How to build a lap pond for my dog?

Nadiadima

My Golden Retriever needs to do few laps daily and I need to build a pond in my garden. Can you please advise the list of materials I need to buy. So far I have found the liner. The pond will be 1m wide and 6-7 m long. Depth would be ideally 90 cm in some parts but could be less in others …. (yes permission will be needed from the council I guess). Any tip welcome!

N

JacobZ

Hi @Nadiadima,

Before starting, you'll want to get in touch with your local council to see whether approval is required and whether it will need to be fenced. Factoring this into the build early is important as it will dictate how you can proceed.

Before starting, mark out the area carefully using line marking paint. Once the area is marked out, you can dig out the pond area. The excavation should be smooth and free of roots or sharp stones. It is a good idea to shape the pond with at least one gently sloped entry or shallow shelf so your dog can enter and exit easily and safely.

Since you already have the liner, the next essential item is a well compacted base to protect it from punctures. If after excavation, you find that there are voids, or poorly compacted areas, then you can add sand to smooth things out, then compact the soil with a tamper to create a flat stable surface.

To secure the liner and create a neat finish, you will need edging materials such as large flat stones or pavers. These help hold the liner in place and prevent soil from washing into the pond.

A pond of that size, which would hold somewhere from 4000-6000L would require a fairly large, pond pump to ensure it stays clean. Either this AQUAPRO AP4800 Pond & Fountain Pump, or this Aquapro AP7510 Multi-Use Pond Pump should work depending on the eventual volume.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob