JOHOR BAHRU, JOHOR: Humans need to exercise to prevent sickness and it applies to your doggies, too.

As dogs are nowadays kept in limited space, they may have joint, heart, lung and hip problems. Therefore, some dog owners send their dogs to learn swimming at a special swimming pool for dogs to keep them fit.

These owners told Guang Ming Daily that swimming is the best way to prevent their dogs from getting sick.

They said that dogs are actually good swimmers. Allowing them to swim in hot weather will make them comfortable and stay healthy. It helps them to lose weight, too.

"Dogs are same as human beings. If they stay at home for long time, their weight will increase. Therefore, swimming is good for them."

Cosmetologist Wei Bijuan, 27, said she takes her two dogs to the swimming pool once a week. She gets to meet other dog raisers and exchange views with them there.

"Dogs are happy when they see other dogs. I'm happy to see them playing together, too,” she said.

Wei said that her dogs have been trained to excrete at a fixed place and thus, they are allowed to walk freely at home.

“But it allows only for limited movements at home. So, I bring them here as in addition to swimming, they can also run on the grassland with other dogs,” she said.

Student Liu Kexuan, 13, said she gets to learn about dogs of different breeds when she takes her dog here.

"I like to watch them swimming. Some dogs may afraid to get into the water as they have stayed at home for a long period of time. Therefore, we must be patient with them,” she said.

Liu also learned from other dog raisers that dogs should not be in the water for too long. Instead, they need to drink water and take a rest to avoid getting too tired.

Pet shop owner, Ding Yifeng,28, said her shop provides not only a swimming pool, but beauty treatments for dogs as well.

"A lot of dog owners bring their dogs to us to cut nails or hair after swimming. During weekends, there will be more people here. Some of the owners may also hold birthday parties for their dogs in our shop."

She said that swimming pool for dogs is a new business. Swimming does not only help dogs to stay healthy, but their owners can also gain more knowledge about dogs here.

Ding was majored in Animal Science when she was studying in Australia. She liked dogs since she was a child and in order to know more about dogs, she used to rear 18 dogs when she stayed abroad.

“I took a stray dog home when I was a child. Although my parents scolded me for doing so, it did not affect my love for dogs. I wish to make my pet shop as one of those in overseas, a paradise that provides them more space to play,” she added.

Her pet shop provides a swimming pool measured 15 feet long and 4 feet wide. There is no chemical cleanser for the filter system to avoid allergy. Besides, the pool will be cleaned every morning to ensure hygiene. (Translated by YOU HSUEH LIN/ Guang Ming Daily)