Doggie haven provides aquatic support for canines, companions
Picture an indoor pool, the classic smell of chlorine and year-round fun in the air, but instead of people, cute four-legged creatures wade through the water. The new Doggie Paddle in Oshkosh adds a twist to a favorite pastime. Matt Mokler created the dog-friendly indoor swimming pool in January of 2021 to help dogs improve their overall physical health while recovering from injuries through rehab.
“About three years ago, one of my dogs tore his ACL and I got it surgically repaired,” he said. “The surgeon offered me a rehab program in a similar pool, and I just really fell in love with helping my dog and the rehab process.”
The Doggie Paddle provides different options for dogs in the pool depending on their age, confidence in the water, and agility level.
“Owners come in and stand on the dock, throw the toy, and the dog either jumps in or runs in on the ramp and brings the ball or toy back,” Mokler said. “Then we have a paddle with a partner where I, or one of my staff members, gets in with the dog because they don’t have a good enough fetch drive, or they don’t know how to swim.”
photo by Isabelle Cartwright
A dog plays fetch with its owner. The Doggie Paddle provides a space for dogs to let out their energy in a low-impact way.
Mokler originally wanted to build a new facility, but had to put that dream on hold while the business was just starting up.
“We decided to rent the space and start out at a lower point, financially,” he said. “This way, we could prove to the bank that we can make it work and eventually end up with the bigger facility on the property.”
There are numerous benefits for dogs that come with swimming, especially for older dogs whose bodies can’t handle lots of impact from on-land exercise.
“Swimming is a no-impact form of exercise, so a lot of the dogs that we see for therapy are coming in with joint problems or torn tendons,” Mokler said. “Strengthening the muscles without putting any impact on the joints lets those dogs exercise longer and get aerobic exercise where they’re pumping blood through their body and their heart rate gets up.”
Mandy Farrell, a frequent visitor at the Doggie Paddle, appreciates the compassion the owners have when caring for the dogs, and how they explain the importance of what they’re doing.
“They’re a patient guiding hand, teaching how to help the dog into the water and stay low impact exercise on the joints,” she said. “That's most important: to get the muscles working and tendons back in order for the dog to get back up to par. The owners show how a limb is supposed to tread water and if it’s getting gradually better or worse. They also explain the benefits of why it’s important to stretch the muscle but not overdo it.”
Kristen Lasky takes her overweight dog to the Doggie Paddle for rehab since her dog has mobility issues following being struck by a vehicle.
“My dog is on a weight loss program and she’s part of the ‘biggest loser,’” she said. “It’s a weight loss journey for dogs and whoever loses the most weight at the end of the month wins five free sessions. It’s so much better for an older dog because it’s easy exercise and so much better for her joints.”
Another benefit of swimming for dogs is the energy that comes from being in the water, even if it’s only for half an hour a week.
“We’ve had quite a few owners come back and say the dogs are more spunky, sassy, and playful after a swim when they should be exhausted,” Mokler said. “This is because they’ve got that circulation going that they normally wouldn’t be able to do on land because their joints would end up hurting.”
Farrell is grateful for the individual support she and her pup receive at the Doggy Paddle.
“The handlers spend a lot of time and patience guiding my dogs and getting him comfortable in the water, even my boy that doesn’t really like swimming,” she said. “The owners are patient and they understand the inner workings of a dog to gauge how to get them in the water comfortably without pushing their limits.”
The extensive knowledge and passion Mokler has for rehabilitating dogs makes this job the perfect fit for him, and a great chance to grow his expertise.
“With my experience from research on rehab, I do a lot of the rehabs and most of the initial visits to assess the dogs,” he said. “It’s a special skill that people have to have to be able to read a dog and figure out how to communicate with that dog. Some dogs need a little work to gain confidence with swimming. There’s a lot of tips and tricks we can try and different things we do. We learn with every dog.”
Lasky recommends the Doggie Paddle to other dog owners because she enjoys the opportunity to spend time with her dogs and improve their health in a community-friendly setting.
“Nothing feels better than bringing your dogs home tired,” she said. “It’s satisfying knowing they’ve exercised and are tired, especially in the winter. And to be able to have a pool like this in Oshkosh is great because you want to support your community.”
by Abby Furcy
Published March 25, 2021
Oshkosh West Index Volume 117 Issue VI