REC-served dog swimming facility improves canine mobility and quality of life
August 2025
Paws to Swim, a dog pool business in Rockville, Va., opened in 2002. (by Kristen Murray Photography)
by Laura Emery, Staff Writer
In Rockville, Va., the swimming pools have gone to the dogs. At Paws to Swim, dogs enjoy the luxury of three indoor, heated swimming pools, two outdoor pools and two fenced-in fields to frolic and play after time in the pool.
Paws to Swim opened in 2002 when founder Debbie Logerfo wanted a place for her Bernese mountain dog, Davos, to regularly swim as part of his rehabilitation treatment for elbow dysplasia. There were no dog pools in her area, so Logerfo designed and built the indoor swimming facility after discovering the numerous benefits that swimming provided for dogs.
In 2015, Alice and Henry Nickel purchased Paws to Swim and have been growing the business ever since. “We fell in love with the whole ‘dog swimming’ aspect. It’s a very rewarding business. We have so many dogs that come in with medical issues and we get to see their progress and recovery. We love that.”
At Paws to Swim, dogs enjoy the luxury of three indoor, heated swimming pools, two outdoor pools and two fenced-in fields. (courtesy Paws to Swim)
Alice remembers a golden retriever born with “horrible” bilateral hip dysplasia who had received two hip replacements and started swimming for post-surgical rehabilitation. “That dog benefited so much from swimming and recovered quickly. They continued swimming every week, for years, because the dog loved it so much. The dog’s journey was very uplifting to witness.”
There was also an elderly puggle who had a stroke and was unable to walk, Alice recalls. “After a few weeks of swimming, she was able to stand on her own and then eventually take steps on her own. She gained so much mobility in the late stages of her life,” she explains. “It was a beautiful thing to watch.”
The 3.5-acre Paws to Swim property is served by Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. “We appreciate the reliable service, and love being part of a cooperative,” Alice says.
The Paws to Swim team works with dogs that have medical issues, young puppies, older dogs new to swimming and dogs that are fearful of the water. But it’s also a place for any dog that likes to have fun in the pool and get some exercise. Alice says, “It’s just a positive, happy business.”
Swimming provides numerous benefits for dogs. (courtesy Paws to Swim)
Alice and her husband have 7-year-old twins, Philip and June, as well as three dogs: Skye, Gracie and Slater. “We’ve also got three goats and 24 chickens,” she says with a laugh.
Paws to Swim is the perfect place to bring your dog to swim, jump and retrieve under the watchful eye of trained staff, with plenty of toys and treats nearby. In addition to the Nickels, there is one full-time employee and two part-time employees on staff.
The Nickels are dedicated to maintaining high water quality and keeping the facility exceptionally clean. “It involves a lot of skimming of dog hair after each session, as well as cleaning the pools at the end of the day, vacuuming regularly, and testing water chemistry and adjusting it daily to keep it safe for the dogs,” Alice says. The indoor pools are kept at a comfortable temperature (between 82 and 85 degrees). “If we wouldn’t go in, we wouldn’t want your dog to go in either.”
Paws to Swim operates by private appointment only. Alice explains, “It’s our goal to make every client, both human and dog, feel like they’re coming to their home away from home.”
For more information and to book a session for your dog, visit pawstoswim.com.
The Paws to Swim team works with dogs that have medical issues, young puppies, older dogs new to swimming and dogs that are fearful of the water. (courtesy Paws to Swim)