If the dog is one that WILL go to the effort of jumping in something that is deeper, that would be fine. I would start with something very shallow (like the kiddle pool) that the dog can just step into and can at least cool his feet by that action (which DOES help). It also is easy for the dog to just dip down and cool his belly. If a dog has to go to too much effort, he may not use the cooling a pool can afford. Carla