Dea springs towards the pool. She shows that a dog can jump like a tiger, too – and jumps straight into the water. The first splash is soon followed by two more, as Aava and Aslan join in the fun.
Anne Juntunen, the owner of the Sippura dog swimming pool, has today taken her German Shepherd to work in the centre of Salo. Everyone now has a moment of their own time before the afternoon and evening customers arrive.
Both Aava and Aslan are recovering from cruciate ligament surgery, which means that the fun exercise also assists their rehabilitation.
"Swimming is very good exercise for dogs, as it strengthens their muscles and does not put strain on their joints," Juntunen says.
Dogs enjoy it, and so do dog people.
"It was my dream to run a dog swimming pool. We wouldn't be here without Varma’s help," Juntunen says.
Juntunen has been diagnosed with hereditary fundus degeneration and nyctalopia. According to her, her field of vision is only 10–15 degrees, which is very narrow.
A self-employed person can plan their work themselves
Anne Juntunen ran a swimming pool for dogs in Espoo in the 2010s. The company had an established customer base, and everyone’s tail was wagging. However, the first journey as an entrepreneur ended due to problems with premises.
After that, Juntunen worked as a sales assistant for a few years. In the end, the sales and cash register work became too heavy.
"My eyes were strained too much and I suffered from severe headaches. Even though my duties were lightened, I ended up on sick leave all the time. I had to give up working."
Juntunen initially attended a rehabilitation period organised by the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired.
"They made the same assessment as I had thought. For me, entrepreneurship was the best option. As a self-employed person, I can determine how much, when and how I work.
Support for a business plan
After the assessment of the situation, Juntunen was accepted into Varma’s rehabilitation and Coronaria became her rehabilitation partner.
With Coronaria, it was decided to leverage Juntunen's previous experience of working as a self-employed person. Coronaria helped Juntunen draw up a business plan that included setting up a dog swimming pool. In addition to her previous experience, Juntunen also had the right educational background as a massage therapist, dog massage therapist and business college graduate.
"It took a tremendous amount of work and time to prepare the business plan and budget estimate. Everything was thought out really carefully, and my partner advised me in every detail. No way could I have been able to do it alone."
Juntunen felt that communication between the rehabilitation partner and Varma was really smooth.
Juntunen mentions that it also helped that the rehabilitation coach was a dog person, too, and understood what a dog swimming pool was all about.
The most difficult part of the project turned out to be finding suitable premises. Properties with a swimming pool suitable for dogs are not found in every block.
"One suitable space was found, but then it went to another tenant. Finally, as time went by, it was decided to suspend the cooperation with Varma and Coronaria. It was agreed that I would contact them again if suitable premises were found.
Anne Juntunen is a satisfied entrepreneur: there are plenty of customers and things are now in order. Being visually impaired, she lives one day at a time and tries to lead as normal a life as possible.
A different kind of party entered the function room
Juntunen was not discouraged. A couple of months later she got a tip from her friends. A bank’s old function room, which had most recently been used as a warehouse, was available for rent in Salo. It also featured a swimming pool.
"I went there and noticed that the premises would fit my purpose. The location was not a problem either. I live in Lohja, so I now have about the same commute here as I had to Espoo not so long ago.
Juntunen contacted Varma again. As the paperwork was already there, things rolled out quickly.
The dog swimming pool opened its doors in the centre of Salo in October 2024.
"However, there were still some difficulties ahead of us when it turned out that the water treatment equipment for the swimming pool needed to be replaced."
Planning a dog activity room
According to Juntunen, the swimming pool is now running well, the pool systems have been replaced and there have been plenty of customers.
"To begin with, I was in a self-employed person’s work trial for seven months, and I was granted a one-off business subsidy for investments. Now I’m on my own."
The Sippura dog swimming pool has customers who come all the way from Turku.
"We got some good publicity when Turun Sanomat and Salon Seudun Sanomat wrote about us. Recently, MTV’s news camera crew also visited us. Apparently, they are making a news closer about the place.
Juntunen is also planning to establish a dog activity room in connection with the swimming pool. There would be equipment for balance training and a nose work wall, among other things. Dogs can train their already excellent sense of smell when treats are hid in the wall.
Work is now in order
According to Juntunen, the lighting in the swimming pool area should also be improved.
"My dogs know that I have poor vision, so they go out of my field of vision if they want to trick me. Then I need to tell them a little louder."
Juntunen mentions that the eye disease progresses and eventually leads to blindness. The rate of progress cannot be estimated.
"I try to live a full life. It’s great now that my work is in order. I live one day at a time. There is no need to worry about the future."
Dea was the first to jump into the pool and later grabbed four toys in her mouth. The self-employed person’s own dogs enjoy water sports. Customers' dogs are just as loud and enthusiastic.
Regular customers announce their arrival
In the pool, Dea tries to find out if she can put as many as four swimming toys in her mouth at once. The friends protest loudly. Aslan doesn't want to give his own dummy to Juntunen at all when it seems that there is a shortage of toys today.
Soon it is time to get the dogs out of the pool and get ready for a new day at work.
"When regular customers are coming to the swimming pool, you can hear it from a distance. The dogs start barking excitedly when they understand where they are headed," Juntunen says.
Sippura dog swimming pool has received excellent customer feedback. Its reviews are barking good.
Self-employed person's vocational rehabilitation
The aim of vocational rehabilitation is to support continuing to work in work that is suitable according to one's work ability after work ability has been impaired due to illness.
Vocational rehabilitation offers a number of options for self-employed persons, such as a lighter return to work through a work trial, job coaching for new or changing business activities and business subsidies for setting up a company or modifying the business.