of Ed's friends. What you're stating is total opposite of what other posts are saying and just because it's the "only dog pool in Vancouver", doesn't make it good, or even great.
What the girl (with an accent) working there told me too was she said she saw dogs doing things in that water that is "pretty disgusting! " and people need to keep in mind - they can't use chlorine! For that reason, she said she never goes in that pool without a wet suit!
I wouldn't want my puppy or dog swimming in filth like that!
I believe you're one of Ed's friends. What you're stating is total opposite of what other posts are saying and just because it's the "only dog pool in Vancouver", doesn't make it good, or even great.
What the girl (with an accent) working there told me too was she said she saw dogs doing things in that water that is "pretty disgusting! " and people need to keep in mind - they can't use chlorine! For that reason, she said she never goes in that pool without a wet suit!
I wouldn't want my puppy or dog swimming in filth like that!
15 February 2020 0:11
I was excited to bring my pup to this indoor doggie pool but it was disappointing. The pool is a good size but it is very unorganized. There is no proper gating to keep dogs safely inside, just an entrance to the pool area which is guarded by the owner. The owner left for a second and someone coming in swung the door open and a few dogs escaped onto the street. Luckily someone was able to retrieve them. There also isnt anywhere to place your belongings except a small table, everyones belongings and shoes were piled up. The pool is quite deep, i was hoping that there would be a shallow area for dogs to play in. Its good if your dog is confident in swimming. There are stairs in the pool but they move and the dogs don’t understand them. The border of the pool has a high lip so dogs are unable to get out. They can only get out through the stairs but need assistance. Cool concept, too bad its very unorganized. The owners should have waited until everything was in place prior to opening. They do have free doggie life jackets to use. If you do go, bring your own towels and water proof shoes.
05 February 2020 6:39
- Poor set up.
- A baby gate is not going to deter fearful pups to jump over the fence and dash right out to Granville Street.
- Swimming pool is not from shallow to deep; so only dogs who already know how to swim can go.
- Humans cannot go into the pool with dogs to encourage them to swim.
- Really small daycare area.
- A baby gate is not going to deter fearful pups to jump over the fence and dash right out to Granville Street.
- Swimming pool is not from shallow to deep; so only dogs who already know how to swim can go.
- Humans cannot go into the pool with dogs to encourage them to swim.
- Really small daycare area.