By Mark Smith & Jennifer Flynn

Jennifer Flynn and her black German Shepherd Taboo spent years providing assistance in the wake of disasters. They were on the National FEMA team, the Illinois Terrorism Task Force and the fire department. They volunteered for the relief effort following Hurricane Katrina.

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“Taboo was my teammate and my friend,” Jennifer says.

Not only did the pair have an incredible bond, but with Taboo’s tenacity and Jennifer’s extensive training, they made a great team.

Jennifer is a retired FEMA K9 handler, injured in the line of duty. She is also a licensed national and state paramedic with additional training in canine emergency care from the University of Florida. She has been training dogs for over 13 years, so when Taboo began displaying symptoms of hip trouble, Jennifer didn’t hesitate to take action.

“Taboo’s hips went bad and she had both hip surgery and stem cell therapy,” Jennifer says. “However, I noticed the biggest benefit from swimming every week. It really made a huge difference, but it got to be an unbelievable expense.

“One day, I was sitting next to a woman at therapy who had remortgaged her home just to pay for her dog’s therapy. I decided this is ridiculous. This can be made affordable.”

It was then that Jennifer decided to create a new approach for canine hydrotherapy that not only offered rehab, but also made it affordable. Sadly, Taboo passed away just a few months

before the pool, located in Glen Ellyn, could be completed, but Fountain of Woof has honored her memory through the Rehab for Rescues program, which allows foster-home dogs with hip issues to swim for free. Fountain of Woof also donates swim sessions to rescue groups for fundraisers.

The benefits of swim for dogs are numerous, beginning with the fact that it’s great exercise. In fact, individuals with highly active dogs should note that prevention is better than treatment after an injury.

Because water provides increased resistance, a 15-minute swim is the rough equivalent of a 15-minute run, but without the pounding to the joints. This makes it ideal for dogs with a lot of energy or dogs who compete in various types of competition like agility or schutzhund. Dogs who need to stay in shape need an outlet for their energy.

Swimming is also ideal for dogs recovering from surgery or injury as well as those with arthritis and/or mobility issues. Because there is increased resistance without undue stress to the joints, swimming is low impact on the body and the dog is able to accomplish more aerobically because they are not causing any pressure or damage to joints like when running on a hard surface.

Swimming is also weightless, providing a state of equilibrium between gravity and the buoyancy of the water. This gives the muscles and joints a much needed break from the constant pushing down of gravity. What’s more, when dogs swim, they must move through a substance much denser than air, which therefore increases muscle tone.

Range of motion is also affected. Swimming almost lengthens the body and increases flexibility and range of movement by stretching muscles as they work out.

Better yet, it’s a natural form of pain relief: as tight muscles are released, so, too, are endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. The serotonin level is also elevated during this process and one swim every two weeks can allow a dog to maintain the serotonin level of a puppy.

The most favored theory for this chain of positive biochemical events is the “endorphin hypothesis” (Morgan 1985), which attributes these psychophysical effects to changes in central opioidergic transmission. The endorphin hypothesis was put forward because indirect measures such as raised endorphin levels in peripheral blood (Carr et al. 1981; Gambert et al. 1981; Farrell et al. 1982; Janal et al. 1984; Wildmann et al. 1986) and cerebrospinal fluid (Radosevich et al. 1989; Hoffmann et al. 1990) as well as the reversibility of exercise-induced mood changes and pain perception (Janal et al. 1984).

All science aside, swimming feels good! At Fountain of Woof, dogs enjoy an indoor heated pool in a climate-controlled environment; the pool is kept at 88 degrees with an ambient temp of 86 degrees. A built-in ramp makes it easy for dogs to enter the water and the water itself is UV light sanitized.

“We feel that the UV system is best for the dogs, since the absence of chlorine is gentler on the coat,” Jennifer says. “We also went with that technology over salt, which is essentially chlorine and corrosive, and bromine, which is another type of chemical. There are some pools that use the copper/silver system, which is also a good way to sanitize without chemicals.”

Fountain of Woof also supplies toys, towels and vests, but encourages pet parents to bring a along a favorite toy if desired.

“Swimming time here is actual swimming time,” Jennifer adds. “Thirty minutes means 30 minutes in the pool — or 60 if you’re doing an hour swim. We also allot extra time between swims to use the dog dryers and clients can even split their time between dogs.”

Because safety is an important aspect of any canine activity, all dogs must have veterinary clearance and be current on vaccinations or titers before swimming at the Fountain of Woof.

“Those dogs who are swimming due to injury or surgery should first undergo hydrotherapy rehab at a facility with a licensed vet,” Jennifer says. “Then, for maintenance with vet clearance, they can continue swimming at Fountain of Woof to decrease their costs.

“Whether you need extra exercise and want to make use of the resistance current or just enjoy splashing and jumping into the pool, all canine swimmers are welcome to swim for fun in a safe, warm place.”

Located in Glen Ellyn, Fountain of Woof also provides dog boarding and training and accepts appointments seven days a week, including some holidays. Water is checked daily for bacteria and Ph levels; dogs have a higher Ph than humans, so the pool is tailored to them. To lean more or schedule an appointment, please call Fountain of Woof at 630-740-8513 or visit www.h2o4k9therapy.com .

Photo: Jennifer Flynn works with dogs of all ages and abilities at the Fountain of Woof. Pictured with her is Doberman Pinscher Diesel.