There are loads of places in Manchester where dogs can go swimming, but few places offer the chance to actually get in with them.
So when I heard about a heated, indoor doggy pool where families can go for a splash about with their pets, we dived right in.
From the look on my daughter's face when I first suggested the idea, I'm well aware it's not everyone's cup of tea. And I got a few strange looks in the office when I told my colleagues what I was doing.
But what they offer at K9Swim in Newton Heath is something quite unique and I'm sure there are plenty of other dog lovers out there who would love to give it a go.
You can't just jump straight in with them from the off. Each dog needs to have an induction swim first with one of the on-site hydrotherapists.
Ours was Jess Sheppard and she was great at putting Milo at ease as he got used to the new surroundings.
Even if they can swim, they're initially given a lifejacket and a long line, just to make sure they're OK in the pool and Jess would guide Milo back to the platform, which is used for getting in and out, rather than have dogs jumping in off the side.
He was soon swimming without the jacket though and happily paddling to get the toy Jess was throwing.
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Now with these things, there's always the 'what if'? question of them potentially doing 'their business' in the pool. We've all been there when a pool has had to close because of a toddler's floater.
It's unlikely to happen if a dog is fit and well and we know that Milo always comes out of outdoor water to relieve himself when we're out walking somewhere, so I wasn't overly concerned. But you are advised not to feed them for a few hours before the swim to avoid it and if the worst happens, you'll have a £75 cleaning bill to pay, so it's worth taking the advice on board.
After a successful induction, with Milo receiving a '1st place doggy paddle champion' certificate, we made a return trip to the centre, this time to get in with him.
Myself, husband and son all got in and took it in turns to throw the pig toy that he took a particular liking to. You're asked to take your own toys along, or there are some you can buy from the on-site K9 Swim shop.
It did feel quite bizarre at times to be in the water with the dog and a kick to the thigh made me realise just how powerful their legs are under the water. Our son got a closer look, by going under the water with his goggles.
There's a changing areas for before and after your swim, including separate shower areas for humans and dogs, although we should have used some shampoo rather than just spraying him down as the smell of chlorine did linger for quite a while.
They do a lot more serious work here to help rehabilitate dogs with injuries such as hip/elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament damage, arthritis and more.
But if you just want to have some fun with your dog, I'd thoroughly recommend it.
Induction sessions cost £30 and unassisted swims from £25. Additional dogs cost £5 with a maximum of four at a time. Find out more on the website here.
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