Puppy pool parties galore: South Florida’s water parks are opening up for dogs

It’s that time of year when the scent of wet fur hangs in the air like a fall candle, when pooches of all sizes — the absolute dorks and divas that they are — plunge headfirst into South Florida’s public swimming pools.

On designated days this October, water parks in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties will offer a bounty of splashy fun for your furball. The timing coincides with the annual shutdown of water playgrounds after the summer, closing to the public — as in, strictly humans — for offseason maintenance and repairs.

That’s when our water parks turn into a canine fantasia. Hundreds of off-leash pups, freed from their over-fussy parents, take off in frenzied sprints across splash pads, tongues slurping at water jets like camels. An oasis of pools abound, along with water slides and lazy rivers and, off in the distance, more crystal-blue fun. More tennis balls fly than in the finals of the Miami Open.

Here are four South Florida water parks with dog-themed activities, games and treats. Don’t forget to bring a collar, leash, proof of current vaccinations, and a county license tag to all parks. Fees listed below don’t include tax.

Paws in the Pool

10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Venetian Pool, 2701 De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables; 305-460-5306; CoralGables.com/events

The Venetian Pool, a freshwater paradise carved from an old rock quarry, sits on the National Register of Historic Places — which is impressive, though your pups probably won’t care. The pool has 820,000 gallons of water supplied by an underground aquifer, and there are, of course, photogenic coral rock caves, palm trees and neoclassical touches. Online passes are sold out and only 100 tickets ($5.50 per human plus $7.50 per dog) will be sold at the gate. Small dogs (under 30 pounds) can play from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., while larger dogs (30 pounds and up) get access from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

BarktoberFest 2023

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 7-8 at Splash Adventure inside Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach; 954-357-5100 or Broward.org/Parks

OK, this one is more of a family splash day than a pups-only gathering. Barktoberfest will feature dog adoptions, a marketplace, refreshments and activities for children. It’s $6 per dog per 50-minute session, so call ahead to reserve a timeslot. Don’t forget the $1.50-per-person entrance fee (free for children younger than 5), and be sure to forgive the doggy side-eye when playtime is over.

Waggin’ at the Waterpark

9 a.m.-12:50 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at Calypso Bay Waterpark (inside Seminole Palms Park), 151 Lamstein Lane, Royal Palm Beach; pbcgov.org

9 a.m.-12:50 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at Coconut Cove Waterpark (inside Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park), 20130 Regional Park Drive, Boca Raton; pbcgov.org

Each canine admission will cost $10 (two-dog maximum, and humans get in free). Pups are limited to one 50-minute session. Dogs weighing 45 pounds and up can swim from 10 to 10:50 a.m. or noon to 12:50 p.m., while dogs under 45 pounds can swim from 11 to 11:50 a.m. Registration opens at 9 a.m., and adults must sign a waiver. To register online, download the forms via PBCGov.org, and submit forms and proof of vaccines before Oct. 7. Humans aren’t allowed to swim during any session.

K9 Water Festival

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 14-15 and Oct. 21-22 at Castaway Island inside Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, 3300 N. Park Road, Hollywood; 954-357-8811; Broward.org/Parks

Humans can set their four-legged extroverts loose inside Castaway Island for two sessions maximum per day. It’s $5 per dog plus a $1.50 park entrance fee. Smaller dogs, weighing 25 pounds or less, can splash around in a separate designated area. These playgrounds will be off-limits to humans, and canines must be “sociable and well-behaved,” per Broward County Park’s website.