UPDATE - Dog's safety or neighbour's sanity?

I agree, pools are very dangerous.  Hopefully you will find someway of securing off that pool.

We do have a skamper ramp already, and we have a pile of bricks in the pool next to it where Penny tends to go when we put her in the pool. She can also get out at the steps, but I don't think she's realised this yet. Now that the weather is warming up we will probably start using the pool, and once we're in it Penny will no doubt discover how to get in and out on her own within about 5 minutes. I do freak out every time I come home and can't find Penny. Sometimes she tucks herself away somewhere and sleeps through my arrival. The pool is legal only by virtue of the fact that it was legal when it was installed some 20 odd years ago. It's a pain in the butt. At least Kivi is happy enough to hang out in the backyard. Everyone over here keeps their dogs in the yard. That's what a yard is for! They'll do in the yard more or less what they would do inside, which is to sleep. But they do get to sleep in the sun, or in the garden. Kivi hides bones in his garden for later, and he can't do that inside. He has a sandpit and the garden is full of tunnels and shady corners he loves spending time in. As for Penny, I think she just likes to sleep in the sun sometimes.

 Pennys a senior dog right? What if she fell in, panicked and drown?

That's a risk I've chosen to live with, obviously. I've judged it to be the case that her unhappiness at being forced to stay inside outweighed the risk of her drowning. Obviously I hope to god I judged that correctly. I've done what I can by putting in the ramp and showing her where to get out of the pool, and giving her access to inside so she will be happier to spend time there. I'll just have to trust that she will be okay until we can get the rest of the pool fenced. I promise you, this is not a permanent solution. I don't think my nerves could take it. I freak out every time I come home and can't find her as it is. She sometimes secretes herself away somewhere cozy and sleeps through my arrival. It's hard to describe my reasoning, so just please trust me that I've got the safety and happiness of my best pal of 13 years foremost in my mind pretty much all the time. It's the least I could do for her.